Pink Poogle Toy Forum

Umm, yes, but why are you pointing out this to me?

Because you're on about the skill of the piercer as apposed to the instrument used.

I did not say this was all that matters when the piercing is done. But for example even if 99% of all the needle piercers out there are good at what they do there will still be that small part of them that did not quite pay attention at school and can still screw things up in one way or another (or simply be human and make mistakes as well, of course).

What I said earlier was based on my own beliefs and experiences (I believe I stated that as well regarding the experience), nothing more than that.

I got my ear cartilage pierced on August 17th, and let me warn you: it still hurts. The pain has nothing to do with the piercer or with how I'm cleaning it, it just hurts for a long time.

Also, don't get it done at a place like claire's or something, go to a real piercing studio. It's safer, it's cleaner, and they will walk you through cleaning it and stuff. Plus, real piercing places use needles. Guns are impossible to clean as thoroughly as you can clean a needle.

I would avoid getting it pierced and having a stud in it right away, I find rings easier to clean, but that part just depends on your personal preference.

Good luck!

Ah, I've considered this myself. Spoke with the person who does my ink (the owner of a local shop - only one allowed to come near me with a needle) about it since they do piercings, have been trained in just about everything, state licensed, board of health visits them once a month, they have blood testing done every few months (hepatitis risk with piercings/tattoos you know). I'm 50 years old, had my first tattoo in my 40's and did alot of homework before letting anyone touch me.

OK, what he said was: Never, ever, EVER let anyone near your ear cartilage with a gun. It can, if done improperly or in just the wrong spot, break or split the cartilage - which will not heal on its own. Needle is the only way to go. He said it does hurt (he has one) and it does hurt for quite awhile, as it takes some time to heal. If you already have piercings you know the importance of keeping everything clean, and most reputable places have special antibiodic/cleaning stuff for piercings (don't know if they're any better than what you can get at the drug store).

Eat something about 2 hours before you go - that should be long enough for digestion to start and will help get you through it. Body work can really take alot out of you! This from someone who's got 90% of a back piece done, trust me. And take someone with you. After the actual physical part of the piercing, there's a toll with your adrenaline/endorphins and you might be a little wobbly on your feet. Also bring a small bottle of something to drink - oj is good (I usually take diet cola but I'm weird).

I've had my earlobes pierced 3 times. First time, with a needle, cork, ice and alcohol (I was 18 - this was a million years ago) in someone's living room. It hurt so bad! And got uber infected, so let them close. Then got them done again, with a gun, but got infected again (was poor, wore cheap earrings, wasn't meticulous about cleaning) - so let them close again. Third time was the charm. A then bf gave me a pair of real gold earrings (my first good jewelry) but they were pierced - actually broke us up that he didn't realize something so elementary. But I wanted to wear those earrings, so pierced again. With a gun, it was fast, relatively painless and since I did everthing properly, healed fine.

I then had a second hole pierced in my lobes, but have since allowed the left ear 2nd hole to clost - the piercing was way too close to the first one, couldn't wear 2 earrings (narrow earlobes?).

Good luck with your decision - go to a few tattoo or piercing places, check them out, look for certificates, licenses, anything you state requires. Also look for how clean the place is, autoclaves, gloves, disinfectant, even the state of the chairs and floor.

Also see who you feel comfortable with and would trust. Having any body modification done whether it's permanent (tattoos, ear plugs -- though I have to say I loathe those personally) or something that you could reverse (like a basic piercing) is to me an important decision.

When it gets pierced with a needle, do they do it quickly or take their sweet precious time?

Because I would hate to be sitting in a chair while a person slowly slides a needle in my flesh.

Zega, piercers aren't sadists (or at least most of them aren't). I've seen a few piercings (though not a cartilage yet). Mainly belly button (which sorry, most people shouldn't have - sometimes it's just nasty looking!) and a somewhat "delicate" area on the chest (EEeeeeyow!).

Both, once prep is done, were pretty fast actually. No, they can't just jam a needle through, but it didn't take more than a few minutes - which can seem like forever when you're the one getting it done. I'm guessing that cartilage does take longer - it's a thicker area, more to get through than your ear lobe. And it does have to be done carefully so there is no splitting of the cartilage.

Seems longest healing time is cartilage, but good results (the people I know with it anyway); most likely to get infected - belly button (nothing like seeing someone with a belly piercing all red and icky looking) followed by tongue (which can have other problems, like slowly wearing down the enamel on your teeth and occasionally even food getting caught - really! - in the hole).

Nani, I still say go for it - just be certain that the place/person doing it is clean and mindful of safe procedures - and that they open the disposable needle from the package in front of you. I do that when I'm getting tattooed - my guy shows me the package and opens them in front of me, along with fresh, disposable pots for the colors and removing the actual tattoo machine from the autoclave. Hygiene freak? Yep - but important. This is your body, no matter where or what you're having done. And if you really need a break, tell them. A good piercer will stop and let you take a few deep breaths, which they'll also tell you to do as they're piercing - alot of people hold their breath when having something done. Gotta breathe!

Thanks again for the advice, everyone. I really appreciate it! I'm pretty nervous, and I still have no idea where I'm going to get it done, but at least I have a better idea of what I'm looking for.