I didn't get my ears pierced until I was in the eighth grade. I had always had the mindset of "they're holes in my body I don't need", and that thought was partnered with my fear of needles. I decided to get mine done after two of my friends got theirs, and by the time my first lobe piercings were healed, I wanted to get my doubles. I got my doubles done and loved them (even though they took forever and a day to heal, it seemed like), and thought I was done with getting my ears pierced. Also a word to the wise -- don't get your doubles, or any piercing done, if you're going to have to repeatedly put them in and take them out before they're completely healed. It's not fun.

I ended up taking out one of my doubles because they weren't even and decided that I liked the asymmetrical look. I was thinking that I was going to get it re-pierced, but then I had a sudden desire to go in a completely different route. As a spur of the moment decision, I walked downstairs and told my parents that I wanted to get my cartilage pierced. They were a bit shocked needless to say, and I didn't blame them. I'd been juggling the idea of getting it for a while, but decided that I wanted to get that done instead of getting the double redone.

I texted my friend and asked where she got hers done and if she'd come with me. She told me and we went together about an hour later to get it done. We walked in and I signed a paper and gave them my drivers license and my school ID, and then waited until the piercer was ready. When she was, she asked us to come back into the room to pick out my jewelry. I opted for a simple stud. I went to a tattoo parlor to get my piercing done, and did extensive research in the time I had after asking my friend where she got hers, to see what their procedures and policies were for cleanliness and sterilization of instruments. The Claire's in my area doesn't do cartilage piercings, and from all my reading, I'm thankful I didn't seek one out. Getting cartilage -- or anything -- pierced with a hollow needle as opposed to a piercing gun is much safer and more sanitary as the instruments are sanitized completely and never reused -- not to mention the far slimmer risk of shattering your cartilage.

I sat in the chair as she asked me where I wanted it and she marked it out, asking me if I liked the placement. When I said yes, she completely sanitized not only the part of my ear that the piercing was on, but my entire helix, front and back. She had me hold my head so she could clearly see both sides of my ear, and lined up the needle. She asked me to take a deep breath and then to breathe out -- and just like that, it was over.

The pain was different than getting my lobes pierced, but it wasn't unbearable in the slightest. I would describe it as a pressure that somewhat burns at the same time, much unlike the jarring pinching and burning pain that I experienced with getting my lobes pierced. She carefully and thoroughly walked me through the aftercare procedures and made sure that I knew that if I needed anything or had any questions, to let her know. She also told me that she would change my piercing for free once it was completely healed (score!). When it was done, I paid and left (don't forget to leave a tip!).

Doing the research I did even when I was barely considering getting it done eased my fears and worries about it. Also going to someone that my trusted friend went to was a major help. If you're someone that wants to get it done, I hope that my story will help you make the call. If it's the pain factor that is the biggest issue, take my word for it -- it isn't as bad as you think.