Thoughts I Had Before, During And After Getting An Industrial Bar Piercing
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Thoughts I Had Before, During And After Getting An Industrial Bar Piercing

16843
Thoughts I Had Before, During And After Getting An Industrial Bar Piercing
Tumblr

I have been interested in getting an industrial bar piercing in my ear cartilage for a while. It is simple in design but conceptually complicated. While it appears to be just a straight-across bar of metal, most likely 14 grams of stainless steel, it is actually held together by two ear cartilage piercings. So in order to perfect this piercing, the piercer has to visualize the right angel for maximum exposure and an easy healing process. For this piercing to work, I would need a good piercer who knew what they were doing, a strong ear that wouldn’t let me down, and a lot of saline and anti-bacterial soap.

  1. I was nervous

The only piercings I’ve gotten at this point were my two sets of earlobes done by some girls at Claire’s, which I would not recommend because you should always get pierced with a needle and never a gun, but my mother and I didn’t know any better. I also got my septum piercing at a tattoo shop. Even though I was familiar with the professional tattoo and piercing studio, I’ve never gotten my cartilage pierced. Everyone was telling me how much longer and more painful the healing process for cartilage piercings are, especially an industrial bar.

2. I needed to find a trustworthy studio

Luckily, my friend had gotten her nipples pierced at Village Tattoo NYC in Soho, and when I was holding her hand while her nipples were gently stabbed by a strange man, I realized that this studio was legit. So when the time for me to get my industrial, I already knew where I would be going. Coincidentally, I ran into the same man who pierced my friend’s nipples. He was a gentleman and used lube (his joke, not mine).

3. I have to sit through my ear being stabbed twice

Once is bad enough for a first timer, but somehow I decided to go big or go home and get possibly the most complicated piercing that I will ever get in my cartilage that day. In the end, it wasn’t so bad. He told me to take a deep breath in, and in my experience, I was so focused on taking a really deep breath in that I almost forgot that a needle was going through my ear, and following that a 14 gauge stainless steel bar was going to be replacing that needle. If you don’t know how thick a 14g is, here’s a little reference, most ear lobe earrings are 20 gauge which is 0.81 mm in diameter, and most stand-alone cartilage piercings are 18g (the smaller the number, the thinner it is). A 14 gauge is 1.63 millimeter in diameter, I’m in awe of how my ear hasn’t caused me to bleed to death yet.

4. The worst is over…or so I thought

My freshly pierced ear was still aggressively warm and red when we made out ways back upstairs where the piercer explained the cleaning procedures to us. He then said, “The piercing is always the easy part, it’s taking care of it that’s hard” I guess I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Now I was told to do this twice a day, and that every other day, and buying all these sprays and soap.

5. Taking care of this wound

This is perhaps the longest process, waiting for this damn piercing to heal. It is going to take at least 20 weeks, however, I have been advised to not remove the bar until a year and a half later because apparently just when you think it’s healed, it’s not and it will most likely ruin your life by getting infected after a year of cleaning and taking care of it.

6. NO RAGRETS


I had a lot of doubts and worries about this undertaking, but seeing the actual piercing has made it worth it. I love the way it looks. Growing up, I was insecure about my ears cause they looked like… well… elf ears. They somehow grew sideways and are rather pointy. So this piercing is my way of showing that I have overcome this particular insecurity. Hooray for self-confidence! I hope you have enjoyed reading about my journey as much as I did writing about it during this roller coaster ride of an experience.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

49422
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

31452
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

955107
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180344
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments