tattoos-and-piercings’ blog

Hey, I'm Rona, and I like big lobes. Funnily enough. Anyway, here is my wee contribution to this site, seeing as I have been using it for valuable information for the past half a year I think it is now.

I got my ears gunned when I was 9 in Claire's, my Mum is a trained nurse and knows what would be good health care for my ears, so I left with gold studs in my ears and let them heal for 6 weeks, and I didn't get an infection or anything. Though, now I wouldn't go and get a gun piercing, as they are nasty.

Zip forward to age 14 last October, before finding out about BME, and my friend, who is slightly 'impulsive', comes into school with a little 2mm plug in her ear. I had seen bigger plugs before, and I thought I could shove it though my ear. Obviously, I couldn't and failed dismally, only left to ask her:

'How the hell did you manage that?!'

She had just started putting earrings in her ears, and then two belly bars, and then went into Glasgow to buy this plug, and rammed it into her ear. I decided...I wanted that, but didn't want my parents to see, so I decided I'd be subtle about it.

The next month, I went into town and saw a black acrylic 6mm (2ga) spiral, and decided, it was small at one end and big at the other, it'll stretch my ear, and it won't look like a bigger hole either! So I bought that, and in KFC my friend proceed to ram the bloody thing in my ear.

DO NOT EVER PUT A 6mm TAPER IN YOUR 1mm EAR!

I was in so much pain, but figured it was normal, and left the thing put. In the shower later, I noticed my ear was bleeding, so cleaned the spiral and rammed it back though my ear. Waking up the next morning, the spiral was on my bed, and I grudgingly got up, shoved it through my ear and went to school.

I saw my friend again and she pulled out my spiral to have a look. Well, out it came, with blood and apparently there was this little yellow thing hanging out my ear. So what do we do, WE PULL THE 'PURE WEE YELLOW THINGIE' -Proper West of Scotland sentences there- OUT MY EAR!

Yes folks, we ripped my ex-fistula out my poor, poor ear.

I went home, put in an earring and amazingly it healed. Since then I have stretched that ear to a 3mm after making it bleed again, and then decided to take it out, so now my right ear is scarred, and only has enough space for earrings.

After that I DIY pierced my seconds, because my friend was also piercing her seconds and also pierced her own lip. I don't have any idea what she was thinking. By this point, I have found BME, and therefore did the research and my ears didn't infect. Anyway;

After asking my mother for plugs, and talking about them for months, I finally decided to just buy some anyway. I showed them to my parents, they were un-amused, but as long as I don't go huge then I should be okay. According to my Dad I'll look like a pure freak with massive holes in my ears and I'll look a right prat when I'm 30. I said I am a freak, and a prat, so it just adds to my personality.

I had a 3mm taper, and slowly pushed that though after keeping 3 to 4 earrings in my left ear at the same time, so I figured it would be stretched enough.

I put the taper in halfway through, and it seemed happy enough. However yesterday, when I bought the 3mm SS flesh tunnel, 4mm taper and 4mm SS flesh tunnel (No acrylics for me thankyouverymuch), I just couldn't wait to put my little plug in, so pushed the 3 mm taper in to the end, ouch it stung, went to bed and hoped it would be more stretched. It wasn't.

But, no worries, I thought ' I'll go for a shower, give my ear a sea salt soak then after pushing the taper though I'll put my plug in immediately after.'

A stupid idea, don't try it. Go buy smaller tapers to begin with :|

And, it worked! It hurt quite a bit, but I gave it another long soak after inserting the plug, haven't touched it all day, and when I got in I gave it another soak, and its slightly swollen, but not sore at all. I'm debating weather to have a look at it, but, for now, I'll leave it. maybe next week i'll try spinning it too see if it's any looser.

I'm going to leave it 3-4 weeks to heal and then, onto my 4mm taper and beyond.
My sites:
piercing cool
piercing cool
piercing club

I had my lobes pierced when I was around 8 or 9 and then had a second set of holes pierced on my 16th birthday. I really loved my lobe piercings but after a few years four holes began to feel like too few! At first I planned to get a third set of holes in my lobes. Despite my parents not being overly pleased about that I was really determined to get them done. However, I was really put off when someone I disliked a lot got a third set of holes in their ears and so I began to consider getting something different.

Two of my close friends had cartilage piercings and recommended that I get mine done too as theirs had been relatively hassle free. I came round to the idea pretty quickly but then spent months changing my mind about whether to go ahead with it or not.

I began to look into cartilage piercings and quickly discovered that it would be best to have it done with a needle as opposed to a gun. A friend of mine then told me about a local tattoo studio called Mantra II who used needles and who had a good reputation. My friend's sister had had her tattoos done there and one of her friends had got a couple of piercings done – and both had been happy with the results, which I took to be a good sign.

After lots of ummming and ahhhing over it I decided to have the piercing done as a treat after I'd finished my exams. I went to Mantra II a few days before I planned to get the piercing just to check the place out and find out the cost. The place was very clean and bright (as opposed to some places I've seen that are very dark and claustrophobic), and the man I spoke to was very friendly and helpful which made me feel confident about going back there to actually do the deed.

Two days later I got up early, made sure to have breakfast, picked up my friend and drove us to Mantra II. I almost lost my bottle before going in but my nerve came back eventually and we went in. I asked for a cartilage piercing and was asked to fill in a form and choose my earring, before I handed over my money.

I was taken into a small room that had a dentist-type chair in it by a man called Kevin. My friend came in with me, and although I was too nervous to pay much attention to the room she told me afterwards that it had all looked very clean. I really dislike needles so I was beginning to get quite nervous by this point!

However, I sat in the chair and commented about how it felt like the dentist. Kevin was friendly and cracked a couple of jokes which put me at ease. He marked the dot on my left ear and asked me whether I was happy with the positioning (I was). I tried not to pay attention to what he was doing whilst he was unwrapping the needles and such so as not to make myself too nervous, but I knew my friend was watching closely to make sure everything looked hygienic and she gave me a reassuring look.

I was surprised at how quickly it was all over. The needle didn't hurt as much as I expected when it first went into my ear but it was left in there whilst Kevin changed his gloves again, and that's when it began to sting! I was worried about passing out but I didn't feel light-headed at any point and by the time the needle was out and my gorgeous blue earring had been put in, the adrenaline was pumping and I felt great.

Kevin explained the aftercare to me and gave me an information sheet about looking after my piercing before telling me to come back if I had any problems. I couldn't wait to get back to my car to ogle my new piercing in the mirrors! I was so pleased I had gone through with it and that it had been a more pleasant experience than I previously imagined.

By the time I got back to the car my ear was bright red, but after a couple of hours it began to look more normal and the stinging had subsided. I have followed the aftercare religiously and at first it seemed to heal really well. However, I accidentally slept on my left side a couple of times and it's been slightly crusty since, but I'm keeping up with the aftercare and hope it'll heal nicely.

I'd definitely recommend Mantra II to other people as I had a really positive experience there. In fact, I'm planning to get my tragus pierced soon and will most certainly be going back there myself!

Special Thanks Ear Piercing

A labret is one form of body piercing. Taken literally, it is any type of adornment that is attached to the facial lip (labrum). However, the term usually refers to a piercing that is below the bottom lip, above the chin.

Among the ancient Aztecs and Mayans labret piercing was reserved for male members of the higher castes.

A less common name for the labret piercing is the "Mao." It is widely believed that this name originates from Mao Zedong's mole below his lower lip
Pronunciation

The pronunciation of the word "labret" has been heavily debated for years. Many people including industry professionals have often pronounced it as /ləˈbreɪ/.[1] According to dictionary reference, it is pronounced /leɪ.brɛt/. The root word is the Latin labrum, which means lip. The -et suffix, according to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, means "something worn on". So, the combination of the Latin labrum (lip) and the suffix -et (something worn on), creates labret - something worn on the lip.[2]

Anthropology

The labret was a traditional piercing among the American Northwest Coast Indians, where it was related to status:
access to labrets. After 3,500 BP, a divergence in labret wear in S and N coasts. In the N from 1.500 - 3,000 BP, more labrets worn by males. After 1,500 BP, labrets worn by females. In the S, between 2,000 - 3,500 BP, worn by males and females, but from 2,000 BP on, labrets generally disappear and are replaced by cranial deformation by free males and females of whatever class (e.g. elite or commoner). SO, for 4,000 years on the NWC, it was important to distinguish certain individuals in a very direct manner; either by cranial deformation or by labret wear. Gender and geographical region may also be identified by these methods. [3]

When a mask was being made to represent someone of high status, naturally enough, that mask had a labret.

Types of labret piercings

There are several different labret variations based on precisely where the piercing is positioned on the lower lip, including a vertical labret through the top of the lower lip rather than in front of the lip tissue, snake bites that are dual piercings close together reminiscent of fangs, and a lowbret, which is placed as low as possible toward the chin. Other variations also include the upper lip as well as other lip tissues, such as the frenulum (the connective tissue between the upper lip and gums)
See more:
piercing world
piercing
piercings Site

it was in march a couple of months ago i went to get my tragus done on my ear but instead i was like wow the eyebrow is really appealing, so i changed my mind and told my mom i wanted eyebrow so she said okay i was up next i was so nervous i sat their holding tight to the chair and i felt a little scratch i asked him " are you done yet? " he said yup just puttin on the ball i was like wow i didnt feel a thing so after all that its good and theres a picture of me wit a black barbell i just change it recently
piercing town
yahoo piercings
piercing peircing

p.s - and yes he did sterlize everything i was to lazy to type everything!

I was kinda wanting my eyebrow done earlier today so I took a safety pin, a few alcohol preps, and thats it. I positioned my needle carefully then shoved it thru the first layer of skin... "POP" didn't hurt at all... shoved it thru the second "POP" still didn't hurt. After I was done it stung a bit but I was proud of myself because it looked professional!
my piercing
Body piercing My Space
piercing vox

I remember as a young kid seeing piercings on people, and wondering what it would be like to have one of my very own. I considered it a very liberating experience, and I still do. It's about taking your life and your body and appearance into your own hands, and modifying yourself. Some people may not agree with me on this, but this is how I view it.

One of the most liberating experiences, however, is to pierce yourself, and literally take your body and appearance into your own hands. That is why I decided to pierce snakebites in my lips by myself. Don't get me wrong, self-piercing is not for everybody, but personally for me, it was an experience I wouldn't trade. I wouldn't recommend self piercing for everybody, because when the needle is halfway through your skin it can take a fair bit of will to push it all the way through.

Anyway, onto my experience. I had been looking on BME for a few months, and after a month of convincing my mother, she agreed to let me buy some piercing kits off of Ebay ( I know what you're thinking, but these kits were not bodgy, they were completely safe, and I trust the seller, having done business with her before, and reading all of her wonderful feedback.). My mum even agreed to pay for the kits herself!!!

In the kit, there were disposable clamps, a 14G catheter needle, jewelry, gloves and alcohol swabs. The day the kits arrived after school, I applied two numbing patches to my lips (one for each side, and they did NOTHING, by the way), and I set off upstairs to clean my bathroom while I waited the hour for the numbing patches to take effect. I got some straight bleach, and cleaned the whole counter twice, and wiped it with some paper towel. Then, with clean hands, I set paper towel on the dry counter, and laid out the piercing kits, still sealed of course. I place a box of tissues on the shelf next to the counter, and then I waited for the numbing to take effect.

When my lips were as numb as they were going to get (which was only the top layer of skin), I washed my hands with antibacterial soap, took the numbing patches off, washed my hands again, opened one of the piercing kits, and donned my gloves before opening an alcohol swab to clean my skin with. I cleaned my lip area, and marked where I wanted the piercings (which turned out slightly off because I was so nervous), and took out the clamps, needle and jewelry, and laid them on the paper towel. I then changed gloves again, before picking up the needle, opening it, and picking up the clamps with my other hand, I clamped my lip, and adjusted the clamp a few times to find the best position.

I lined the needle up with the small blue dot (made with food colouring and marked with a kebab stick), and pressed the needle slowly through my lip. It didn't appear to be going any deeper once I broke through the first layer, but I remembered something I had read on BME about the method of twisting the needle as you push it. So I twisted, and twisted, and by that time, it was quite painful. Not enough pain to stop though, and I still had another hole to pierce on the other side of my lip!

The needle eventually went through with a slight stretch and pop as it passed the thin plastic tube covering the most of the needle, and I was in a sort of shock that I had actually done it. I pulled the needle out, leaving the tube in (as I said I was using a catheter needle) and I threaded the jewelry (a 10mm 14G labret post) through the tube, and pulled the tube back out, bringing the jewelry into the piercing. At first I thought the jewelry had fallen out and not threaded through, but I was surprised to see that it had actually come through. I removed the tube, and screwed the 4mm ball onto the post, before having a bit of a breather. I called my big brother in for some moral support while I pierced the second hole. My mother was downstairs, thinking that I didn't have the guts to actually pierce myself...well I showed her, didn't I?

The numbing on the other side of my lip had already worn off at that point, so I decided to get that side over and done with as well, and I changed gloves before swabbing the other side of my lip with alcohol once again. The marking was still there after the swabbing fortunately. I then lined up the clamps and needle again, complete with the tube as the other needle was, and pushed through, and I strongly advise, that if you are going to self-pierce your lip, that you pierce from the inside to the outside, not outside through to inside like I did, because when the piercing heals and closes over when you take it out, you are left with an ugly knot-shaped scar on your lip.

Anyways, I finished the second piercing, and once again threaded the jewelry through, all the while, my big brother telling me how proud of me he was, even though he's too much of a wuss to go near a needle, let alone pierce himself with one haha. I spent the night sucking on ice and drinking icy cold drinks, and I did regular sea salt soaks, not to mention cleaning with Dettol Antibacterial hand wash and rinsing with watered down Listerine, which I did anyways due to my tongue piercing (which was already healed, I just like to be clean). I ended up taking the piercings out (for a guy, go figure...) but now I intend to self-pierce my vertical labret in about a week or so.

Do what you want, it is, after all, your own body, but believe me, professionals are called professionals for a reason, and with the exception of a few, they do know what they are doing. Just remember, be hygienic, and be safe!! DO NOT pierce yourself or a friend if you are not well-informed and prepared for anything, including rare accidents, and DEFINITELY DO NOT use a SAFETY PIN AND A LIGHTER!!!!!!!!!

The best way for sterilisation, is an autoclave. Fire actually puts more bacteria onto metals. Remember, boiling does not sterilise, burning does not sterilise, antiseptic does not sterilise. The only safe way is an autoclave. Hospitals use it for sterilising surgical equipment, so it is a well known and largely used method.

I don't mean to preach, but I don't think that alot of people know the dangers. It isn't always good to be blissfully ignorant.