Let's Start With This One...

Good Morning Lovelies,   

Piercings are my little vice in life! Overall, I’ve got 12 and I love each and every one of them. Many have special meaning to me, others are ones are just loved the look of. I honestly wouldn’t change them for the world and as I try to grow my body confidence these have helped a lot.   

I have a fantastic place and piercer I go to in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. Electric Punch Tattoo and Piercings is honestly the best in the business. I’ve been to F. Hinds and Claire’s Accessories too, however, nothing beats Gemma and the team here, who are so kind and friendly. They know exactly what they are doing and give the best advice.   

Their work has kept me going back for years now. I’m currently in the middle of planning a new piercing in fact. Something that got me thinking about a blog post. I’ve never spoken about what I’ve had done before, so I thought it would be a nice idea to explore my piercings with you all. At the moment, this is the selection box my ears are working with…  

Helix: I got gifted a bit of money to have a piercing done, so I went with a helix one. This is the one that had given me a bit of pain and trouble, yet I think that is subconsciously kore because of who gifted me it aha! After nearly two years, it is still healing, but with regular treatments it is a lot better and pretty again.   

Mid Helix: This is a very special piercing for me! After years of talking about getting one each, me and my mum have matching helix piercings. We had them done at Claire’s one afternoon. Now when we stand side by side or put are arms around each other, the two piercings bump together. A ear piercing friendship bracelet if you will. Helix piercings do tend to take longer to heal, but the middle helix piercing took no time at all.  

Rook: Based on the middle part of your ear, this is one of those piercings that look scarier than they are. Mine has a hoop in it right now and other than keeping it clean, I often forget I have it. I got this as they say it helps anxiety and headaches. Whilst I’m not so sure on the anxiety part, it definitely helped with my migraines.  Flat: I was a piercing newbie when I had this one done. My piercer, Gemma, told me about it and I decided I loved the look and sound of it. Now, I completely forget I have it unless changing the earring. It never bothers me, healing super quick. I love the different earrings I can put in this one.

Tragus: Is it odd to have a piercing you love the most? My brother Gio brought me this for my birthday and it’s my favourite one of the bunch. I had heard horror stories about getting it done, with people stating how painful it was. Luckily, this wasn’t the case for me. Two days later, I was able to put my headphones back in and have had no pain from it ever. It’s a very clean, neat and fantastic piercing to have. 

Conch: I loved the look of this and was so happy with the piercing. However, it takes a long time to heal. At around the 12 week mark, I was told I could change it to a hoop. Yet, I think I did it a little bit too early. It’s still healing now over a year later. I really do love it though.

Three Lobes (Both Ears): I had my first lobes done when I was just five. I begged my mum to take me to Claire’s Accessories, which she did for my birthday. Since then I’ve added two more lower lobes piercings. For me, lobes take no time at all to heal and are entirely painless. I’m even thinking of getting my fourth lobes holes or a lower helix on both sides. 

I’m not sure which piercing I will go with next! I’ve got an image up as I write this post to remind me of the names. Yet, I’m finding that I’m getting more drawn in to all the different holes to pick from. I do really love the look of an industrial piercing, but I don’t know I can have it due to my others. I have also always loved a forward helix! I guess you will have to just wait to find out aha!   

Joey X

Getting your ears pierced as an adult can be a bit of a hassle. Not the actual doing of the piercing, although that can be scary, but the actual working out of where to go to get it done. I was five when I got my first lobe piercing at Claire’s Accessories. Now 20 years on, I can safely say I have had no problems with them. Something which influenced my latest piercing choice. 

For a long time, I have wanted to get the top of my ear pierced. Yet, I was worried by the number of horror stories I had heard about letting someone use a gun to pierce the cartilage. Spending time researching local piercing parlours, I didn’t know who to trust to do it with a needle. All of which leading me back into the direction of the company that my mum took me to when I was little. 

Due to everything that is happening at the moment, an appointment was needed in store to be able to get it done. There so, both my mum and I booked in to have ours done on the 24th July at the Harlow store. Turning up with not much memory of the first time I went to Claire’s for a piercing, team leader Megan, helped to get us seated, before talking us through everything that was going to happen. 

The piercing was a free service, with the earring prices and cleaning solutions being the only costs. With no hoop option, I decided to go for the 3mm stainless steel silver ball pick at £15. Getting my choice all set up, Megan talked us through all of the care needed before and after the piercing. 

Many find cartilage piercings a lot more painful than lobe ones, with extra time needed for it to heal properly. This wasn’t going to stop me and my mum from having it done though. Together we sat for around 10 minutes each, whilst Megan showed us our chosen earrings, cleaned and marked the area, before using the gun to pierce the area. 

Noise is the big thing in all of this if you are worried. I don’t think the pain really hit me at all, more so the noise of the gun being used. Something that comes from it being so close to your ear. However, it is not too bad, with it being done so quickly. 

After we had both finished having our ears pierced, we were given the lotion, paid and directed on what to do next. Instructed to come back if anything happened or we had any questions, we felt safe, secure and happy with our new ear accessories. 

Having been to another jewellery shop for my second lobe piercing, an equally good experience, I have to say if I had to pick out of the two, I think I would go back to Claire’s. I haven’t had any problems so far. It looks like it is healing well. We have even spoken to the piercer since, who said that they looked good and instructed us what to do next with future piercings, including going elsewhere for safety for inner ear ones. 

Claire’s Accessories gets a lot of bad press for their ear-piercing services, but I couldn’t praise them more. I am so happy with how they both look and can’t wait to go back in the store to purchase earrings for when I can change the cartilage one, as they are affordable too. 

Getting your ears pierced can be a big and scary thing, but if you are in the Essex area, Harlow’s team will look after you. In fact, I am sure any Claire’s team will. I trust them a lot now, after years of worrying from horror stories. I will let you know if anything changes of course, but for now I would definitely suggest taking a look at their appointments, earrings and store details to find out more if you are looking to get yours pierced lovelies. My ears have never looked so pretty aha! 

Will you be getting a new piercing when lockdown has lifted lovelies?

Joey X