Steph ([info]nacho_cheese) wrote in [info]pagan,
@ 2008-03-17 11:46:00
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Random question...
I've been planning to get my ears pierced for the second time, at 23 (the first at 18 resulted in a bad experience that made me remove the earrings... boo). I'm going to go to a professional piercer rather than go under the gun again, since that caused the first fiasco, and wanted to know a question about post earrings, since I can "choose". :)

I'd like to get some pentacle post earrings to use as my first pair, to allow healing and all that. Since I haven't had my ears pierced in ages, I'm not sure what to look for in earrings, so if anyone can recommend pentacle earrings that will allow the holes to heal, what kind of material they should be, and where to possibly get them, it would be much appreciated!

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[info]autumns_valor
2008-03-19 05:35 am UTC (link)
my understanding is that you need a particular kind of ear ring for the initial piercing. After it's healed then you can put whatever you want in it.
umm i would check the pyramid collection for pent ear rings that wont turn your ears funny colors and make them hurt.
Good luck.

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[info]nacho_cheese
2008-03-19 01:51 pm UTC (link)
I should have clarified. :) I know they have to be of a specific material to allow for healing, so I was wondering if pentacles would come in said materials.

I'll check the collection you mentioned, thanks!

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[info]melpemone
2008-03-19 05:42 am UTC (link)
You won't be able to wear standard post earrings for the healing time. They'll pierce you with either capture bead rings or plain surgical steel posts that screw off at the front and back; very probably the former.

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[info]nacho_cheese
2008-03-19 01:53 pm UTC (link)
That's interesting about the different kinds of earrings... like I mentioned before, didn't know that they can heal with something other than posts. Learn something new everyday! :)

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Allow me a geek moment...
[info]jaded_journeys
2008-03-19 05:47 am UTC (link)
A professional piercer probably isn't going to have post earrings for the healing (and I'd be wary of one who did). I just recently got my ears pierced for a third time (both previous times they had healed over after fiascos with guns), I went to a professional piercer and got two 16ga captive bead rings.

Really, I'd go with what they recommend (I could have gotten barbells, but I like the look of the CBRs). And after they heal (anywhere from 4-8 weeks) maybe switch to a pentacle earring. You can spend your healing time looking over other earrings and making a choice, or you might decide you like the look of the pair they give you better. :)

Also, the BME wiki has links to valuable resources about picking a good piercer, the best types of jewelry for the type of piercing, etc.

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Re: Allow me a geek moment...
[info]nacho_cheese
2008-03-19 01:52 pm UTC (link)
You know, I never considered that they may be using different rings than the first time I got my ears pierced. Like I said, it was with a gun, so they used a post earring (and scarred the back of my earlobe like whoah), but that would be rather neat, too. I'll have to look into that and see how that'll work.

And thank you for the wiki! I've been looking for a place to get pierced, so this seems reputable.

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[info]xechox
2008-03-19 07:59 am UTC (link)
I've had both ears pierced twice, gun both times, and no problems that I didn't cause (like ripping one out while changing clothes).

But one thing I've learned is that the metal the earrings are made of matters just as much as where/how you get them pierced. Gold-plated are generally safest, especially for sensitive ears, but can be more expensive. Surgical steel is the next best thing.

Also make sure to do some background on the place you're getting them pierced. Be sure that things are sterile and properly handled.

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[info]nacho_cheese
2008-03-19 01:55 pm UTC (link)
I'll be doing a lot of research on the place. :) Had some recommendations already, but need to do a bit more before deciding. I'll probably go for white gold-plated or the steel. (Not a fan of yellow gold, lol.)

And I'd go under the gun again, but it was traumatic; the post backing on my left ear caused some scarring because it pierced too tightly. So... that was enough for me!

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[info]frightened
2008-03-19 08:30 am UTC (link)
Good choice on needle rather than gun. Stands to reason: something very sharp going through is gonna cause less trauma than something relatively blunt relying on force.

Titanium. Titanium all the way. It's light, it doesn't do much reacting (the colours eventually fade, particularly in oral or genital piercings, but otherwise it lasts forever) and very few people are allergic to it (as opposed to stainless steel, which contains nickel).

Stick with the jewellery the piercer uses. (Assuming your piercer is reputable! I second the BMEzine recommendation, so you know how to tell good advice from bad.) You don't want to move or take out the jewellery during the healing process, and when you've got an open wound, you want jewellery that's seen the inside of an autoclave. It's only 6 weeks or so, and patience is the key to healing piercings successfully. I had one, went through a big chunk of cartilage, took 18 months to heal. Now that was a pain in the ear ass.

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[info]nacho_cheese
2008-03-19 02:02 pm UTC (link)
I figured as much after the last fiasco, which would have turned out to be devastating for wanting future piercings if it weren't for watching my best friend getting her eyebrow pierced that way. :)

Titanium... excellent idea. I remember the last time I was pierced that it was with surgical steel, which I didn't have a problem with, but better safe than anything else. So I'll look into those.

Oh god, she also got her cartilage pierced, which took all of TWO YEARS to heal. It was ridiculous. But 6 weeks won't be too difficult. It will have to wait until after I sell my scooter and buy a car, since I imagine that fresh earrings (or earrings at all) in a helmet don't fare too well. :)

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[info]frightened
2008-03-19 06:07 pm UTC (link)
Haha, cartilage horror stories... I got the bright idea to get four done at once. With a gun. (I was young!) And then, to top it off, I realised after the fact that I always slept on that side of my head. Spent nearly a YEAR sleeping with one of those inflatable aeroplane pillows so I could put my ear over the hole.

Yeah... it's amazing how many things go near your ears. You only discover this once the slightest touch hurts!

Good luck :)

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[info]nacho_cheese
2008-03-19 07:00 pm UTC (link)
LOL, that's what she said! She ended up taking it out because it got a little infected and never healed, and she gave up. I for one would most likely never get my cartilage pierced, though stranger things have happened... ;)

Thanks!

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[info]bronwenf
2008-03-19 03:18 pm UTC (link)
Wow. Things have definitely changed since I first pierced my ears in 1979! (I was 16, do the math...)

My ears didn't like anything but gold. Silver and other metals brought on a nasty flaking reaction (but I can wear silver rings and necklaces 24/7 without any reaction at all).

I wonder how they'd react to titanium...

Off and on I consider getting my earlobes re-pierced.

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[info]plur_na_gaoithe
2008-03-19 04:16 pm UTC (link)
I ditto on avoiding silver if you have sensitive ears, for the reason that silver will wear off of the earrings and cause infections.

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[info]nacho_cheese
2008-03-19 07:02 pm UTC (link)
Ooh, that's good to know... and a shame, since I love silver jewelry. White gold will do, though, and I'm sure titanium would work just fine.

I know what you mean, [info]bronwenf, about getting them done again. :) I've had the urge for the past couple months since I think earrings are really gorgeous, but to go through something like that so much later (and sometimes, more aware) is a little freaky!

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[info]plur_na_gaoithe
2008-03-19 08:29 pm UTC (link)
You could try white gold. : )

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[info]nacho_cheese
2008-03-20 01:34 am UTC (link)
I'm gonna suggest that. :) Of course, the piercer knows best, but it'd be good to have my opinion in, too!

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[info]bronwenf
2008-03-20 01:09 am UTC (link)
Definitely a little freaky!

Not to mention that my 3-year-old daughter would then want hers done, and house rule is she has to be old enough to take care of the piercings on her own.

Like I said, it's still in the pondering stage...actually, I'd rather get another tattoo...

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[info]nacho_cheese
2008-03-20 01:35 am UTC (link)
Wowwie, yeah, I hear ya. Our rule was, 18, do whatever you want. Just don't go getting anything dangerous pierced, lol. That's why I waited so long at first.

Another tattoo is a great idea! I've been aching for a second...

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[info]whataradialacks
2008-03-20 04:14 am UTC (link)
I've had my cartilage/lobes pierced about 35 times.
as you can imagine, the first say 26 times didnt work out all that well (thank you gun...i also worked at claires...let those demon girls practise on me) anyhow, going to a *real* piercer is a great idea. I'd suggest getting pierced with an o-ring (since your piercing is likely to swell a big) and the o-ring is easier to clean AND doesn't get caught on clothing. secondly, you will get pierced with either stainless steel OR titanium (or if they have it, get the niobium. that shit rocks) a real piercer doesn't generally pierce w/ soft metals. good luck
-Steph

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