Tuesday

My forward helix piercing: One month on


Back at the beginning of August, I finally got another piercing after 16 months needle-free. I settled on a forward helix piercing in my left ear and I am still absolutely in love with it! I thought that it would be nice to give a little run-down of my experience so that anybody else who is thinking of getting it done knows what to expect.
The studio
I went to Punktured in Brighton for my piercing. I love Punktured and it's the only place I'll get pierced. They're very nice in there- Professional but also easy to chat to. It's very clean and it has a friendly, welcoming feel to it. I don't know about you guys, but I do think dark tattoo studios with big, burly men at the helm can be a little intimidating. Punktured is bright pink and turquoise, with glass cabinets of body jewellery covering the walls. As it's a piercing- and body mod- only studio, it feels like they know their stuff a lot more, rather than a tattoo studio that does piercing on the side. 

Punktured charge £25 for any ear piercing with a barbell which is the perfect price point if you ask me. Enough to feel secure but not so much that you feel ripped off. Just make sure you book an appointment in advance as they book up quickly.

The piercing
I was pierced by a very nice guy called Alex, and a girl named Julie sat in too. They were both very funny and we had a great chat about what it's like to be a teacher. Rich sat outside but they're happy for you to bring a friend in with you if you like.

Alex marked three dots on my ear using a pen and, being the fussy thing I am, I didn't like the placement of either of them. He happily marked another three lower down and I chose the one I liked the most.

Being my 26th piercing, I wasn't at all nervous and I was fully prepared for the needle. I'm not going to lie- It took my breath away from the pain. I have a really high pain threshold and piercings don't phase me at all. This one hurt a lot. As a result of the pain, I curled my toes and, in doing so, I got a cramp in my calf. Cramps and needles at the same time? Not nice.

Of course, the pain only lasted a second or so and it wasn't so bad that I wouldn't do it again. Don't freak out if you want it done- I just wasn't prepared, was overconfident and was horribly surprised! 

Alex popped in the barbell- I'd chosen a 1.2mm one when I arrived- and, after a little bit of struggling with the fiddly ball, I was ready to head off, a little bloody but happy with my new baby!

Aftermath
It's a month later and I'm still a bit sensitive where I was pierced. It's still a little uncomfortable to sleep on that ear and it hurts when I catch it with a hairbrush or my glasses. However, it is healing so much easier than any other piercing. Unlike every other piercing I have ever had ever, I've had no problems with this one: No dramatic swelling, no excess scar tissue, no pus-filled lumps. Just a lovely, neat little piercing that's healing more and more by the day.

What's next
In a couple of months time, I'm going to swap over the barbell for a shorter one. It's pierced with a fairly long barbell to allow for swelling but, now that it's been a while, the swelling has gone down and the barbell's getting a little inconvenient with the extra length.  

Now it's time to look to my next piercing- A rook in my right ear. Look out for me, Punktured. I'm on my way!

My jewellery
Rainbow Tunnel- 8mm
Pearl Stud Earrings
Curved barbell- 1.2mm (forward helix)
Straight barbell- 1.2mm (conch)

53 comments :

  1. I used to have mine done and LOVED it but my ear rejected it. I'm hoping to get the cartlidge done underneath so I can have a version of it ha! It looks so pretty!

    http://golddustk.blogspot.co.uk/
    x

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    Replies
    1. That's such a shame! Are you getting a daith or a rook? Or a helix? Haha ear piercings are so confusing!

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  2. Ooh it looks lovely!

    Emma x
    http://beautyandrags.blogspot.co.uk/

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  3. Gah, when I got my tongue pierced I wasn't scared at all, but no adrenaline rush means you feel ALL THE PAIN! It hurt SO much and I literally felt the needle break through every fibre of my tongue. Yeuck! I always find the more scared I am the less it actually hurts!

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    Replies
    1. EEW! That's the worst thing- As you get more piercings, they start to hurt more!

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  4. I want the triple helix piercing with 3 tiny diamonds in. However, I only have my nose and my earlobes done and the thought of cartilage makes me a wee bit woozy :s

    Nance
    xoxo

    www.thelittlefloralowl.wordpress.com

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    Replies
    1. My advice? Do not get them all done at once! I can't even imagine that!

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    2. I did all three of them at once about a week ago. It was on a whim. I love them but OMG the pain was something close to childbirth. That said, if I had done one at a time I probably wouldn't have done more than one. A week out and the swelling just kicked in.

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  5. Love it! I have three in each lobe that I adore, I'm so glad I finally got the courage for the extra four.

    http://ramblingofabeautyblogger.blogspot.co.uk/

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  6. I love the look of this one, but the sound of the pain you had when you've had a fair few piercings is slightly off putting. I'm actually looking to get my nose re-pierced at some point. It was rejected the last time but was done with a gun before I even knew what was happening. I was so angry, I demanded my money back. As I said, it rejected anyway about 3/4 weeks later and luckily healed up pretty nicely.

    Where else have you had done that you recommend? I'm tempted to get my smiley re-pierced too as I did enjoy it. The piercer hadn't really had any experience in that area so went through the top of my gums a little and it just caused problems when removing the jewellery. I had that for at least 3 years though! xo

    Adrienne | Late Night Nonsense | Bloglovin'

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    Replies
    1. Don't freak out- It was only because I wasn't prepared for it! If you brace yourself, you'll be fine!

      I love my conch piercing too and, of course, my lip and nose ones! I cannot believe that they did yours with a gun! That made me cringe!

      I think my favourite ever was my nape but they grow out so quickly!

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  7. This is the exact piercing I want, I'm so happy I found this post, makes me feel a bit more prepared for when I get mine done
    Deejay Speaks

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    Replies
    1. It's a great piercing! I'd love to see yours when you get it done!

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  8. I love my rook piercing but I got a ring instead of a barbell! I'm absolutley I obsessed with piercigs, it's ridiculous haha

    Katie
    Xxxx

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    Replies
    1. Ooh I want my rook done next! Mine will be with a barbell.

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  9. I really want a forward helix but I think I'd need to get a non-corporate job first haha. But thank you for this info! That piercing studio sounds really girly and nice haha.

    My first non-lobe piercing was my tragus and I was told that would hurt SO much but it didn't in the end - I think it was because I was nervous so much the reality was not nearly as bad as the expectation!

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    Replies
    1. Haha, I like it because it's discreet. I don't think anyone at work has even noticed mine!

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  10. Everyone says the forward helix is one of the most painful piercings out there, I''d love to have it done as it looks amazing but the pain makes it a no no for me haha! Can't wait to see your next addition to the piercing family!

    Shannon x

    Fangirls&Foundations

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    Replies
    1. Oh really? Haha, no wonder it hurt me so much!

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  11. Have wanted this done for years, but my pain threshold is quite low =/ looks great on you though, maybe I'll be brave enough to get mine done soon too! xoxo

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    Replies
    1. It only hurts for a second! It's well worth it!

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  12. wow, you have guts girl! looks great!

    - Janine
    http://theeoptimist.blogspot.com

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  13. I might go this weekend and i'm kind of freaking out about it... the forward helix has always appealed to me but the pain factor scares me! I have 5 lobe piercings between my ears and will get my tragus done next year. Also have a belly ring, but i'm having second thoughts about the helix!

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  14. I got a forward helix in my right ear and rook in my left on the same day a few weeks ago! I have to say forward helix is the most painful piercing I've ever had!

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  15. I have had my forward helix 3 times I got them all done at the same time it wasn't too bad after the initial I have been kicked in the head feeling it's just as painfull as any other piercing . I love it just looking forward to getting the bars changes now :)

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  16. I have my forward helix done 3 times had them done at the same time! It was a bit painfull but after the initial kick in the head feeling it was just as sore as any other piercing. I will be happy when I can change the bars but I do love it :)

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  17. I don't know if you're aware but the top photo has been used in a Buzzfeed article: http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/adventurous-ear-piercings as number 17.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for letting me know! It's been credited incorrectly so I've contacted the author. Thanks!

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  18. I love your colorful earrings on your lobe, any idea where I could pick a pair up from?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got mine on ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-MULTI-GEM-EAR-PLUG-SCREW-FIT-FLESH-TUNNEL-EXPANDER-/140544381841?pt=UK_Pendants_Chains_Dog_Tags_SR&var=440018438067&hash=item20b9191391

      Delete
  19. Gah, when I got my tongue pierced I wasn't scared at all, but no adrenaline rush means you feel ALL THE PAIN! It hurt SO much and I literally felt the needle break through every fibre of my tongue. Yeuck! I always find the more scared I am the less it actually hurts!
    شركة مقاولات بالرياض
    تغليف اثاث
    نقل اثاث بالرياض
    تنظيف خزانات بجدة
    شركة تخزين اثاث بجدة
    تنظيف شقق بجدة
    رش المبيدات حشرية مكة

    شركة تنظيف خزانات بالرياض

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  20. man I LOVE the piercing you have high up on your lobe, its almost an anti tragus but higher up! im considering getting it do you know what it's called??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's actually two piercings: A lobe and a conch. It's just that the perspective of the photo makes it look like one. You can see I'm wearing two different pieces of jewellery in each piercing: Ones silver and ones pearly.

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  21. I have gotten the same thing about 2 weeks ago & I must say, completely painless. It barely hurt when I walked out of the parlor! I actually got told by my boyfriend I slept on it that night! It bothers me a little because its just slightly swollen, and because I have a hoop in it so it bends funny when I sleep! I want to go soon and get my second and third one and get the studs ! Looks Amazing!

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    Replies
    1. I'm so glad it was painless for you! Good luck with the rest of your piercings!

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  22. How much swelling did you experience? I got this done about a week ago and am experiencing quite a bit of swelling. Is this normal or should I go get it looked at?

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    Replies
    1. It's normal to swell, even if there's quite a lot of swelling., but if you're worried about it, ask your piercer to take a look.

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  23. I Had My Triple Helix Done On Monday 1st Day Was Quite Uncomfortable With Facial Expressions Eating & Laughing Wasnt Pleasent Ha Its Just In The Last Hour Started To Throbe a Bit Swell & Go Hot Just Put ice All Around Swallen Area & Cleaned With Salt Water, This Page Just Carmed Me Down :-) I Have 12 Piercings in My Ears ILove Piercings But HATE The Healing Process Nowt Worse But Way Worth The Pain When Healed ♡

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  24. Hey I'm thinking of getting a forward helix done, and I'm also going to go to Punktured, do you get the choice of a ring with a ball or do you have to get a barbell?

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    Replies
    1. From what I remember, you get a choice but I'm not 100% certain on that

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  25. I agree that the forward helix was painful but not nearly as bad as my daith!

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  26. Hey I had my forward helix pierced a week ago with a ring and it's still so swollen and red and sometimes crusty. And impossible to sleep on. Could it be infected?

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    Replies
    1. That sounds perfectly normal to me since it's a new piercing and still healing. I'd recommend seeing your piercer though so they can check it out

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  27. i'd like to get my forward helix and my rook pierced on different ears, would that be a bad idea?

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    Replies
    1. Of course not! If you want it then it's a great idea!

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  28. do you have a tragic piercing?

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    Replies
    1. Tragus? I don't, I'm afraid

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    2. The tragus piercing was surprisingly painless. I got both sides done the same day. That area doesn't have many nerve endings. There is a pinch from piercing the skin but the rest is pressure as it goes all the way through. I adore mine, but healing was a pain. Suffered through the hypertrophic scars but finally think they've healed. I want the triple forward helix but I'm seeing too many reports of high pain levels lol

      Delete
  29. Great! I think that forward helix piercing looks really nice on you :). I'm looking forward to have mine, I don't know when since I recently got a daith piercing (one month ago). I have a question, Why is it inconvinient to have a curved barbell? I think it looks very cute...

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    Replies
    1. It wasn't the curved shape that was inconvenient, but the length. When it was first pierced, a long barbell was used to allow for swelling but once that swelling went down, I was left with a really long bar that got caught on my hair all the time

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