If you’re looking for a little bit of college rebellion without the permanent side effects, ear piercing may be right for you. You certainly wouldn’t be alone: a recent study from the Pew Research Center found that one in four 18 to 29-year-olds have a piercing other than the ear lobe.
There are many different types of ear piercings, each with a unique name. If this is your first piercing, start with the lobe. It’s the most common, quickest to heal, and easiest to maintain. But, if you’re looking to step out of the conventional box, the next step is probably a helix piercing. Commonly known as a “cartilage” piercing, a helix piercing is placed on the outer edge of the ear. Pina piercings are helix piercings at the top of the ear and auricle piercings are helix piercings in the middle of the ear.
If you want to be even more daring, you can pierce the cartilage on the inner parts of your ear as well. Tragus piercings are placed in the hard cartilage closest to your ear canal. Other piercings, like daith, rook, and snug piercings will depend on anatomy. Your ear may be too small for those piercings.
If you think you’ve found the right piercing for you, be prepared for the risk of infection. There are preventative methods you can take to ensure that your piercing will heal and resist infection, like picking the right piercer and taking proper care of the area.
Several medical sources, like WebMD, agree that only your lobes should be pierced with a stud gun (the use of a stud gun for other piercings is actually illegal in many states). These guns literally shoot through the skin. If used on cartilage, the scar tissue from inside the hole is pushed to the back of the ear, where it can easily become infected. You should only have your cartilage pierced by a trained professional, usually found at tattoo parlors. These professionals will use a piercing-specific needle, which creates a path for the jewelry, instead of pushing a path with the jewelry via the gun. A professional is certified by the Association of Professional Piercers, which ensures that the piercer has been properly trained in order to reduce the chance of infection.
Once you decide to take the plunge and get the pierce (#seewhatididthere?), it’s essential you adopt a careful cleaning regimen. Your piercer will give you more detailed instructions, but you will need to use a saline soak for five to ten minutes every day, making sure to rinse off any residue. You should also wash the site with a mild, fragrance-free liquid soap no more than twice a day.
So where can you go in the Durham area? Here are a few options:
Worlock’s Tattoo in Raleigh (link to website: http://www.warlocks-tattoo.com/)
Dogstar Tattoo Co in Durham (link to yellow pages: http://www.yellowpages.com/durham-nc/mip/dogstar-tattoo-co-460089938?lid=460089938)
Gorilla Ink in Durham (link to yellow pages: http://www.yellowpages.com/durham-nc/mip/gorilla-ink-450991094)
Sources:
Pictures and piercing descriptions: http://www.bodyjewelleryshop.com/body_jewellery_shop/body_piercings/ear_…
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/tc/body-piercing-problems-prevention
http://www.safepiercing.org/piercing/
gun picture: http://syrinx.fresno.edu/issues/02-02-2011/piercing-guide-piercing-gun-vs-needle