Poking holes in myself
 

I've already googled and read about it, but I want some input from people who have done it themselves. So, give me your do-it-yourself ear piercing tips.

hey man, I have done a piercing, but I suggest just dropping $20 and getting it done professionally. Although it IS possible to sterilize a needle by torching it (not over a match or a regular lighter, it needs to be white hot, try a gas-stove), the problem I ran into was that I have a teardrop shaped ear and I couldn't get the damn thing all the way through my ear straight. I ended up with a nasty infection in some of the bad holes and found getting it doen at a shop by a third party to be the better way to go.

Just my opinion.

Hollow needle, if you're going to do it yourself.
where to obtain one, good Q.
I've um...found them at doctors offices before, and in some states you can find them at farm-supply type stores in the veterinary type sections.

and no matter how/where you get it done, for piercing aftercare I've had luck cleaning with Hibiclens and applying Neosporin.

I do suggest you go the professional route tho. :)

professional route is the best way to go... and that doesnt mean the gun at the mall... those things are impossible to sterilize correctly and often make healing time longer...

for do it yourself www.bmeshop.com has needles,numbing stuff,etc for sale...

and www.bmezine.com has some do it yourself guides...

Don't do it yourself!!

Especially if you're talking about piercings anywhere other than your ear. I cringe whenever people tell me they did their own eyebrow or nipple...
You can strike and kill a nerve, thus paralyzing the left side of your face! Do you really want that?

It's worth the money. Unless you're a masochist.

ive heard thats just a myth... why would such a major nerve be so immediatly below the skin...


went ahead and found the exact link to the DIY piercing faq on bmezine...
http://www.bmezine.com/diyp.html

I pierced my eyebrow before and it was so easy. Took an icecube to numb it, then sterilized a pin, had a small apple cube at the base of the eyebrow and simply poked the pin through until it hit the apple, then place the ring in and put some cleaner on it.

Did it heal completely? How long ago was it?

I'm waiting until at least next Monday, as I don't want a fresh piercing in a mosh pit on Sunday night.

Actually, the vagus nerve runs up both sides of your neck right next to the carotid artery. Strike one side and you knock the victim out. Strike both at once and you kill him. Sure you have to use the right angle and direction, but it is a very important nerve that's right next to the surface.

I'm gonna go with the majority and say get it done by a pro as well. Ever seen an infected earlobe? Trust me, you do NOT want your earlobe to look like a radish. When the savings are under $100 and my health or wellbeing is on the line, I always pony up the money.

i did my ears the old fashioned way: ice, needle, rubbing alcohol. In that order. Just make a mark first so that you get the hole where you want it, and make sure to hold the needle straight, not angled. I was in junior high, and it was a third hole in each of my ears, but it turned out well.

Only a few days, it really wasn't bad at all. Just take your time if you choose to do this. And take care of it. Pick up some H2Ocean cleaner found at body piercing/tattoo shops.