Lumi Does It: Pierce Your Own Ears!

Really You can.

                                                                            by: A. Illumi

This self-induced assignment came about while talking about Jackass and their recent loss of  Ryan Dunn.  Wicked and I were talking about how great it is that the Jackass guys have an idea and they get stuff, learn how(kind of), and then dooooo it! This lead to a broader talk about how we as a people used to do so many things in our homes: can veggies, pluck chickens, birth babies, and more recently and a little less difficultly; pierce our own and each other’s ears.  Piercing your ears, not too long ago, was something your best friend might do for you or your mom. It’s one of those things a women or teen in your circle just knew how to do and more importantly was not afraid. We seem to live in a culture of fear of being unqualified for everything. We need experts and specialists in order for a finger to be lifted in our home’s. And though it is nice not to do EVERYTHING one has to wonder and worry a little about the loss of knowledge and experience that comes with this “paying for everyone to do our things policy”.With ear piercing especially, Lumi feels, that there is an intangible non-monetary loss when women, girls, and guys no longer get together and poke holes in each other’s ears like some beautiful 1960’s tableaux.

There is and always has been a profound psychological and symbolic meaning to piercing.  The act and the jewelry have been seen throughout time as symbols of strength, wealth, symbols of marriage, as a charm against pain, as a way to express one’s individuality, reclaiming body after abuse,  or even as a way to get into a transcendental state of mind.  As to ear piercing specifically:

“Ears were probably first pierced for magical purposes, very many primitive tribes believe that demons can enter the body through the ear, because demons and spirits are supposed to be repelled by metal, ear-piercing prevents them entering the body. Sailors used to have an ear pierced to improve eyesight, and if the bodies washed up somewhere it would pay for a christian burial. In many societies ear piercing is done as a puberty ritual, in Borneo the Mother and Father each pierce one ear as a symbol of the child’s dependence on their parents.”

The fact that we used to all take part in piercing, rather than passively receiving, seems so much a metaphor for the strange dilution of culture that continues to wreak havoc on our overall family and community structures.

It was with all these thoughts heavy on her mind, that your Auntie Lumi blurted out to Wicked,” What if I pierce my own ear? Would that be a good blog, I think it might mean something!”Wicked responded, “Fuck yes!” and here we are. Before getting started, Lumi did her normal survey of the internets to see who was saying and doing what, with piercing their own ears. There were alot of good explanations and several excellent videos but the chutzpah of this young lady  really made Lumi certain, she was indeed going to go for it:

After getting all her chutzpah together, Lumi decided it was a good suggestion of Wicked’s to send a quick e-mail over to Wicked’s friend pin-up model, piercer, tattoo artista, and magical lady of fashion Jacqui!

She provided Lumi with lots of information! Her top rules were “Have everything ready before you get started” – seems simple but the process does happen really fast and there are quite a few things you need to have together: piercing implement, alcohol swabs, waterproof sharpie, paper towels, gloves etc..)  Miss. Jacqui also recommends: unscented hand soap and seal salt with warm water for after care.  And in case you were considering not going to a piercer and not doing it at home; please don’t consider the ear piercing guns, a really great option.  Lumi has experienced and Jacqui mentioned, that these guns often cause cysts,which for Lumi, resulted in the past of her ear rejecting the earrings en toto.  As for actual process of self-piercing Jacqui says this: …Please do not pierce yourself alone — if you can help it.  If you are firm you must pierce yourself, please have a friend on standby…”  Lumi did take this advice very to heart ,as previously, she had planned to go it hana-solo.Jacqui gave me alot of really great safety tips and advice.  I followed all the hygiene and sanitary onez because clean and unifectious is really not negotiable.  However, let me be very clear that the piercing tool of safety pin was not recommended or endorsed by Jacqui.  The approved tool for ear piercing would be a piercing needle available very cheap!

 I went next, to my aunt Dinah and asked her about completing my mother’s piercing when she, as a teen, had Sleepers  that failed to go all the way though.   Sleepers were earrings that had two sharp points which met in the middle and you squeezed them periodically through the day to slowly self pierce your ear.  These look like a modern version of those:

Aunt Dinah came to the rescue with icing my mom’s ear until it was numb and pushing a sterilized sewing needle through.  She explained they used a sewing needle and that the reason to use a sewing needle vs. a safety pin was knowing the type of metal it is made out of.  Though I did end up using a safety pin…Lumi

The reason Lumi chose a safety pin was the desire to have something to hold onto when piercing her own ear.  And just for the sake of Dora the Explorer laws of repetitions: Lumi went far far off any recommendations of piercer Jacqui or Aunt Dinah in choosing to use a safety pin.  Furthermore, the Aunties do not recommend piercing, or anything else, to anyone ever.With all warnings in place and without further fanfare.  Here is Lumi Does her own piercing:First Lumi put on her non-latex gloves and then sterilized the safety pin:

Next, she numbed her ear with ice for about 7 minutes, which is really cold.

Then Lumi had her assistant, photographer, and mother put dots with a sharpie(lime green) on her ears.Now it is important to know that 9 years ago, lumi did have piercings in her ears and so there were small indentation type scars to help guide where the holes should be.  It’s possible this made it a little easier, on Lumi, during the piercing.  Then it was time to press the needle into my ear.

Pressing through the initial part of the ear took a good amount of force and it hurt a little.  Lumi advises closing one eye for pain control.  

When I got into the middle of the ear it was easier but pushing through the back of the ear took a lot of balls.  I actually pressed on the back of my ear with my finger, into the needle.  I have fairly calloused finger tips, so they made a good landing zone for the needle to touch down when it slid out the back of my ear.  Sliding vs. slamming seems like a good policy when it comes to piercing and their is actually even piercing lube(recommended by Jacqui) that helps makes the piercing process even more smooth.  If lumi did this again , she would invest in some of this surgical lube. okay so here is the needle, once it was out of the otherside of the ear.  

I

did the same on both ears, leaving the safety pins in for about fifteen minutes before trying to insert my new jewelry.  Then I was ready to put in my new little sterling silver skulls, after sterilizing them, of course.  I slid out each safety pin and slowly pushed in the earrings.  Finding my way through freshly made holes took a couple of minutes but the end result was: 

LUMI HAS THE CUTEST EARRINGS IN HER EARS AND SHE SHE DID IT HERSELF!

Well aunties and uncles and everyone out there – doing it yourself can sometimes be a really big chore and ends up being expensive or not worth it but in this case Lumi couldn’t be more satisfied with her do it yourself doings and 9 days into the self-pierce and my ears feel great!  Just a few more weeks and this Lumi will be doing the earring shopping to end all earring shopping!

Maybe starting with something like these:

As always thank you all for reading and please leave us comments! We love to hear what you think!

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