How to Pierce Your Own Cartilage

Steps

1. Sterilize your ear and equipment. Using an autoclave is the only way to have absolutely sterile materials. You must know how to set up a sterile field to work in, and be able to prevent cross contamination between sterile and non-sterile items.
2. Ice the area of the ear you are going to pierce for 5 minutes, or until it is fairly numb.
3. Take the needle and pop it through the first layer of skin. Sometimes it is easier to leave the ice in place, sometimes it isn't. Do whichever is easiest.
4. Tilt the needle at the angle you want the stud to be at and pop it the rest of the way through. If you are not using the ice as a shield for your head, use a towel or something else that will be able to stop the needle from going in your head, but won't be a nuisance.
5. Leave the needle in for a moment; it should barely break the back surface of your ear. Farther is fine but not necessary.
6. Place the jewelry into the hollow back of the needle, and follow it through the hole.
7. Enjoy. It takes 6 months to completely heal. Wash with anti-bacterial soap and use sea salt soaks twice a day.

Tips

• Needles designed specifically for body piercing are significantly sharper than household needles. This means the piercing itself will hurt less. They also come packaged individually in sterile packaging,reducing the risk of infection.
• If the piercing shows signs of infection(redness,heat,crusting) visit your doctor or a piercing professional for advise.
• Choose high quality stainless steel or titanium jewelery to reduce the risk of allergies. Silver and gold fine for piercing as long as they are of a very pure content; nothing less than 90% is advisable.
• Your parents are soooooo not going to like this if you are under fourteen. Trust me. So, if not already done, grow your hair out long enough to cover your ears.

Warnings

• Do not self-pierce your tongue.
• Do not do if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Be careful and diligent with aftercare, infections are dangerous.
• Blood can carry infectious diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV. Wear disposable gloves and after using the needle throw it into a sharps bin to prevent accidents.
• Putting peroxide on a wound can damage the skin. Salt water solutions/tea tree oil are preferable, as they can help to speed up the healing process.
• Performing your own piercings is very risky. Infection, rejection, and poor placement may result. For the safest and best looking piercing, see a professional body piercer.

Things You'll Need

• ice cubes
• hollow piercing needle
• body jewelry
• soap, water, sea salt