I want to get my own cartilage pierced. Say I am doing it right now, and all I have are cotton balls, a new earring, and an ice cube, could I pierce the cartilage? Or would it not be safe? And where is it okay to pierce the cartialge? Are there dangerous places to peirce it? I'm worried that if I pierce it wrong the cartilage will shatter.

It is not safe to do any kind of "at home" piercing. If done wrong it could look bad and lead to infection. Let a professional take care of this for you; the outcome will be a lot better.

Which cartilage? Are you aware of the nerves running through some cartilages?

Also, your equipment is not sterile. There is no way to sterilize equipment at home. You risk introducing infection.

I just pierced my cartilages.. they are coming along well, but hurt only afterwards. I sterilized an earing and my whole ear and then shined a flashlight behind my ear, so I could at least TRY and avoid any blood vessels (little red vein looking things) and then I arked it with eyeliner and put ice on it until it started getting numb. (I knew this because my ear got cold enough that it stopped making a crackeling type noise because it meant it was cold enough to NOT melt the ice.) after I again cleaned it with alcohol. I was just determined and hurried to place my thumb and index finger on each side, I poked it right through the three layers. It was pretty swollen and burning the next day, then it would hurt to touch it, then my mom pulled at them when cutting my hair on accident, you should also be careful you don't get your hair wrapped in it. But yea they were in pain for a day, but now they are itchy and I don't know if it is a sign of healing but I am able to twist them without pain and lay on them. I guess everybody's is different, I didn't feel a thing at first I promise. But pain is different to everyone. Well I'm only 15 and don't trust others piercing my ears because my first wholes I passed out! So I have done my last 3 myself and they are great! GOOD LUCK!