Ever since I was a freshman in high school I had wanted an eyebrow piercing. Going to a Catholic high school, I knew there was no way I would be able to get it at that time, let alone the parental consent required. So for four years I kept it in the back of my mind. Every once in a while I would mention to my friends "one day I am going to get my eyebrow pierced..."
At A Glance Author Laura Contact Laura@bme.anon When Six months ago Studio Dharma Tattoo Location Miami, FL So one day, I went to the new local Starbucks. I had gone there to study, but then I figured I might as well go to the piercing studio that was just two doors down. By this time I was eighteen, so there was no worry of parental consent and I had already graduated high school. So I went up to the front counter of the studio and waited for the lady there to finish talking to someone else. When I finally got a chance, I just asked her "How much might it cost to get an eyebrow pierced?" She told me that normally it would be $35, but that weekend only there was a black Friday sale, and all piercings were just $20. I pretty much gasped and didn't know what to say, but I knew I was getting something pierced that day.
So I asked her about the eyebrow, but then thought of all the possibilities, and I asked her about my nose, and then about an industrial. I walked back to the Starbucks and texted my friend back and forth about what I should get. She said I should get my nose, but then I figured my allergies would get in the way, and a facial piercing would not make my parents happiest without any preparation. So after a half hour, I returned to the studio and told the lady I would like an industrial piercing. I figured that my friend had paid $60 for her, so $20 was a huge bargain, so I might as well go for the piercing that would be the biggest bargain. I know money really should not have been a factor of my decision, but it worked out anyways, sort of.
I had previously had my cartilage pierced at a Claire's, and when it got infected I took it out, even though I now know this was not the wisest idea, but it is how it happened. So I was expecting the pain to be similar to the Claire's piercings, never having had any real warning about the pain of an industrial. So I waited for the piercer, and everything was sterilized and it was a very clean environment and I was comfortable, so that was definitely a plus. So then he went and marked the holes on my ears, got the clamp, and told me he was about the pierce the bottom hole. He pierced it and I made some sort of squeal moan noise, because it definitely hurt more than I was expecting. He asked me if I was ok, and I told him yes and grit my teeth for the next one. Although the pain was bad, it was not as bad to me as some others always comment. Maybe it was because I was not expecting any pain that I sort of did not feel any.
So then he inserted the jewelry, a 14g barbell, and when I saw it in the mirror I gasped. I absolutely loved it. For a spontaneous piercing, I did not know I would love it so much. Because it was my first piercing ever in an actual piercing studio, I had absolutely no idea I should have tipped the piercer, and now I regret that. In the future I definitely will.
It was definitely a shock to my parents, but thankfully their policy is "it's your body, and I may not like it, but go for it." So I lived with the piercing for quite a few months with only one real infection, which I immediately made sure to clean. Unfortunately one weekend my friend told me that my piercing looked "weird," and to my dismay I found that it was migrating. There was very little skin left by the time I discovered this, and so I went to a local piercer (a different one since I had moved for college by this time) and he took out the bar and put a ring in the bottom hole, since that one had not moved. He informed me that two things were wrong with the piercing: the jewelry has been too large and it had been placed badly. I do not know if he was just trying to make himself look like a better piercer (he said he could re-pierce it properly), or if these things were actually true, or if I had just not taken proper care of the piercing, but either way it was gone and I was definitely sad.
I recommend the piercing despite the pain, but keep in mind that they do tend to migrate. As for the studio, while I did feel comfortable there, I am not sure if they were partially at fault for the migration or if it was just destined to happen, so it really is up to you.