Ok, so I have been wanting to get my eyebrow pierced for about 5 years now, but never had the right job to wear facial jewelry without getting fired! Last year, when my husband and I went to a tattoo/piercing studio in Ybor City to get matching tattoos (kick ass Japanese love symbols) for wedding rings, I spoke with a piercer about the risks and benefits, jewelry and pain involved. He answered a lot of my questions, specifically about how I should feel when I meet the piercer. I still was on the fence, and I wanted to be sure before I went out and did it. When I was 16, I went to a tattoo parlor and got a horrible tattoo for like $35... Ever since then, I think over my mods long and hard before I get them done...
At A Glance Author Mkat Contact Mkat@bme.anon Artist Justin Studio Andromeda Location New York City About a week ago, I decided that I was going to do it... I started looking into it again, and found this web site. I had originally thought I was going to do it when I went home to Tampa, but when I called a studio where I had a couple of tattoos done, the guy was very abrupt and acted like he didn't have time for my questions. I decided I was not going there, anyone who could be that rude didn't deserve my patronage. After reading a couple different experiences, I went to the Andromeda web site, based on another experience I read here, and got to see pictures of the studio and the piercers. Then, I called the studio to speak with someone, and the girl who answered the phone was very helpful... She gave me the pricing and other basic info. I went down there later in the evening, basically just went to the counter and spoke with the same girl from the phone call earlier. She went over the forms and stuff, then went to pick out the jewelry. At first, there didn't seem to be anything there that would be the right size and color in the niobium (which I had to have, I did not want the plain steel one) She remembered that they just got a new selection in, and I picked up a nice 18G purple niobium hoop with a hematite bead. I went to the register and paid my $32, then I waited to be called back. There were butterflies in my stomach, but it was more excitement than nervousness.
I sat down in the chair while my husband got to sit on a bench behind me... At this point, I still wasn't overly nervous, just even more excited about finally getting it done! I watched Justin change his gloves and take out the needle.... He cleaned the area off, put three sets of dots on my eyebrow, and told me to look and decide where I wanted it done. Of the three, I decided I would go with just inside my brow, not too far in or out just in case I want to get another one done later. I sat down, he came over with the needle, told me to relax and breathe (which I was expecting from all the experiences here), pinched my brow and stuck the needle through free hand. I was pretty happy that there was no clamps, as I didn't really want a black eye... The pain was minimal, I barely felt it when the needle went in and there was a little pressure when it went through... Then, he put the jewelry in (which I didn't feel at all), and told me I was done. I was like "That's it?" and he responded, "Unless you want me to do it again." I was a little dizzy, but not enough to differentiate between excitement, adrenaline, and dizziness. There were little pricks of blood and a little swelling, but no bruising. I looked at my new piercing, and it was so bad ass... I was practically bouncing out of the studio, but not before I tipped Justin, because he was really good, and picked up a bottle of the ear piercing cleaner.
It's only been a few days since I got it done, but I haven't noticed any swelling or bruising since then. I wake up in the middle of the night when I turn over to sleep on my side, and I immediately remember why not to! My husband loves it, he stares at it non stop, although he didn't watch the needle go in. I know I would have, and that is the only part that kind of sucks, someone else gets to watch it happen but you can't really see anything. There was never really any pain, a little stinging when the wind hit it immediately after it was done. The cleaning solution stings a bit, but so far the healing process is not quite as painful as my last larger tattoo, which had shading done and bruised for about 2 weeks.
Anyone considering it (who can wear the jewelry without any problems) should do it... The pain is almost non existent, and doesn't come near the feeling of finally having it done. Also, if you are in the NYC area, definitely go to Andromeda and have Justin do it. He is very quick and calm, which made the experience much more enjoyable. The people up front were helpful too, especially with my jewelry selection.
It is still new, so hopefully the healing process goes relatively smoothly from here on out. I have already been to a few shops to look at other jewelry, one to make sure I got what I wanted, and two because I wanted to see what the larger gauges looked like. I am thinking now that I would like to get this one stretched to a 16G. I have also already considered getting a second one either on the outside of this one right on the edge of my eyebrow, or putting a barbell through the inside edge of the brow. I love the curved barbells... but my husband isn't too thrilled with the last idea. He likes the second ring on the outer edge, but ultimately it will be my decision.
I know a lot of people in here say that they got it on a spur of the moment, but I would definitely think about it before you do it. You could end up at a really low class studio or with a piercing that you don't really want. Also, if you look at these experiences here by location, you may get further advice on what studios to avoid or visit due to other people's experiences. That is one of the reasons I decided to write this... I want to let people to know that in my opinion, Andromeda is a great studio. I think that I may be hooked now on piercings, so next time I will have to decide if I want a new tattoo or a new piercing... Decisions, decisions...