I have always been the kind of person that thinks outside the box and challenges society's viewpoint of how I should act/dress/etc. I wasn't exactly kept on a leash by my (loving) parents, I was rather given a very large run, but the boundaries of such were non-negotiable. Needless to say, mods of any kind were outside those boundaries.
At A Glance Author sugarpacket Contact sugarpacket@bme.anon Artist Stacy Studio Midnight Iguana Location Athens, GA Of course I went through the stages where I wanted my tongue pierced, my eyebrow pierced, anything other than my lobes pierced. I have honestly never had the desire to get my navel done (or, as the rednecks here call it, the 'bellybutton'), probably due to my lack of conformity to the societal standards of beauty and femininity and size.
This is still one of my deepest annoyances and it is turning into a quest: I am sick and tired of being told by all sides that I need to look a certain way, be a certain size, wear makeup and certain styles of clothing to be considered feminine. My aunt's remark some 5 years ago still rings in my ears: "Well Honey, you'd be pretty if you'd just wear makeup". Wrong. But anyway, not to rail on those who do *choose* to wear it, male or female, I just think it should be a well-thought out choice, not something that you are socialized into 'needing'.
Anyways, with that aside, let me tell you about my first piercing, which I did the first weekend I was away at college the second time (I'm a transfer student). After much thought, but not enough, I decided to get my eyebrow done. I picked my right side because I sleep on my left. I had it done in 16 gauge with a curved barbell, which is much more comfortable to me, and besides that, it looks better because it doesn't stick out. It was externally threaded, which I learned later is the cheap kind because it irritates the piercing when removing the jewelry.
I went to a place called Midnight Iguana, and Stacy was my piercist (piercer?). It all went well, she had me read the consent form, checked my id, then took my money and had me follow her back to her very clean, but very small, room with a gynecologist's table in it. This threw me off a little because, well, what woman isn't uncomfortable in the presence of one of those, but it was all good. We had already decided on the jewelry beforehand. I didn't ask her what method of sterilization she used. I know now that I should have. Everything came out of a plastic package, I assumed it was sterile. She accidentally touched something on the counter that wasn't clean and promptly changed her gloves. I thought that was cool. She put the clamps on, which many people say is the most uncomfortable part but I can honestly say that no part was uncomfortable. Then she stuck the needle through. It didn't hurt. Not even a little, and believe me, I am a wuss. It did make the most interesting squishing sound though. Then she put the jewelry in, etc, etc, and lectured me about not touching it, twisting it, sleeping on it, or swimming with it, or letting anyone lick it, etc. She gave me an aftercare sheet, asked me if I had any questions, and I was on my way. I was pumped. I went to hang out at waffle house, one of the only places open after 10 in Athens, with my friends and had a great time, all the while enduring questions of "did that hurt?". I decided, later the next day, to mention it to my parents. I knew they would roll their eyes. I was not prepared for the response I received. My dad got all quiet, which is the worst form of anger for him, and my mom wailed "how did we fail you?". It was pitiful. I honestly didn't think they would care. My dad told me I could keep it, but he didn't ever want to see it, so I didn't have time to let it heal before I had to go home for Labor day, and I bowed under the pressure and took it out. It grew back and didn't leave even the tiniest scar. I was sad. I still am. I miss it. So much for thinking outside the box. I later got them to consent to anything on the ears. I doubt they know how much can be done with the ears. :-). I'll let them find out later.
I still think about getting it redone. I still have the jewelry, and I went to another piercing place here in Athens, after I found out it was the only one registered with the APP (www.safepiercing.org), and asked him if he could redo it using my old jewelry. He asked what kind it was, I told him, and he kind of got an attitude and said that midnight iguana uses inferior stuff and that he wouldn't pierce with it. Perhaps that is true, but it was still disheartening.
That brings me to another tangent: I have gotten conflicting info about aftercare, appropriate types of jewelry, etc. from many different places. I wonder what is truly okay to use? I have been told that bactine is good by the place that pierced my eyebrow (and conch and tragus and upper ridge and lobes), but I was told that bactine was the antichrist by the place that I am getting my lobes stretched. And the same with dial soap. The best I can tell, salt water is the only thing that people agree on, but they argue on what strength to use. AAAHHH!!! I wish I knew who to trust.
Okay, well that is enough about my failed attempt to keep my eyebrow piercing. It was healing so nicely, but it probably would have rejected since most do. I will console myself with that thought—I saved myself a scar. But have no fear, i have since been more successful with my piercings--i just had to find a diplomatic way.