I just recently posted the story of getting my horizontal clitoral hood piercing, so I figured I might as well post this one, too.
At A Glance Author Sugarpuss Contact Sugarpuss@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Joe Studio Showtime Tattoo Location Allentown, PA It's true what they say – tattoos and piercings are totally addictive! I got my first two tattoos and my hood piercing within about a week of each other. After that, I managed to hold off for about four months before getting my next tattoo, and then I didn't get anything done for almost nine months! Then suddenly, I had the overwhelming desire to get something else done. A few days ago, I was going to go get another tattoo, but unfortunately the place that I usually go was closing early, so instead, I just went with a friend of mine to another place so he could get his eyebrow pierced.
Now, I've had my eyebrow done in the past, but my friend's mother did it and it was only in for a week. (Note to anyone reading this: never let your friends play with needles and your body for any reason. I must have been drunk.) I've always wanted a ton of piercings, but I live at home and my parents have always been adamantly against them. (Even though my mother seems fine with the two of three tattoos she knows about – go figure.) When I had my eyebrow done, my parents nearly wet themselves, so for about two years after that I didn't even bring up the idea.
Well, after watching my friend get his done, I wanted mine done even more. I attempted to talk to my mother about the idea, but she wasn't having it. (I should note here that I am old enough to get things pierced legally; it's just that I don't want to deal with my parents' incessant screaming about it.) I tried to play the card that at least piercings could be taken out, but no amount of whining, conniving, or rationalizing could make the woman understand. By this point, though, I had pretty much decided that come hell or high water, I was getting pierced. Now.
Well, today I had another big (although unrelated) blowout with the parents, and at some point the conversation between my father and I turned to creative expression. Well, actually, it was more about the fact that I didn't feel I could express myself the way I wanted to, and when he asked what I meant, I just blurted out, "I want to jab pieces of metal through my face."
Surprisingly enough, my father was really cool about it. (Bear in mind, my father is 63 years old, goes to church on Sundays, is uber-conservative, and listens to nothing but Frank Sinatra.) He told me that he didn't LIKE the idea of me doing something like that, but that I was an adult, it was my body, and he wouldn't freak out. This also led to me introducing him to two of my three tattoos, but that's another story. I then relayed what he'd said to my mother, who suddenly changed her tune and said, "Well, that's why I told you to bring it up to your father." (She hadn't.)
So, I hopped in the car with one of my best friends and we headed out to get the job done. My original plan for the day was to get my next tattoo, but now that I had my parents' blessing (or close enough), I changed my mind. We met another friend there, who was buying me a body mod for my birthday, and he was perfectly fine with the fact that I'd chosen something less expensive. I told Joe (who has done two of my tattoos) that I wanted my eyebrow pierced instead, and after a few minutes, he took me into the piercing room.
I saw a silver barbell that I really liked, but Joe recommended that I get a hoop to start out with, because it's easier to care for them while they heal. Well, he knows best, so I of course agreed with whatever he said. He had me sit in the chair, and then he cleaned my eyebrow with rubbing alcohol and clamped it. I said to my friend, "Well, THAT'S an interesting sensation." Then he marked the spot with a marker, and lined up the needle.
He asked if I was ready, which I was, and he told me to take a deep breath and hold it. Then he pushed the needle through. It barely hurt at all. My eyes watered and I told him that I shouldn't have worn mascara, but he told me it was fine – I'd just look like Alice Cooper. That made me laugh, so I didn't even notice him putting the ball on my jewelry.
He told me I was done, and I looked in the mirror, and totally loved it. It's a cute little 16g hoop. I came home, and my parents just sort of begrudgingly acknowledged that I'd gone through with it. It's a bit tender now, but certainly nothing that makes me wish I hadn't done it!
While we were there, my friend made appointments for us to come in tomorrow, so that he could get a tattoo – and so that I can get my lip pierced! I can't wait!