I got my eyebrow pierced about a year ago on my 16th birthday. I'd only had my ear lobes pierced years before and had to take them out so it was my first *proper* piercing.
At A Glance Author Jude Contact Jude@bme.anon When A year ago Studio Devil's Den Of Tattoo's Location Yeovil, Somerset, Uk It seemed easier to wait till I turned 16 rather than arguing with my parents so if you're underage and not allowed to be pierced yet, just wait your time, it's so much easier!! For one thing you may change your mind, or you could get yourself or the piercers into trouble, you risk falling out with your family, and schools don't tend to like facial piercings either!!
On the day I got it done I was really excited. I went into town with a friend of mine, (it can help if you have someone with you because they can distract you from getting too nervous.) I think she was more nervous about it than me though because I only told her what I was planning when we were on the way to town.
I didn't really plan it properly which I would do with anything I get now.. I had thought about it a lot and was sure I wanted it, I just hadn't done any research or chosen where I wanted to get it done or anything. I just found the studio and went in! (( I should stress that this is not a good idea. You should really find a professional place you're comfortable with in advance. ))
The place I went to was kind of cliche. It was really gothic and had a coffin in the room and lots of tribal wooden ornaments with rings through their wooden noses. Although my experience was a good one, the atmosphere of the place would put me off going again. I've been in since and there was a different piercer who seemed really hostile and has been in our local paper for piercing and tattooing girls underage so there's no way I'd go back now. From my piercing experiences I've learnt that you really need to be sure the place and person who is going to pierce/tattoo you is safe and know what they're doing, and they should also tell YOU what they're doing aswell.
The piercer took me into a little room in the back which had a tarantula in a tank in the corner. This is another reason I'm not going there again!! On reflection it can't have been very hygenic but at the time I was really scyked up for it so I didn't mind.
The piercing wasn't especially painful, the most pain I felt was as the needle pushed through the other side of my eyebrow which felt thicker. I was uncomfortable for a moment though when the guy left the needle there to go and get the selection of jewellry, I chose a turquoise titanium barbell for £15!! [[Tip: always choose your jewellry before any needles go in!]]
Of all my piercings so far, ears, cartilage, tragus, navel, lip and nose, this was one of the least painful and difficult in general.
I went away a very happy birthday girl and was careful to clean my new piercing with salt water at least once a day until it was properly healed.
After about 3 weeks I had to have a plastic retainer put in because I was still at school and they threatened to throw me out... [[Check with your school/employer before you get a facial piercing as it can cause problems...]]
I had no other real problems except that it was still discharging (presumably white blood cells), and forming that crusting over night for about 4 or 5 months. I thought it could be because I was sleeping on it, or it could be because I have a low immune system so it might be fine for other people.
I would really recommend it to anyone, especially if you're new to piercings because it isn't too painful or hard to look after, and it's not even in a position where you can catch it on many things. I'd recommend bars for that reason too, rings can encourage the piercing to grow out faster and they get caught on things more easily too.
It's a good idea to put more planning into it than I did, because from other experiences I can tell you, you don't always get lucky when you just walk into a studio randomly, and now I make sure I always go to the same professional place and piercer. He is slightly more expensive but a lot more friendly and professional, he even trains other people in body piercing so he really knows what he's doing!! Now he refers to me as "good customer"! I think that's the best way to get body piercings, find one artist you're happy with and then just stick to them. Just walking into random places is a real risk.
Now though it's one of my favorite piercings and I can't imagine my face without it!