I had been wanting to get my eyebrow pierced for about a year and a half. During the first few months, I kept tossing the idea around of getting it done - but at the time I had first started wanting it, I knew my mom wouldn't really approve of it, and I didn't think I could really afford it or go through with it. I put the idea aside for a while when I went to college - but then I came back to town to visit and show my friends around, and they wanted to go to the tattoo and piercing place, so we went. One of my friends got a tattoo, and another one got her cartilage pierced. I wanted to get it done, especially since it was on a whim that we'd gone and it would just be exciting. However, I didn't have the 35 to 40 dollars they were asking for. So, instead of getting it done, we all went home - two happy friends who had gotten tattooed and pierced, and me with no piercing.
At A Glance Author Katie Contact Katie@bme.anon When A month ago Studio Sacred Xpressions Location Northwest Florida I soon after moved back home and was out of school, so I decided to get a job. The area I live in is pretty conservative, so I didn't want to get it pierced and then not be able to find or keep a job. So, once again, I put aside the idea of not getting it done.
After a few months, I had a few friends come to visit me, and one of them had mentioned that she wanted to get her tragus pierced. So, the first night they were here, we went out to dinner, and then went to the tattoo and piercing shop. It was about 10:30 PM, so they weren't busy at all. The man in charge of the front asked us what we wanted done - and we told him, and he gave us prices. For mine, he said that a ring would be 35 dollars, and a barbell would be 40 dollars.
We both stood there, nervous and unsure if we should go ahead and do it or wait until some other time to get it done. After about ten minutes of going back and forth (and the reassuring joking of the man - he had no piercings, and when I asked him why he didn't, he casually replied, "because they hurt"), I decided that if I didn't get it done right then and there, I'd probably never do it. So we both agreed to get pierced. We told the man what we wanted, and he asked for our ID cards, and then gave us the liability forms to fill out. After we filled them out and gave them to the man, we paid our dues and our piercer asked which one of us wanted to go first. I volunteered, so he showed me my jewelry options asked which one I wanted, and after I chose (a 16-gauge straight barbell), he told me to wait there in the lobby area while he got everything sterilized and prepared.
After about 5 minutes or so, he came to the front where we were waiting, and told me to come on back. I asked if I could bring a friend or friends with me, and he told me one person could come, so I chose one of my friends (there were four of us, including myself) and gave her my digital camera (you know, to capture all the joyful moments). We went back to his area and he told me to sit down in the chair, which looked like a dentist's chair. He put on gloves, asked me if I was allergic to iodine, and when I told him no, he wiped and cleaned my eyebrow. He marked the spot where the piercing would be and asked if I liked it - I told him I wanted it a little bit closer in, so he re-did the markings, and it looked good, so I told him so. He told me to lay down.
Then, he told me to close my eyes and relax. The only thing I focused on was getting through the actual piercing. He put the clamp on, and it was a little uncomfortable, like someone pinching your eyebrow really hard. After what seemed an eternity (and a few random shooting pains, I thought he might've already pierced it) - he said to relax and that he was going to put the needle through. I felt a sharp pinch, and him sort of pushing the needle through. He then took the clamp off and I felt relief. My eyebrow was kind of tingly and numb, but I couldn't feel the needle in. After a minute or two, he told me I might feel his hand on my cheek, and that he was going to put the jewelry in, and I might have some discomfort. It hurt just a little bit when he put it in - but nothing too serious. He then put the bead on, and asked me to sit up and to see if I liked it. I looked at it and immediately loved it! I thanked him and he told me that he would explain the cleaning procedure once my friend got her tragus done. After I got up and walked back to the front lobby area, I felt a little woozy and kind of nauseous, but I think I blame that on two factors: eating right before I got it done, and being nervous. After a few minutes, I was fine, and I went with my friend to her tragus pierced. He gave us both aftercare sheets and explained to us everything about cleaning it and taking care of it. We both thanked him again and left.
For the next week or so, I kept looking at it every chance I got. I couldn't get over the fact that I had actually gotten it done. It took some getting used to - but now I love it. It was swollen for maybe half a week, and pretty tender for the first couple of weeks. For a few days to a week I felt like everything and everyone was trying to attack my head.
It's now four weeks and a few days old, and it's been healing really well. I did the sea salt soaks twice a day religiously for the first few weeks, and now I'm down to soaking it once a day when I remember...but nonetheless, it's looking great and I can't wait to change it.
My only regret is that I chose to get a straight barbell instead of the curved. I can feel the jewelry under the skin (which is pretty funny, because it freaks some people out if they touch it) - but I think it might've healed a little better if I had gotten the curved barbell. In any case, I've already bought jewelry for it and I'm ready to change it once I can get the bead off.
All in all, my piercing experience was great. It really didn't hurt half as bad as I anticipated it to - and so my only advice for those who might be looking into getting it done, all I have to say is go for it. Especially if the opportunity presents itself - don't put it off, because you may never do it!