On a Tuesday, not unlike any other Tuesday, I showed up for work at the shop. I am an apprentice piercer currently, and love my job. Myself and the other piercer had been talking about doing a large gauge labret on me for some time. We had looked at some pictures online, magazines, and read articles elsewhere. I also have many friends in Portland, Oregon, who had a large labret as well. I think they look amazing. So today was the day to get mine.
At A Glance Author AKHardkoreKid Contact mercyshouldhurt@trustkill.net When A month ago Artist Blake Thomas Studio Body Piercing Unlimited Location Anchorage, AK, USA I have been working as an apprentice piercer for about 2 years on and off. The piercer who got me into it also got me out of it about a year ago, and I got hired at another shop in Alaska. The piercer who gauged my labret for me is also a close personal friend of mine. His name is Blake Thomas. He works at one of the two good shops in Anchorage. Body Piercing Unlimited.
Blake has been piercing for about a year and 7 months now, and is very good at what he does. If anyone ever needs a piercing done, and you're in the icy tip of the United States, otherwise known as Alaska, don't hesitate to come to Body Piercing Unlimited. I swear by this shop now. All the piercers including Blake Thomas and Kevin McKinley (who is the owner), are clean, humorous, professional, and very friendly. They make you feel comfortable when getting a piercing done.
Some days before, I decided that I wanted at least a zero-gauge (8.8mm) labret. Eventually I am planning on going to either a double zero-gauge (10mm) or a 7/16 (11.5mm). I had talked to some friends who had it done, and they said they would rather gauge up their inner or outer conch piercings than gauge their labret. It is supposed to be a pretty painful procedure. I didn't want to scalpel it, like I had done to my navel, but pierced.
I had my labret pierced for the first time when I was 18. It was a pretty long procedure, a little longer than normal by my current standards. The marking was over and done with quickly, but the needle was that time catcher. All in all, it took about 4 minutes from the needle piercing through to the jewelry transfer. So my first experience was lacking something to be desired.
I wanted it done quickly so we figured that if pierce at an 8g (3.5mm), stretch it to a 6g (4.8mm) right off the bat, that would eliminate one of the stretches. The next day, go to a 4g (5.5mm). 2g (7mm) the next day, and zero-gauge (9mm) the day after that. In theory it seemed like a great idea, and we couldn't wait to try it out.
We waited until closing time, and I grabbed some food at a diner next door. After I ate, a little trash talking among friends, and a bathroom break, we went into the booth. Blake had set it up, got the needle, taper, jewelry, and Benzalkonium Chloride wipes ready, then it was time to rock and roll.
So I laid down on the table, Blake applies the clamps, and he pierced through a hole I had done at 18. I hadn't worn jewelry in at least a year. The needle went though very easily, with almost no pain. The taper followed directly behind and stretched the raw tissue with ease. After the jewelry transfer, a quick screw on of my ball, and I was at a 6 gauge.
The next day, we tapered the 6g to a 4g. It was the same as the piercing, almost no pain, and I was now at a 4g. Normally one would wait until the piercing is healed to jump up to the next size. But we found out that stretching raw tissue, not scar tissue, goes smoother, easier, and less painfully.
The stretch from 4g to 2g was a little painful, but not that bad. The stretch from 2g to zero-gauge made my eyes water some. Normally, a stretch from 4g to 2g, and 2g to zero-gauge for that matter, is mildly, if not outright painful. I can't stress enough the ease of stretching raw tissue. Each stretch took very little time at all. It was over before I could finish exhaling.
We found this technique out from Steve Haworth. For those of you who don't know the name, you need to crawl out of your hole. He is the pioneer of the modification industry, and a goddamn nice guy to boot. If anyone would like to obtain a large labret, this is the way to do it. It worked for me, and should work for you too. It is because of this technique that everything went smooth and easy. That and the talent of Blake.