We sat at the station and wondered how on earth we would find the piercing studio. We had lots of options: Excalibur, Akasha, Bodyartz.. but I had planned to go to Portsmouth.
At A Glance Author batwingedfaery Contact Batwingedfaery@hotmail.com When A week ago Artist Nick Branson Studio Capileo Location Albert Road, Southsea We met our friend Tim at Petersfield station, just out of chance. He had recently had his eyebrow pierced, was wearing it to the last few exams (whilst I stared at him jealously) and it looked like they had done a pretty good job. He lives around the Southsea area so we followed him through Fratton until we reached Capelio.
It didn't look too appealing from the outside but once we stepped in i knew i made the right choice. I sheepishly walked up to the counter and said 'I've come for a lip piercing' to which the woman (Debbie, I think her name is) produced a form for me to sign. My hands were sweating, I wasn't sure whether it was because of the boiling weather or not. I filled in boxes such as 'are you epileptic? do you have eczema?' etc. She showed me her lip piercing, I think it was 12ga. It was green and looked ace, we went through some sizes and I settled for 14ga. Not too big, not too small - just right. A just right piercing for a just right day. (it was the day of my last GCSE exam and also the anniversary of when I went to see the Red Hot Chilli Peppers in Hyde park) Ian and I sat and waited to go into the piercer's studio and stared in shock at the 'no kissing or oral contact for the entire healing process' on the aftercare sheet.
After 5 minutes it was time to go in to the little room with a dentists chair in and I sat there looking nervous whilst nick cleaned the sides and sink, and closed my eyes whilst he prepared the clamps and needle. I'm not really sure what he was doing as he had his eyes closed but I heard things being opened. He placed a ring on my mouth and asked where I wanted the piercing. He then numbed my mouth with something that tasted a little like banana. I grabbed Ian's.. hand whilst nick clamped my lip and made me open my eyes to show me the jewellery in its sealed.. thing. Finally he counted down 3,2,1 and it was done.
I opened my eyes with a needle in my lip and laughed. It really DID NOT HURT AT ALL and there was no blood. Nick changed the needle to jewellery which was a little uncomfortable but it was fine. I got up and looked in the mirror and smiled, it was amazing. I walked out of the shop feeling like I was walking on air they told me to come back in 2 weeks time to have my bar shortened and gave me a slip of paper that said I could have them changed the jewellery up to 3 times in the space of the next four weeks.
The reason I had my lip pierced was because I had wanted it for at least 2 years and loved the way it looked and I loved this history behind it e.g. Aztecs and The Dogon Tribe of Mali. I had researched this piercing for ages and was totally addicted to it. I don't think I would have another piercing any time soon. I had never had my ears pierced, it seems such a normal thing to do and really does not interest me one bit. I wanted a lip piercing as it was original. Firstly I wanted a vertical labret as not many people had it, but my job wouldn't allow it so I stuck with a normal one. When I can change the jewellery I will change it to jade stone as it is beautiful and I am fed up of silver!
So that's my story, I thoroughly recommend Capelio, they are really clean, kind and friendly and great value for money (£25)They may not be as cheap as other but its really worth that extra £5. and as for the NO KISSING.. Ian and I have found other things to keep us occupied :D At the moment my lip does not hurt and sometimes I wake up and forget it's there. Lip piercing are fairly easy to look after, they only take 5 minutes per day (2.5 in the morning and evening) It is advised to wash it with salt water. I have to try very hard not to touch it, which is really annoying but fair enough! I love it when everyone stares at my lip now, I have had mixed reactions. But I love it and that's all that matters, no matter what difficult parents say!