*All the BeforeHand Stuff*
At A Glance Author Sarah Contact XoCoCoPoPoX@aol.com Artist Jim Studio Big Brad's Tattoo Location Central New Jersey First of all, let me just tell you that I am a HUGE wuss when it comes to needles and pain. Before my belly button, I've had my 2nd holes in my lobes and my cartilage with a gun. Stupid me. But, it healed fine thank gooooodness. I thought the look of piercings was so awesome, but I never thought I'd have the guts to do it. People I've talked to told me how much it hurt, and I read this Britney Spears article in which she said it was horrible pain and blah blah...
This past summer, I went to Wildwood. The girl in the hotel room next to me had her belly button pierced, and she said it hurt BAD. But, when I saw it I was thinking how nice it was and how much I wish I had one.
When I went back home, I begged my mom to get it done. I don't know why I asked becuz I didn't think I'd ever do it because of the pain. She said NO WAYYY and thought piercings *defaced* your body. So, I figured I was screwed.
In November, I went to the mall, and a lady that worked in a store I went into had her tragus pierced. I LOVED the look of it. I asked her if it hurt and she said it was "the worst pain of her life." I had a feeling that would be her answer, so it didn't come as a huge suprise for me.
>From then on, I kept thinking about piercings and decided I needed these two things! So, Christmas was coming, and I figured wut the hell, I'll ask my dad and stepmom about all this. Suprisingly, they said yes!!!! I was so excited. They called this place called Big Brad's Tattoo and they said I could come right in. January 13 2001, I was on my way with my two friends Lindz and Manda :)
*My Belly Button*
When we pulled up to the place, I almost crapped my pants cuz it looked so scary. There was some kinda lionhead thingy on a door and a dentist-ish chair in the window. When we walked in, the place was really bright and to the left and right of us were thousands of tattoo patterns people could pick from. Anyways, this really clean cut looking guy poked his head out of this door and said "Who's getting pierced?" I raised my hand and told him I wanted my tragus and belly button. He said "Come on back" & said his name was Jim. At that second I immediately thought "What the hell am I doing?" I wanted to turn back so bad but I didn't. I just walked into this big huge room feeling like I was gonna throw up....
He had my dad sign some papers and I hadda sign some stuff saying if it got infected it wasn't their problem yadda yadda. Then he took out his bunch of tools and the jewelry. They were silver CBR's with metallic black ball things. I asked him why I couldn't choose my own color and stuff and he said i hadda start out with this jewelry but i could change it in 2 months. Then, he told me to sit down in this thing that looked like a dentist chair. He cleaned my belly button with this red stuff then had me stand up to mark my belly. I asked him about the pain and he said "Don't worry it just feels like a pinch."
When I sat back down Jim said "Now this is the annoying part." He was putting the clamps on me. THESE DID NOT HURT! I don't know why people say they hurt. He talked to me about school and stuff as he was getting the needle (I thought it would be so much bigger that it was). I was in the middle of saying school was going good when I felt a little pinch on my tummy for 2 seconds. My dad was like "ohh he didn't even start yet" I was like DAMN, but then I realized he stuck the needle thru! I couldn't believe I worked myself up for that. Anyways, then he put the CBR in, which I didn't feel (guess i'm lucky) Jim said "Now that wasn't so bad, was it? Ready for your tragus?" I nodded and sat up while he got his other stuff ready.
*My Tragus*
I asked him if this would hurt worse than my belly button and he said no. I told him I read that the Tragus makes a crunching noise and he said yes it does. Then Jim told me that the tragus is more pressure than pain. THIS IS SO TRUE! When he put the needle in, it really was just pressure and a pinch for a second. I heard the crunch a little and so did my stepmom who was all the way across the room LoL! It bled a little but nothing big. After this, he took out the needle and put in the CBR in which again didn't hurt. I WAS SO happy the lady in that store was wrong!
*Taking Care of it*
Afterwards, I felt a little sore. Jim told me that I'll get crusties and *secrete* puss. Yuckies. He said to clean my tragus twice a day for 2 months with bactine then switch to antibacterial soap. i was told to clean my belly button with Dial antibacterial soap for two days for two months, and once a day after that.
I was supposed to get a butterfly tattooed on the back of my left shoulder, but the place was about to close, so I hafta go back soon!
*Afterwards*
So far, I've got crusties but no puss, but that should be coming soon. My belly button feels sore when I bend down, and my tragus gets in the way of me wearing my discman, but it's all worth it. I'm very very happy with my piercings, and I can't wait to get more. I heard that piercings were addictive, but I didn't believe it. Now I know IT'S TRUE!
If you're thinking about either one of these piercings, go for it. You'll be very happy with it as long as you go to a good place and you take care of it!
HAPPY PIERCING!
~*Sarah*~