Navel piercing has always appealed to me, it is like some weird fetish or something, and I have always wanted one. Convincing my Mother is another thing. The constant "No's" of my Mother were starting to get on my nerves. My nose, my tongue, and my bellybutton had all gotten the "no" once.
At A Glance Author Erykah Contact pixie_stix@hotmail.com When A month ago Artist Not sure Studio Maine Tattoo Location Brewer, Maine Finally my 8th grade year we struck a deal...I get all "A's" I get the ring...any lower and I don't. I was scared shitless to be honest because I was worried about a few of my grades. Finally my second report card came out...my heart almost popped out of my chest I was so nervous, until I saw my grades. I pranced around the house all happy. Screaming, "I get my bellybutton pierced!"
Well, it is today; almost two full months after my report card came out! I finally begged my Mother to take me TODAY and no later. We took the long drive to Brewer and Maine Tattoo, my studio of choice, my friend got her navel pierced there awhile back and she said they were very friendly and the place was clean. I wasn't nervous at all in the car. We couldn't find the place and I was getting quite frustrated. I wanted to cry I was so mad because it was suppose to be MY day and I was suppose to go home with a new hole in my body.
Finally my Mom guessed and took a right turn and there around that corner I saw: "Tattoos and Piercing, All piercings $15.00" I screamed "There it is! There it is!" My Mother was like "You sure you want this?" I nodded yes. I could hardly breathe and my heart was pounding so hard I thought people could see it thumping.
We walked into the joint and filled out all the proper papers and waited for the two girls in front of me to get pierced. One girl already had hers done and she was my age and she comforted me and calmed me down. She was really nice and I wish I had gotten her e-mail because it's not everyday that you meet someone like that who would comfort a complete stranger!
By this time I was all hyped up and shaking because of my nerves. I didn't know what to expect, sharp pains or a little sting, I was afraid I was going to have a heart attack if it didn't happen soon! Finally the really cute piercer called my name. Shocked, I walked to the chair out back and sat down. He is like "You ready for this?" I just sat there nodding like I was nuts.
About five minutes later he is like "Don't worry it takes me longer to set-up than the actual piercing!" He sterilized my tummy and opened the packages in front of me. The liquid iodine was very cold on my stomach. I noticed the needle was curved...I didn't know how normal this was but good enough for me because I had waited since I was 10. I sat there and he clamped me. I watched as he pierced me bottom to top and I looked for blood but there wasn't any. I looked at my Mother and I just gave her a spaced out grin. :)
After he kept asking if I was light-headed or dizzy. I think I looked dizzy because of the happy face I had. I guess I looked like a complete goof. Every two seconds between explaining the aftercare he'd ask "Do you need water" or "Are you light-headed"
After we left my Mom took me to the mall and I bought myself some new clothes! I wandered around the mall like a mind-less zombie looking at clothes, and when a place had body jewelry that would be the first place I'd check out!
When I got home I couldn't wait to tell people so I called my Gram and told her she said that "Hopefully this heals better than your ears did!" Then my Mother's friend came over so I showed her. She said she liked it and she couldn't believe I had gone through with it! Our roommate came downstairs and I showed her. She isn't much for body modification so she was like glad its your body not mine, blah blah blah, because after that comment I zoned her out. Now I love my navel ring!
Remember:
1) If its not clean leave
2) If they touch stuff besides the needle and jewelry with their gloves on make sure they change them
3) Your not obligated to stay in one shop, look around for the one that's nicest and is really clean. You'd rather be safe then sorry right?
4) Ask friends with a piercing or two where they got theirs done and if they recommend the place.
Just use your head. You don't want to mutilate your body, you want to decorate it, and make it your own constantly filling canvas.