Here I am again in my search for the slightly less mundane. The weapon of choice – the needle. The unsuspecting body part - the navel. That simple trend setting part of the anatomy which is also the root of so much controversy. It is often regarded as the cute little piercing that all the little girls run out and get to be cool like everyone else. Men don't get their navel pierced, that's a girls piercing! Just like only gay guys get their left ear pierced. Or was it the right? Does it matter? Maybe it was a PA? I know only gay guys get their tongues pierced, or so I've been told. Of course if I were left to decide for myself I'd say that's a festering bowl of dog snot. Anyway, I had my navel pierced with a 'oh so cute little 14ga ring, and it's so pretty', but that was a while ago and it's another story; not why you are reading this. You are reading this because I had my navel pierced again with two 8ga curved barbells.
At A Glance Author Brodie Contact Brodie@bme.anon IAM Strapping Young Lad When It just happened Artist Sean Philips Studio Beyond Body Piercing Location Arlington VA I felt that my solitary little pal down there (not that low, keep your mind on the subject here!!) could use some company. Actually I had this in mind all along. You see, I had this brilliant idea for a navel project. I say brilliant because it was, after all, my idea. The original idea was to have a ring of curved barbells with spikes around the navel. I figured that a lot of people get a sun tattooed on their bellies; I would try for a more 3-dimensional approach. I have a pretty deep, and wide belly button hole so this had some potential if I used 14ga jewelry. I sort of dropped that plan as I realized I wanted to go with larger gauges. I decided some time ago that I would just do the top off center piercings, and the lower navel piercing at a much more satisfying gauge. Size does matter!
Then I met this fine fellow by the name of Sean Phillips and he just happens to be a pretty reputable practitioner of the bod mod arts. Sean had just opened a new shop in Arlington, which was a mere matter of miles from my apartment, so I wanted to send some his business his way to be a good sport. Ok, I'm lying here; I actually went to him because he's really damn good at what he does. We shot the shit for a bit, I flipped through some Maxim magazines, and he told me about the low overhead, which allows him to make good bargains. Then we decided that a pair of 8ga curves would be the way to go. I decided that I definitely wanted curved barbells as opposed to CBRs. I had my previous navel piercing done with a CBR and it is simply much more uncomfortable during the healing process. Shirts get pressed against it and force it to lie flat against the stomach, which really pisses the damn thing off. I don't recommend getting your navel pierced and fitted with a CBR right off the bat. Sean later put in the order for the goods, and that was that. I awaited the news of its arrival as most people do. I just went about my daily business.
The curves came in on a Tuesday, I, sadly, couldn't make it in until the weekend. So wait some more was what I did. After a few days that seemed more like almost a week it was time to go see a man about some modifications. I went to Sean's shop, Beyond Body Piercing, with my friend Kel, who was also getting something done that day. I had been to his shop a few times before, but at last I was finally getting something done. I hadn't had anything done since my areolas nearly a year ago, so whether it was apparent or not, I was quite excited! I was made to stand still while Sean marked me up with a red pen, no wait, that pen didn't work; he had to get another red pen. I though I would be a good piercee and do some of my own prep work. Like the good little part Italian that I am, I trimmed my belly bush to an acceptable density. Just trying to help, ya know? After about 5 minutes of marking, erasing, marking erasing, trying to hold my breath so Sean can make straight l ines, marking, erasing... Ah ha, nice even diagonal lines. After consulting with the mirror, trying not to get distracted with myself in that Patrick Bateman way, I gave Sean the thumbs up and hopped on the table. I laid back and put my hands under my head as if I were on a hill side laying among the wild flowers gazing at the rolling clouds on a warm spring day, but alas, to my dismay I was staring at the ceiling. I looked over at the familiar scene of autoclaved packets neatly laid out on the table. Here comes the clamp, with rubber band and all, looking for its hold. Sean had to remove my cute lil 14ga CBR in order to get a proper fit with his clamp. The dreaded clamp, an unpleasant experience to most, myself included, goes on. The right side is first up. No beating around the bush (the belly button bush that is). Sean gives the queue for the deep breath. I breathe in; I know what's next. Exhale; pressure, burn, a bit of a bite, and a whole lot of.. Oh wait, by this point it's all done. Ball goes on and now it's time for the lef t side. And do you know what? The left side went exactly the same way. Sean stood on the left side of me and pierced top to bottom for both of the piercings. During the needlework I just laid there with my hands beneath my head trying to remain as limp and loose as possible. Tensing up just makes the skin draw tighter, and the muscles can instigate an unnecessary tug-o-war between the piercer and your own sinew. Not to mention it makes me feel like a little wussy. Sure it hurt. Hurt is part of the process. Any piercing hurts, anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. The difference is whether you have control over the sensation or not. It's purely psychological. The more familiar you become to the piercing sensation the less painful the needle feels. At least that has been my experience. If someone asks me if my 2 8ga curved BBs hurt I'll probably say sure it hurt, but that's what makes it memorable.
By the time I got home my bellybutton was a pool of blood. Of course, it didn't help that I went to a show that night. If you want to talk about pain, go to a really fucking bad local thrash metal show. Once home I hopped in the shower where I cupped my hands beneath my navel and let the water build up to dissolve the dried blood. I do this during each shower. I try to shower twice daily with a new piercing, every 12 hrs on average. Before bed I do a warm sea salt soak, and I sleep in a clean shirt. It's always a good idea to keep your sheets washed often, especially with fresh piercings. It also helps to wear clean shirts to bed to act as a kind of barrier to the bed bugs, which are numerous. I haven't started using soap on the piercing yet. I usually let it wait a few days before I let soap in. I use a 2 part water/1 part Dial anti-bacterial soap mix, but in the mean time I just keep the area clean with lots of warm water soaking via shower or sea salt soak.
The next stop, a big ole lower navel. And when I say big, I mean not small.