My mum has always been into body modification and had, at the time, a few tattoos and a lot of earrings. To me, she always looked beautiful: this is where the urge to have a piercing started.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When Two years ago Artist Martin Studio Think Ink tattoo studio Location Airdrie I was only 14 at the time so was reluctant to do anything impulsively as I might not have felt the same way in time so I thought it well over before bringing the idea up with my mum. However, she thought about the idea for a few days before deciding that I could have my navel pierced if I so wished.
Having absolutely no experience with body modification, I was foolish and went to the nearest studio - Think Ink. When I entered the studio, needles buzzing behind a closed door, there was nobody there. After about 15 minutes of waiting a greasy looking middle-aged man walked out. He didn't look like a very respectable character never mind somebody who should be piercing people. A small, friendly looking man followed him. Having now noticed the second mans heavily tattooed arms, I realised that the first man I saw was merely being tattooed and was not the man who was about to pierce me. He smiled and asked me what I was here for.
Having had my mum sign the parental consent form he took me through to the white piercing room. As I sat on the chair, I had a look around for jewellery and needles but there were none - they were out of sight and away from any infection or germ that may have been floating around the room. He asked me first if I wanted to be pierced with a hoop or a bar. Having chosen a hoop, he asked me to unzip my jeans so I could tuck the flaps in away from my navel and lie down.
I can't remember if Martin marked my navel or cleaned it first but the mark was perfectly straight first time. I lay on the bed waiting for the clamp, the part I had heard was as sore as it would get, but to my surprise, I barely felt it. It was uncomfortable but there certainly was nothing I would consider pain. Next came the actual piercing. I wish I could have documented on this part further but I decided not to look in an attempt to calm my nerves. I am glad I chose to do this as I honestly felt no needle going through at all. He then informed me that all that had to be done now was insert the jewellery. At this point I looked down but immediately looked back up, as I did not like the look of what I had just seen. There was no blood but a needle through your skin isn't always too agreeable to the eye.
Inserting the jewellery was quite uncomfortable but Martin was quick and so it was over very quickly. After this I stood up and had a look in the mirror before Martin put a dressing on to catch any blood should it start to bleed. The hoop looked really good in my belly button and I was very pleased with myself - overly pleased perhaps. When I came out of the piercing room Martin gave me an aftercare sheet and talked me through it. I was just ready to pay and leave the studio when my mum announced that she too was going to have her navel pierced. Martin went through the same procedure with my mum and then we paid and left.
Having went to this particular studio simply because it was close I was very lucky indeed that the closest studio to be happened to be so good. I do not recommend that anyone do this as I am probably in the lucky minority.
My piercing healed very nicely and perfectly straight, so straight that the hoop never fell to one side, even when I sat down. Martin had made a truly remarkable job of my belly button. I kept this in for a year and a half before a PE teacher at school had me take it out. When I was in 5th year I would no longer be taking PE so I would simply re-pierce it when it came time. However, when that time did come I was, once again, very foolish and went to the piercing studio closest to me at the time of having money, this time in Glasgow whose name I shall keep anonymous. Having heard that scar tissue is very painful to have pierced I decided to have an inverse navel done this time. The whole ordeal was repeated except this time no after care sheet and no friendly word of advice on how to take care of my piercing. Moreover, the ring in my belly button wasn't perfectly straight.
I really regret not going to the piercer and studio that I trusted and now I am paying for it with a lower quality piercing than I know I could have had had I went back to Martin.
Happy days are head though as I have been back to Martin for other piercings and have had the same quality of piercings as my first navel since then.