So my navel story begins when...well, I wanted a navel piercing. I loved the way they looked (still do) and thought that they added a little "flare" to your stomach. So I decided to get one. Unfortunately at the time, my tummy wasn't exactly toned for showing off a navel piercing. So I lost 10 lbs. gained some nice abs and then I was ready to be pierced.
At A Glance Author Gabie When A month ago Artist Name escapes me Studio Black Hole Body Piercing Location Portland, OR I had previously researched all about navel piercings (be sure to do this about any piercing that you have). I learned about all you posssibly could learn and checked out a few places where I wanted to get it done. I finally chose my place, Black Hole Body Piercing in Portland, OR. They seemed (and are) very clean, organized, and experienced. I was very excited and not really nervous before my piercing. I went to the place with my mother and we gawked at tattoo's for a bit. Anyway, we then went up to the counter and I told them that I wanted my navel pierced. They said alright and we showed them my own birth certificate, my mother's marriage liscense (we had different last names) and her old drivers liscense. They photocopied it and then I was set to choose my jewlery.
I chose a pretty curved barbell with a blue ball at the top and a saphire at the bottom (saphire is my birthstone). The nodded and took me into a piercing room. He told me to stand while he marked my navel with some sort of pen (forget the name...they use the same one on your ears). I gave it the ok after carefully examining it in the mirror. I sat down and layed back in the chair, similar to a dentist chair.
He took out the sterile jewlery after putting on gloves. He also took out the piercing needle (which looked huge) and set it on a little tray thing-a-ma-bob. He told me to start breathing deeply and look at this cool poster on the wall of a pig wih like thousands of piercings. He told me what he was doing.He cleaned it with alcohol and some other stuff. It made it feel cold though, which was a tad strange. Sort of like a breath mint on your skin. Felt good at the same time, I guess it was suppose to help num bit. He put on the clamp, which didnt hurt. What the clamp basically did was tug a bit at the skin. He then told me he was going to pierce and he..well..he did. It stung for a little while (about 10 secs) and then it was over. Because of my curiousity I glanced down to see a long needle sticking through my navel. So I nodded and quickly looked away. He put the jewlery through, screwed on the top and viola.
After the careful aftercare explanation I jumped up (sort of..I had to be careful not to faint) and looked at my beautiful new piercing. I loved it. I ran out, showed my mom, payed the guy, grabbed my cleaning things and went back home.
After about 5 months of cleaning I had my healed navel. Suddenly...I wanted a lower navel. I thought that THAT would be alot more original and very pretty. So I went back and my piercer was happy to see me again. I told him what I wanted and he was pleased, having pierced so many wannabe people who pierce standard navels just for the fad. (It's what he called them, I personally respect those who have courage to pierce.) So anyway, I didn't have to show my forms again because everything had been put in a file.
I was excited and he did the same process as before, except for it was my lower navel.This time I also chose a ring because I wanted something different. It was a CBR (captive beaded ring) with a pearly purple bead, very pretty. He cleaned it with alcohol then put this gel thing on it.He marked and I had him move it a bit in more. The clamp did hurt a bit though this time because the skin is thicker. It also took a little while longer to get it on. This made me nervous because I figured that this would hurt...alot. I inhaled and exhaled and he pushed the needle through as I exhaled o the 3rd time breath. Wow, more pain than before..but still tolerable. Like a much sharper sting that lasted longer. Made me clench my fists though and grit my teeth a bit. He told me that it was over though and I looked down to see my ring in place this time though. He cleaned it again and I had to wait a while to see straight. I then got up and marveled.
It healed about a month ago and now they're both very pretty and very original. I'm extremely happy with the outcome of my descision to pierce. Happy Piercing!