Well, I first became interested in body mods when I was about 12 years old. I saw that everyone famous had one and even my aunt did! That made me want one even more! But as usual my mom wouldn't let me get it done. That's when I took measures into my own hands.
At A Glance Author Tara Contact Tara@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Keith Studio Tribal Expressions Location Calgary, Alberta My friend and I both really wanted to have ours done together. So all we had to do was find a ride into Calgary, we live in a small town nearby, and then pick a studio. Well, my friend's older brother drove us into Calgary and we found a good enough place to do it. I had done all my researching on how to do it and all that stuff so I was ready! So we drove into Calgary at about 10:30 in the morning. On the directions to the place, we thought it said SW but it was actually in the NW, and we had been driving around south Calgary for an hour looking for the place! So...we had to turn around and go to opposite direction. When we got to the place, they had a 2 hour wait! We didn't want to wait that long, so we looked around a little and then found the perfect place-Tribal Expressions! Me and my friend were so happy with the way that the store was kept clean and all the friendly advice that we decided to get pierced there. We asked them about it, and they said that they had 2 piercings to do before us and that it would be about 45 minutes. So we left and then got something to eat and then came back.
So when we got back from our lunch, Keith showed us a selection of the barbells that they had. I choose one that had a light pink gem on the end. So he sterilized everything in the room and then asked who was going first. So my friend got up and I went with her, I had to see how it was done! So we walked back into the room, that smelled like a dentist's office, and he told her exactly was he was going to do. But this isn't about hers, it's about mine! So anyways, she was all done and he said that he just had to get ready for me, so we went into the waiting room and waited while they my stuff prepared.
So when he finally came out, he said come on back. Me my friend, my friends brother, and my friends brother's friend, came back to watch mine. First he told me to stand up straight and tuck my shirt into my bra so that it wouldn't get in the way. He then took a pen and out little dots on my belly button so he knew where to put the needle. He used a special measuring...thing so that it was perfectly straight. He then told me to look in the mirror and check if I liked everything and I said yes. Next, he got me to lie down on this doctors like table and he re-measured the dots to make sure that they were even when I laid down. Then he put on the clamps, they were uncomfortable, but they didn't hurt- it was kinda like a pinch. Then he put the cork at the bottom where the needle would come out. He told me to relax and to take a breath in and out. He put the needle wear he was going to push it in and I felt a tiny sharp pinch. Then he told me to take another breath, and the needle was in and then one more and it was all the way through! I did it! And it didn't hurt nearly as much as I thought it would. Then I looked down and I saw this needle sticking out of my stomach! Yikes! All of a sudden, I hear this huge BANG and my friend's brother is on the floor! He fainted! He was right ok though and then Keith went over the cleaning care and instructions. You know the usual dial soap in the shower 2 times a day. We paid, left a tip and then left to go to the drug store to pick up some soap! Now, if anyone's wondering, because I know that I did when reading these stories, how much it cost. Well the piercing itself cost $35. Then I choose a barbell that was $75, so my overall cost was about $110, including tip.
So that happened this afternoon at Tribal Expressions. And if anyone who reads this is considering getting a navel ring, I would recommend Keith at Tribal Expressions in Calgary! I hope you all find this useful and definatly go for the piercing!