I have always wanted my belly button pierced since the fourth grade. I would see my friend's belly button piercing and want one just like it. By the time I turned 18, I knew the first thing I wanted to do, and that was to get my belly button pierced. I had even already started to buy bellybutton rings that I thought were cute just because I am a loser like that. My belly button is the first piercing I actually had to go to a piercer for. Sure, I have had my ears pierced but those are no big deal since you can go to the mall to get that done anyway. So naturally, I was a little nervous not only about the piercing but also the atmosphere. I was afraid I would go into the parlor and the people would not take me seriously just because I wanted my bellybutton pierced. But they were very nice.
At A Glance Author me IAM zerla1 When A week ago Artist adrian Studio skincraft Location cincinnati Me and my friend went to Skin Craft in Cincinnati. Skin Craft is a very reputable place and very professional. I wanted my friend to go with me because I did not want to do it alone and since she had gotten hers done already, she would be a good ally to have around. They let me pick out my jewelry. I had a choice between a barbell and a ring. I wanted the barbell but the ring was less expensive. They still suggested the barbell though, because a ring has more of a chance to get ripped out and it was just more practical to get a barbell, so I opted for that.
My piercer Adrian, was very nice and while he was preparing, he would take me through the steps of aftercare. He explained that it was very important that I clean twice a day. He also emphasized that although it is important to clean twice a day it is also important that I do not over clean. That can be just as bad as under cleaning it. I have to wait 4-6 months to change it. That seems a little long but I am definitely going to wait that long because I had gotten my ear lobes double pierced a few months before and I changed them too early and they got infected. I know that ear lobes and belly buttons might be on different ends of the spectrum but I definitely learned my lesson. When a piercer tells you to wait to change your piercing, you listen to them because they know what they are talking about.
After he was finished explaining the aftercare he told me to lie down, he then proceeded to clean my navel. After he was finished he told me to stand up so he could put dots on the places he would pierce. He took a little long to do this part but I did not mind. I rather he be anal than sloppy.
After he was finished with that, he told me to lie down again. He put the clamps on me at this point. I have heard that the clamps are the worst part because they pinch so much but I did not think they were that bad. He told me that he will actually pierce me after I take a deep breath and when I am almost done exhaling. He told me that is when your body is the most relaxed. He then told me to take a deep breath. I knew what was coming next so I got a little nervous and wanted to hold my friends hand. I do not like to watch things like this so I just closed my eyes. I took a deep breath and while I was slowly letting it out he pierced me. It only hurt for two seconds and then it was over. Then my friend told me I could stop squeezing her hand so hard. It was not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. Honestly, I had to get a cavity filled a month before and that was 10 times worse then getting my naval pierced. It also depends on how tolerant you are of pain. I am not, but it really was not that bad.
At this point he told me I could get up and look in the mirror. I did and I absolutely love it! It did not hurt at all unless I accidentally knocked it. When I paid, he gave me a bag of salts to use to clean it. He said that the salts bring oxygen to the piercing and promotes healing and can also relieve any pain.
It has been a week, things are doing fine. Its a little crusty and red around the edges but I have heard that is normal. It does not hurt at all and I cannot wait to change it!