When I was just a naïve 15 years old I desperately wanted my belly button pierced. I had gone out of state to find a place. I was living in Illinois and only knew of one tattoo place in the area, which I had heard bad things about. I went with my mom, who surprisingly accepted the idea. We went to about 5 different tattoo parlors trying to find the cheapest price. Well, once we found the right place, I couldn't get I because I wasn't from the state of Indiana any longer and therefore I didn't have a state ID. I thought about using my cousins ID, but just said forget it. I was bummed...
At A Glance Author anonymous When A week ago Artist ? Studio Cadillac Custom Location LaSalle, IL But now, 4 years later and being old enough to get a piercing without parental consent, I decided to go for it. For some reason, my mom no longer approved of it and thought it would be a waste of money. I had still always wanted it, but I heard horror stories and chickened out. Everyone I asked said it hurt pretty badly except for one girl. I decided to go where she went to get my own piercing. I researched and called a few local places first, though.
Another factor that helped convinced me to get the piercing was my boyfriend who also wanted a piercing. We first went to a shop in Ottawa, IL. It was awesome inside, but unfortunately a piercer was not on hand when we went. I thought this was kind of weird because if someone can draw on skin, they should be able to do a piercing. But nonetheless, I found a better place. The place I went had a deal: 2 piercings above the waist for $60 and you could bring a friend.
Now here is a bit of information from the night before I got my piercing. This is the night that I went to the place in Ottawa. My boyfriend and I got high beforehand. I thought it would be easier for me to handle this way. But I was wrong. I started thinking about needles and just basically psyching myself out. I still would've done it but I actually think the pain would've been worse.
Anyways, the next night we went to Cadillac Customs. My boyfriend was high, but I wasn't. We walked in and there was someone lying on a table right in front of a window getting a tat. It was awesome. We were asked immediately what we needed and taken to a room in the back. It was very hot in the back. The guy who was going to do our piercings asked a couple questions then asked who wanted to go first. My boyfriend said he would, but I didn't let him. I wanted to go first so I wouldn't have to watch him. There was another younger guy in the room who asked me what I was getting. I told him "My belly button," and he replied, "Awesome!" I felt really comfortable.
The guy (I don't remember his name) asked which ring I wanted. There were 4 to choose from and I chose aqua. He then told me that the other guy in the room was an intern so he would be explaining the process to him. I didn't like that idea because it made me more nervous. The piercer applied alcohol to the area and marked me. He said to the intern at this time to make sure it was straight. He also said, "She has a nice body line." I thought that was very nice of him. He had me show my significant other to be sure it looked good to him then I lied down. I just didn't think about anything from there on. I felt the clamp, which hurt more than anything. I didn't even feel a needle, piercing, pinch or anything. However, I heard him telling the intern guy, "You don't wanna do that, though." I asked, "What! What happened?" He said that he had cut my skin above the piercing a little so I was just going to bleed a little. I didn't care, it wasn't serious or anything, just like you nicked yourself shaving or something . He said, "I wouldn't have done if I wasn't trying to show someone how to do it." I understood what he was saying. I was fine. He gave me a paper towel to put over the cut, just like a man does when he cuts his face. It was pretty funny.
I was trying to hold it one there and he yelled at me. He was like "Don't touch it with dirty hands!" I said I wasn't, I was just trying to keep the paper on it. He then told me to use this alcohol pad 45 min later and never use alcohol or peroxide on it. He said to just use antibacterial soap, contact solution or H2Ocean seasalt spray. He said to wait 4-6 weeks to change it.
Well, I am really kicking myself now for waiting so long to get this done, because it was basically painless. I don't want to wait so long to change it! I think I am going to want a new piecing by that time! I really do think the phrase "welcome to you new addiction" is very true. The tattoo shop Permanent Images in Ottawa, IL uses that phrase, by the way.