Ever since my older brother took me to get my septum pierced 3 years ago I have been looking for more and more unique ways to alter my body. Considering all of the options, I decided that I would be piercing my hand in between the thumb and the index finger. While unsure of which hand to pierce, I decided that the left hand would be more appropriate because I am right handed, and it could have made writing while in school extremely difficult.
At A Glance Author solid gold When It just happened Artist Jamie Bergen Studio his living room floor Location Westchester, California After opening a few days in my busy social schedule to get it done, I counted my money and realized I was completely broke. Even if I could find an artist willing to work for so little, I wouldn't have had enough money for new jewelry or the gas for my car. A close friend Harold who was staying with me at the time suggested we visit his friend Jamie who lived two towns away. Harold said that Jamie and his girlfriend were both tattoo artists looking to open up a studio in the future. They constantly gave Jamie help when he needed work done on his enormous traditional tattoos and said they would love to help out any of his friends.
When we arrived at Jamie and his girlfriend Maude's small apartment I began to get very nervous. Never once have I considered the pain involved with getting a new piercing until last month. Never had I heard about or even seen any hand webs and the lack of knowledge scared me until my hands began to sweat and shake. Next time I go in for a piercing I am going to make sure I look it up on bme just to have a little more information on what I am getting in to.
Fortunately Jamie was one of the kindest persons I had ever met and we sat around discussing life and everything in between for about an hour before the piercing was even brought up. Jamie wasn't a stereotypical tattoo artist whatsoever being thin, short and clean of any visible tattoo's or piercings. His girlfriend on the other hand was taller than him and covered from head to toe in blurry thin lined tattoos. Eventually Jamie left to clean up and get his tools out.
Maude and Harold went in the other room so Jamie could discuss what he would be doing and when we were both ready I told my friend Harold to come in and watch. Taking the piercer's advice I left the jewelry size completely up to Jamie. He told me there was less of a chance that the piercing would migrate and I happily agreed to his choice not wanting to have to try this over again if it happened to fail.
Jamie then proceeded to follow through with the painful task. The thought of the web in between my fingers has never occurred to me as being a painful area if pierced. But as the needle poked through I felt my eyes began to get watery and the left side of my body extremely hot. It was one of the most painful things I had ever experienced, and I had volunteered and even paid for it. Within a few seconds I got light headed and rested my head on the back of the chair and closed my eyes. Jamie said that the hand webs tend to be very painful and that it would be done shortly. Then the jewelry came in and I got even dizzier. I was patiently waiting for the pain to end when in no time he slapped my hand twice playfully and said, "you're all set."
With the ring in my hand now I realized what a great choice I had made. As always, the pain was well worth it and it was an experience I couldn't regret, even if the jewelry has to be taken out two months from now. Harold paid Jamie for the ring as a birthday gift to me, then exchanged handshakes and were on our way.
Now, it has only about a week and a half since I had gotten the piercing put in and it is still horribly swollen and red. But now I have realized that it has become my favorite piercing out of the four I have right now. As soon as the swelling goes down in my left hand and I have enough money I plan on getting the web in my right hand done to make them a little more symmetrical. Jamie was very professional and relaxed, which only made the experience easier and more enjoyable. When I am ready to get the right hand done I will definitely be paying Jamie and Maude another visit. Well I will be paying them that visit if within the next month or two the ring doesn't migrate or get infected and force me to remove it.