I recently had my tongue pierced (June 23, 2001), and was feeling the addiction hitting. Knowing that I did not want a lot of facial piercings made my options slightly limited, and I also did not like the look of pierced nipples or genitals. I chose to get an industrial and an eyebrow after seeing a few pics on my beloved BME. I knew that they would probably be my last, except I wanted to get my eyebrow done again. Well since this is just suppose to be about one piercing I'll write about the first one, my industrial. I called a few places and decided on Area Fifty 1, it came highly recommended. I called up but the piercer was not in that day so I would have to wait till the next day. The industrial cost $50, which was pretty reasonable, since at one place it was $70.
At A Glance Author Jacqui Wilson Contact tigress112@yahoo.com Artist Cole or Brandon (sorry I couldn't figure out his name) Studio Are 51 Tattoo and Piercings Location 175 Clay Ave. Muskegon, MI 49440 (231) 722 3901 They opened at 11:00 and after a few errands I had to run I headed over. The place looked really clean and well lit. I really wanted by brow done with a barbell, but they said that would really hurt the cleaning process. I decided to go for both anyway, and the lady at the counter gave me the form to fill out and checked and copied my id. I then talked to the piercer. He was really nice and gave me an after care booklet and some sea salt. Then he led me back into the room, and I noticed the name Cole in a few locations, so I assumed that was his name but the booklet said my piercer's name was Brandon so I'm not quite sure what his name was (sorry bud). Oh yeah he was also pretty cute. He had quite a few facial piercings. His bridge, lips, and stretched lobes. If anyone in the area knows what his name is I'd really like to know, he was super nice. On the way back to the room he used a caliper thingy to measure my ear. He took me into one of the little rooms and he wiped the chair with cleaner and I noticed the room smelled very clean (a HUGE plus). He had me sit on the dentist chair and went about getting the correct length barbell and a 14 gauge needle. I decided to get the left one done. He then had me lay done. He changed his gloves again and started to clean up my ear. He cleaned it up really well and changed his gloves again... which I found very comforting. He let me get up and look in the mirror to make sure it was where I liked it and he then marked it with a purple marker. I lay down and he asked me if I was ready and told me to breathe deeply and then he pushed it through the top hole. I was sorta surprised because it didn't hurt as much as I had anticipated. He kept messing around with the needle or whatever for like a half a minute then he kept asking me if I was ready for the next one and had me breath deeply again, the second one hurt a little more, but I didn't like cry or anything, so I was pretty happy. He messed with that one and then said he was done. I laid there for a lil while and he asked me if I still wanted my brow... of course I did and he did that, but that's another story.
Afterwards he kept telling me over and over if I thought it was infected or if I had any questions to call him, or to come in to see him. He went over the booklet again, and we rediscussed the sea salt. I was told to put all that they had given me in a 20 oz bottle of bottled water, not tap. He said I had to keep it refrigerated or bacteria would grow in the bottle. And every time I used it I have to put a small amount of the water in a cup and microwave it till it was as hot as I could stand and use cotton balls to hold it to my ear and brow for 10 minutes each. He charged $80 for both and I headed out. Overall the place was very clean and Cole or Brandon did a great job and was really comforting. He kept telling me it wouldn't hurt and was very reassuring. I really like Area Fifty 1 and am sure I will go back for my second brow and maybe a tattoo in the future. I highly recommend Area 51 to anyone in the Muskegon area the staff is very friendly and the place was immaculately clean. I thought the pain level was very minimal, which is great cuz I am a HUGE wuss. So if you're thinking about getting it I say go for it. It hurt a little but what can you expect when jamming metal objects through your body. I already love the industrial and can't wait to get the barbell into my brow. Well happy piercings! I love to get e-mail so if you have any questions I'd love to answer them! As the little box up there says my e-mail is tigress112@yahoo.com