My newest addition.
At A Glance Author Amadahy Contact Amadahy@bme.anon IAM Amadahy When A week ago Artist Jimi Studio Studio 14 Location Toledo, Ohio
I was mentally preparing myself all day and before that telling my friends I was getting an industrial so it would give me the motivation I needed to get it. Unfortunatly the parlor didn't open until noon so at 10:20am I'm getting anxious.
I had visited the parlor before and looked at their website (www.studio14.com) to see what they were like. I had visited a week prior to discuss pricing and Jimi the manager/piercer made me comfortable enough for me to know I wanted him to pierce me.
At 11 am I had errands to run so I did that, then visited Grandma who offered me something to eat which I almost declined but then remembered I hadn't eaten yet and I was going to the parlor right afterwards. So I eat an orange chat a little longer then leave about 12:20pm.
Arrive at the parlor about 12:30 walk in, no sign of Jimi. T-Rex a.k.a. Tiny comes from the back where he was getting ready to tattoo some guy (he's got a window to the front area from his studio room)
I ask "Is Jimi here?" and he says "No, he's at the other location today. Why did you want something pierced?" I said "Yeah an industrial" Tiny says "Well a few days ago Jimi was saying we were out of industrial barbells but I'll call him for you" Tiny calls over finds out they have them at the other shop quickly gives me vague directions and says "He's waiting for you" the goes back to start the guys tattoo... I think he was in a hurry to get rid of me but deep down he's a nice guy.
So, back in my car, I drive over towards the other location I passed by it at first then found it by accident, but that's a long story I won't go into it. I get out of my car and go in it resembles the other parlor (very clean) but it's obviously a new parlor (no artwork on the walls, no flash books) There was only Jimi and a tattoo artist there. Jimi didn't know what I was there for so I tell him "An industrial". Jimi says "Ok just give me a second" so while Jimi was doing something on the office computer the other guy (I forgot his name) gives me the paper work and photo copies my ID (routine)
Jimi walks me into the piercing room and I drop my jacket and purse in a nearby chair then pull my hair back in a ponytail so it'd be easier for him to work. He has me sit down the entire time while he preped everything we're bullshiting about the new parlor and what he wants to do with it to make it more like the other one. He said "He hates the pierce chair because it doesn't turn all the way around like it should. Right now the parlor is just functional without much personality but that will be changing soon".
After getting everything organized he has me sit in the chair and pumps it up so I'm at eye level. First he asks me what angle I want it at, useing the mirror that is now right at eye level with the chair, useing a stick/toothpick kind of thing he shows me how it will look. I decided the first way he showed me would look better. He cleaned my ear with some disinfectant and got everything ready he clamped my ear talking to me the whole time and told me to take a deep breath and pierced the first upper hole all it felt like was a hard sharp pressure then sore similar to my cartilege. I just took some deep breaths and he asked me "if I was ok and ready for the second one", I just kind of shrugged and he says "as you'll ever be?" I say "Yeah basicially" He joked "Well hold on a minute because I'm not. Ok take another deep breath" and after that deep breath he pierced the second one and put a cork on the end of the needle first thing I did was turn and look at the mirror still with just a needle in my ear. The tattoo guy who was standing in the doorway walks in and looks at it and says sweet". Jimi comes over and puts the jewelry in now that smarted a bit after putting the jewelry in the tattoo guy looks at it again and tells me "I think it's totally kick ass".
After Jimi got his space cleaned up all 3 of us go out into the lobby area. Jimi hands me the aftercare sheet and discussing care I told him I have a bunch of sea salt and lotion but he insisted so I got some more. We bullshit more about horses (he noticed my tattoo) and had gone riding before, talked about winter riding and falling off. He also told me to call if I have any problems. I'm all my experiences every artist has told me that.
To tell the truth I think Jimi didn't want me to leave. He seemed to want to flirt with me looking back I should have stayed a little later I didn't really have anywhere to go. Maybe I'll go back again soon.
The healing I'm not sure because it's still fresh. If anyone is in the Toledo area I highly recomend Jimi as a piercer he's just an awesomely, sweet, laid-back, professional.