Like many people I come from a pretty conservative family who for the most part frowns upon any type of body modification. I am the exception to this rule. My mom always thought that people with piercings and tattoos looked as if they belonged in prison and my dad just hated the idea all together. When I turned 18, I had a hankering to get my tongue pierced. I had seen people at my school with their tongues pierced and I loved the way it looked when they talked so I decided to get it done myself.
At A Glance Author Lolita When A week ago Artist Ian Studio Dark Millennia Location Denver, CO The roads were pretty snowy the day I was going to get it done so we took a little while getting to the studio. I had brought my two very close friends, Nicky and Kiri to share this experience with me. When we finally reached the shop we had a hell of a time finding a parking spot so we had to park in the corner and venture in the snow to the shop.
As soon as we entered the shop I heard the buzz of a tattoo being done and a very tattooed but cute guy sitting at the table. I went up with my friends and told him that I wanted to have my tongue pierced. He smiled and went back to get the piercer. The piercer came in and I felt a little uneasy. This guy must have been about 6'3 with every piercing imaginable on his face and ears. He shook my hand and considerately introduced himself. I started to feel more comfortable. Of course my friends, being the girly girls that they are, were saying "Oh my god, oh my god! I can't believe you're getting it done! It will be so hot!" I had to tell them to quiet down because the piercer and all of the tough tattoo artists were giving us awkward looks.
He asked if I had any questions, which I did, and answered them most eloquently. Finally he was ready to pierce me and said that it would only be him and I. I was mad because I wanted my friends to go with me but whatever.
I followed him into a white, well-lit room with a chair the resembled one you would find at the dentist's office. He asked me to take a seat while he got everything ready. He had to go in back and get the supplies so he left me alone in the room. The walls were covered with what looked like his wife (who was also tattooed and pierced) and his baby. I thought that was very cute. There were also some interesting drawings of people which I assumed to be his. The people were very lanky and dark, for lack of a better description. He finally entered the room and I didn't have to look at those disturbing pictures.
He dried off my tongue and dotted with a purple marker and asked if I liked the placement. It was a little far back but I assumed he knew what he was doing. I sat back on the chair and he dried off my tongue once more. He clamped my tongue and told me to take in some deep breaths. I scrunched up my face thinking about the pain. He put in the needle and I could feel it going through different layers of my tongue, but it wasn't that bad! He told me that the needle was through and he inserted the barbell. I really don't remember what he said to me after that because I was so relieved that it didn't hurt!
He briefly went through after care instructions with me and said that I was good to go. I walked out of the room and showed my two girls who took a picture of my gorgeous tongue! They were so excited! I paid the piercer and gave him a good tip for making me feel so comfortable!
That night, being as naive as I am, attempted to eat spaghetti and meatballs. BAD IDEA. The noodles kept getting wrapped around the barbell and I could barely chew with this foreign object in my tongue. I stopped and opted for a milkshake instead.
The next 4 days were probably the worst because my tongue was the size of a tennis ball and I couldn't chew anything. Tylenol really helped with that.
But I did see the light at the end of the tunnel and on the 5th day I could eat normally without my tongue throbbing! It was beautiful; I could eat all of the foods I would normally eat!
I totally recommend a tongue piercing to anyone who is feeling a little adventurous! Although the first few days are hell, there is a light at the end of the tunnel! I love, love, love my tongue piercing!