Well, this whole wacky story began with a night out on the town to see a local band play and me going on a quest to find some jewelry for my eyebrow. A few days before going out, the captive bead was knocked out of my CBR in my brow and I didn't have any other jewelry that was suitable for the piercing until I had a chance to get some more; therefore, I had a potential problem on my hands while walking around with a no bead in my CBR. It could have been easily ripped out and we couldn't have that, now could we?
At A Glance Author Jessica-The Wallflower Contact HSHornet@aol.com When A month ago Artist Greg Studio Skinworks Location Bossier City, Louisiana Before my friend, Jerry, and I went to the show, we stopped by a local shop that was on the way to see if they had any jewelry. I bought my slave barbell from this shop and I was satisfied with everything during that visit, but this was something entirely different. First of all, the floor was filthy feeling. As I was walking through the door, I feel the grit on the floor and actually see some. They were fairly busy, but there were some employees just sitting around joking about. A man, that was doing a tattoo, yelled from across the room and asked me if he could help me. I told him that I was looking for some jewelry for my eyebrow and he told me, from across the room, that they didn't have any barbells. I was not interested if they did after I was treated is rudely in a studio that was not up to par.
Already running late, Jerry and I retreated to the show and had a great time! It was nearly midnight, so I was not expecting any place to be open. As we went an alternate route home, I figured that I would pass by Skinworks to see if they just happened to be open. As luck would have it, they were. YAY!
As soon as I walked in the door, I could smell that clean smell that all studios should have and everything was bright. I was approached by Mickey, one of the piercers, and asked me how he could help me. I told him that I was looking for a barbell for my eyebrow and he told me that he would get his apprentice to help me.
While waiting on the apprentice, my friend and I looked around at all of the designs on the walls and talked about some of our ideas for some art. The apprentice approached me and we discussed the jewelry I was looking for. While we were talking about the jewelry, he complimented me on my "collection" that I had and I complimented him, as well. We were getting into a nice discussion about piercings that we had and we planning on getting in the future. I told him that I was looking into getting a septum, rook, and my nipples done sometime in the near future, but I had much more planned. He began telling me about his septum, which was at a 4 ga, I think, and then he showed me his rook. Very nicely healed piercing and I was admiring it. I could not help, but have a feeling like I knew him. His piercing and his eyes were beginning to look familiar.
We selected some jewelry, he led me behind the counter, and seated me in a chair to change my jewelry. I asked him how he got his apprenticeship and he told me that he was very lucky to come across it and they work him to death, but it is worth it to learn. I had to ask, for some reason I felt compelled to. I asked him what his name was and he told me Greg. I could not believe it! He was one of my online friends. We had known each other for a little over a year, but had never met and had only seen pictures of each other. After, he changed my jewelry we were hugging and all happy to see each other.
We went to the waiting area to talk and catch up on a few things. He asked me if I wanted to get my septum done that night and I was a little hesitant. He told me that he was going to talk to Mickey about charging me for the jewelry. He came back and I was talking to my friend about it, weighing the pros and cons. I decided that I could get a retainer and flip it in my nose while it was healing. So, I told him yes, I would do it. I was completely elated!
He copied my driver's license, asked me several questions about my medical history, explained the procedure and aftercare, and then led me behind the counter. I was seated in a chair and he laid out everything in front of me. He was closely advised and monitored by Mickey. Since I am severely allergic to iodine, green soap *sniff!* was used instead of iodine. He placed his fingers in my nose to check out my septum and where the placement would be. "Oh, that's nice. That's going to be so nice" *still sniffing of the ever so minty soap*
Greg placed the needle in my left nostril and the receiving tube on the right. He was trying to get at a good angle and Mickey was coaching. I was completely comfortable in their hands, which does not happen too terribly often. Greg told me to take a deep breath in, one out, in, and out. On the exhale of the second breath, the needle penetrated the flesh in, what I would like to call, an almost spiritual like manner. My left eye teared up a little and in a few seconds a single, solitaire teardrop rolled down my warm cheek. He, then, placed a cork on the end of the needle and explained that it was for his safety. Next, the jewelry was slipped into my new perforation. Damn, what a lovely night this was turning out to be?! I think my friend was about to pass out while watching from across the room, but he will survive.
Greg pierced me on September 21, 2001 and it is, now, Halloween. I have had my septum pierced for 40 days now and I have been healing lovely. I do my soaks and cleanings like I was instructed. I plan on stretching my septum in a few months when I am sure that it is completely healed. I am very proud of my septum piercing.
In my opinion, the pain factor of the initial piercing, on a scale of 1-10, 1 being low and 10 being high, would be a 3 and the healing process would be given a 5. I have a hard time healing piercings and I heal very slowly. I should also mention, that I bumped my nose several times, on accident, while healing, so that added onto the pain. The reaction that I get from most people is, "Is that real?" "Did it hurt?" "How did they do that?" "Can I touch it?" AND "EWW!"
All in all, this was my favorite piercing experience. Not only did I get a gorgeous new piercing, but I met one of my online friends. Thank you Greg, Mickey, and Skinworks for a lovely experience.