Hardly any body I know had their tongue pierced in high school. If it were pierced, it was either the eye brow or the ear. But one other friend of mine (Kim) gave it a shot and I thought it looked pretty neat. I wanted one immediately. Plus, it was part of my TO-DO lists before I die. You know those once in a lifetime experiences. Besides, I wanted to start a new trend.
At A Glance Author Rekha Contact since122101@yahoo.com When A year ago Artist Ric Studio Tribal Images Location Anigua, Guam My friend Dre (18 yrs) and I decided to do it together .. heck we were scared to do it alone, so why not! The first night out, we checked Tumon for this studio that allowed 17 year olds. (FYI: I was 17 years old at the time). It was the same place my friend Kim got hers. Turns out, they discontinued because of the possible dangers. SHUCKS! We went to a couple others and no luck. Great, it was a sign. The Gods didn't want me to pierce my tongue because I was too young!
Don't get me wrong, I told my mom beforehand that I was going to get my tongue pierced. She agreed to it so long as I don't complain about it (she's a cool mom). Instead of going through all the trouble of trying to find a studio to do it (because I was a minor), I finally brought my mom along. We went to Tribal Images (so dumb, it was just down the street from my mom's place). Turns out, she knew the piercer (it was her friend's sister). She, of course, had to sign some papers because I was still a minor. Good thing I wasn't any younger or else he wouldn't have done it. He feels any younger than 17 is just way too young and it doesn't matter if consent was given.
Earlier, we decided that Dre was going to do hers first because I was nervous. Then when we did get there, she was more nervous than I. So I went first. The butterflies and the jitters were swarming my body as gargoled (sp?) some Listerine in the restroom. I walked out and sat on the chair. Ric took out the packaged needle and set everything else up on the tray. I opened my mouth and he clamped it AND thats when the tears started to roll down my face. I wasn't crying crying, just tearing. I told him to not tell me when he was going to stick the needle in because I closed my eyes during that part. I didn't want to see it go through (the mirror was in front of me). Next thing you know, it was in! That was it! But a hell whole lot of saliva fell to my lap (there was paper towel to catch it). I cried for nothing. He stuck the barbell in and that was that. I admired it the whole night. I couldn't sleep. I slept with my compact mirror.
The usual preceded. My tongue became swollen and my mouth was full of stinky-ness (even if I Listerined in the morning, night and in school). But the truth is, I didn't have to avoid certain foods. I sure as hell didn't, I ate whatever I wanted, from hot soup to rice and chicken. It probably depends on the person, but I ate everything in the book. Only thing was I had to tilt my head to the side while chewing so as not to bite my tongue. And when I woke up in the morning, it would feel like it was dead. Be careful because while you're sleeping, your tongue kind of rests on your top/bottom teeth and kind of hurts a while when you wake up. It took about 2 months for it to really heal. Then I was able to take it out while I ate or do anything orally!! With the metal barbell, it left like a noticeable crater on my tongue because it was heavy.
I can tell you all this: piercing your ears, nose, or naval, even biting your tongue hurts way more than piercing your tongue. You just can't feel it at all! It's pretty amazing.
A couple of months later, my mom gave it much thought. She said it looked pretty tight. For her 40th birthday, she pierced her own tongue and I was there with her just as she was when I did mine! So like mother like daughter. She did hers at another studio (one my auntie's boyfriend owned -it just opened). The piercer had every facial pierce you can possibly have. This makes customers comfortable in a sense.
Right now, I'm wearing a (plastic) 8 ball barbell because it glows in the dark at night or when I slightly open my mouth. I also have a smiley face, flower power, and clear barbells.