This shop had been around for about three years. This is a small suburban town of less than 25,000 people, and it's right on the main street, so it tends to stick out a bit. Word had travelled very quickly in the local bod mod community that the work there was very sub-par. But about one year ago, the whole crew was let go, and a new group was brought in, and the business has been great ever since. That was my cue to check things o ut.
At A Glance Author TyB Contact sc1m1tar@telus.net When A month ago Studio Sinister Skin Location Port Moody B.C. As soon as I walked in the shop, the walls were COVERED with photos of tattoos, to the point where you could only see the windows and ceiling. The second thing I noticed was how clean the place was. And I mean really clean, not even scratches on the floor from boots and heels.
I walked up the counter, and a very young guy stuck his head out and told me that someone would be with me in just a minute (meaning ten minutes). Half a minute later, another young man came out and asked how I could be helped. I let him know that I was interested in getting some piercing work done. He just happened to be one of the three artists that worked there. I asked to see any photos of his past work. He showed me a few of some very nice work. Very basic, but still nice, clean work.
After seeing what he could do, we then agreed on a date. Three days later was to be the date of my second eyebrow piercing, for the second time. I had taken out the other one due to it's size, and it healed over in two days. Three years later, I'm getting it done again, and this time, it's permanent.
I came 20 minutes early, I didn't have time to fully soak in in the surroundings last time I was there, and now I had a bit of time to check things out further. I was nothing less than impressed. Not just based on the work that these three guys did, but their ages. All three were younger than me, and I'm 25. The usual assortment of tattoo magazines, and a few books on body mods that I hadn't seen before were in the waiting area. And a couch, instead of hard chairs, great.
When it was show time, he lead me down a very long hallway, in to his office. This room was cleaner, whiter, and more sterile than my dentists office. I told him exactly where I wanted the work done, and he drew it in in ink, anyways, for extra confirmation. A very large mirror lined half of a wall and we walked over there, and explained everything that was going to be taking place. Even showing me the equipment that was to be used. Very professional guy.
I sat in the plastic covered chair, and he wasted no time getting down to business. He did a very extensive cleaning, and told me to take very deep breaths. When I am getting any body mod work done, I enter a meditative state, where I can feel nothing, and am pretty much not "really there" at all. Close my eyes, very slow, deep breathing, and think of something pleasant, or an enjoyable place that you've visited in the past, or a good, CALM time that you had with friends. I find that that it helps with any pain that I (in theory) would feel. By the time my body feels any pain, I have to exit my meditation, and realize that I AM in pain. By that time, it's all over. This was not the case here.
In all honesty, I can't remember getting pierced at all. Once he told me to start my deep breathing, I was pretty much out cold, the next thing I remember, is the cold feel of alcohol on my eyebrow. It was that fast. It was that painless.
Normally I would jump out of the chair and run to the closest mirror, but I was so amazed at what just took place, and an almost shouting "Damn, you're good" escaped my lips. He gave a good chuckle and said that it was all in the equipment used. Hrmmm, ok. I did take a look, and it was exactly what I wanted, the spacing, the angle...everything. I was a very happy camper.
We walked back to the front desk, and I couldn't help but wear a very large grin all the way. I was amazed, happy, and in disbelief, all at once. We went over aftercare, and he mentioned that if I ever wanted any new jewelry, just bring it in, and THEY will replace it for me, he didn't see why I should have to do it, just bring in the receipt, it's for LIFE. My jaw hit the floor at that point, I had never heard of this service before.
Damn right I'm going back there.