Here I am, with another piercing itch! Well, I will tell you what I got into this time...my second body piercing AKA an eyebrow ring. At the moment I have two cartilage (one self-done, have to write about that soon), 4 lobes, and a navel ring. To me eyebrow rings seem to say a lot about the person who is adorn by them. Behind all of my piercings are meaning, and this one has one too.
At A Glance Author Laur Contact Laur@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Christine Studio Portsmouth Exotic Piercing Co. Location Portsmouth, NH I was down in Portsmouth with my mother on a warm evening. We had drove down from southern Maine where we live. It was before Father's Day so we had to go out and buy my dad a gift. For a number of months (I think since the fall) I have been nagging for an eyebrow ring. They look punk, tough, and also give a person more character. I love to show off my piercings as well as being able to constantly change jewelry with my style. A few weeks ago I was at Bagel Works and a lady answered a lot of my questions and seemed to reassure my mom that it was an okay piercing. So I decided to give it a go and ask. Of course she kept saying how it would get ripped out of me and all the other excuses that we have been through. I feel like a veteran sitting in the piercing chair (heh, I'm just an amateur to some; but, for kids at my school...I am an experienced person in the knowledge of piercings). While I was at the Water Monkey my mom suddenly asked the people if they knew of any reputable piercers in the area.
We were quickly directed to Portsmouth Exotic Piercing Co., which was just a walk away. I walked up the stairs to a marble hallway covered with tattoo flash. Around the bend was a little piercing room. Though it was smaller than most shops it was one of the most cleanest I have ever seen in my life! Better than my doctor's office really! There were some jewelry cabinets as well as some posted information about piercings on the wall. As most reputable piercers, there was an album of pictures taken of their work. I was impressed. Not to mention there was a list of a piercee's rights. There were a few people in line ahead of us. We asked what they took for payment, cash only as usual. Since we did not have any, we ran to the nearest bank for some money. It would be $50 for the initial piercing and few extra for a tip (always leave them a tip, they appreciate it) Upon return the lady was disinfecting the area by spraying it down and setting out a new tray with the items needed to pierce me. She had my mother and I sign a contract and ask my mom for a driver ID. After that was over I was told to sit in the ol' piercing chair.
This time I did not feel really nervous. I had eaten some bagels a while before to make sure I had something on me. She started to explain how she would pierce it. I felt so comfortable. I saw everything opened brand new out of the package. There were biohazard bins where the needles were discarded. These are things you should look for when you get pierced, by the way. Christine clamped my eyebrow and told me to take a deep breath. Upon letting my breath out I felt the needle go through. No pain, just pressure was all I felt. I can't make it much simpler than that really. It didn't hurt but I sure felt it go through. All of it happened in a split second. She put a cork on the end of the needle (so I would not get my eye poked out) and picked up the ring and told me that I may feel it go through. As she pulled out the needle, the ring slid in. Within in a matter of seconds I had my eyebrow pierced!
Christine explained everything that was normal to be seen (crusties, bruising, etc) and how to take care of it. My eye had bled like crazy, though this doesn't happen to everyone. It also swelled up pretty bad; I almost couldn't open my eye. It's sort of weird because this has never happened with any of my other piercings. I had to run out and buy some Dial soap to wash it with.
As for cleaning: DON'T OVER CLEAN! If you clean it too often it will do nothing for it. In the morning and at night I was told to put Dial soap on the area to wash it and twist the ring about four times up and down. And also morning and night put some Bactine on it. Every piercer has their own directions of how to clean the piercing, be sure to follow them!
I have had my eyebrow ring for about a week now. I'm so happy with my decision in getting this piercing as well as the great place where it was pierced at. The swelling has gone down, but when it fully has the ring should lie flat on my face. I have some pretty good bruising done to my eyelid haha. It'll go away though all in good time. I haven't had it caught on anything...yet. I'm so afraid of that happening. I've bumped it a few times and it hurts like crazy, so be very cautious! Oh by the way, it was pierced at a 16 gauge with a CBR (captive bead ring). Having a ring allows it to be cleaned easier than a barbell so if you have a choice you'll want a ring. In eight weeks I'll be able to change the jewelry. Can't wait! ;) I just ordered a black UV spiked barbell that I am anxious to wear...If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at piercedfreak07@yahoo.com