If you've ever had a piercing you may feel the same way I do. This is how I feel. I feel like when I do a new piercing it's exciting (duh) and fun but after a while the piercing becomes an everyday part of you, a part that you love like any other part, but aren't very excited about. When I get to this stage, I solve my dilemma the only way I know how... DO ANOTHER PIERCING!
At A Glance Author Lom Mack Contact Lom Mack@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Myself Studio My house Location Western Australia Currently I have only four piercings, all of which are self-done. I have pierced my lip(center - now removed after fight with mother -"you look like a fucking stoner with that thing in your lip"), my lip again but on the right side, my left lobe three times(two of which have been removed as the first is currently undergoing stretching), my helix and now my eyebrow. So now I have four left.
I started doing my own piercing because I wanted to be an individual, and where I live, just getting pierced is not enough. I wanted it to be personal and, as I knew my piercings would become a part of me, I wanted to be in charge of how they were done.
I pierced my ear lobe for the first time when I was 8, again at 11 and again at 12. After piercing my lobe 3 times, it was getting boring. I needed something new. So on the bus on the way to school(not very sterile) I pierced my lip for the first time. Now, although piercing isn't very uncommon in my town, self-piercing is. And mine certainly fucking turned some heads. I liked that. So there I was, with dreams of my own piercing studio and a few holes in my head, at age 15, ready to do my eyebrow.
I researched it very thoroughly, because of all the horror stories I'd heard about paralyzed faces and what-not. I found that the nerve that had to be missed was stuck to the skull so I figured I'd be safe if I pulled the skin out away from my head and then pierced it. How else was I going to do it anyway?
The event that actually sparked me into action was a fight with my dad. It's the best time to pierce in my situation because he was already pissed off at me so what's the difference, right?
I got my equipment ready for 'sterilization', and I do use that term lightly.The equipment list was as follows:
-a 16ga barbell acquired through a friend.
-a sewing needle that looked a little bigger than a 16ga.
-a bottle of Isopropyl alcohol.
-a couple of q-tips.
-my trusty lighter
I used the lighter on the needle to sterilize it. Then rubbed the alcohol on it. Using a non-toxic pen, I marked the exit and entry points on my eyebrow. Using a q-tip I swabbed the area with alcohol to remove any pesky germs etc. I pinched the eyebrow I was gonna pierce (my left) and lined up the needle with the mark. Taking a deep breath and summoning all my strength I pushed the needle up through my eyebrow. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Kinda like piercing my ear lobes. Maybe a bit tougher because it was kinda hard to hold my eyebrow out while sticking a bit of metal through it. So that bit was fine.
I got the barbell and doused it in alcohol. Sliding the needle out the top as I poked the barbell in the bottom was easy until I got to the exit hole. Fuck!!!! It just wouldn't go through. I was fucking wild as a cut snake. I got so irritated trying to wriggle it through the hole I eventually got tired and just pushed it through the flesh making another hole. I think it might have come through the same hole actually but I think it tore it a little bit. Oh well. I didn't care. I was really proud of myself, as I am when I do every piercing. I put some more alcohol on it and left my room.
I went and showed my mum cos' I wasn't pissed off at her, just at my dad. She said it looked good and that the placing looked right. Then she told my to put some ice on it 'cos it was all red and a bit swollen like I'd got a minor black eye. I wrapped some ice in a tea towel and held it there until the swelling went away (30 mins max.).
As for aftercare, I treated it the same as all my piercings; alcohol in the morning before school and alcohol in the evening before bed. I give it an occassional salt water wash because my mum says that it's a good thing to take the time to do.
It's been about a week now and my brow has a few little crusty bits from the healing. I wasn't sore after the first day and I looks fucking awesome to me. My mates reckon it's cool too and I pierced a friend's brow yesterday with the same procedure. His looks the same as mine did so it should heal well too.
Anyway, if DIY piercings don't intimidate you too much and you want an eyebrow ring, I say go for it. The pain is minimal and so is the aftercare. Chill... until next time, Lom Mack.