As the old saying goes, "If you want anything done right, you have to do it yourself." However, it doesn't always work out the way we planned.
At A Glance Author Tacoma TigressFire Contact Tacoma TigressFire@bme.anon IAM tacoma85 When It just happened Artist Myself. Studio At home. Location FL, US I had made the conscious decision to pierce my eyebrow at home during January of 2003. I was 17 and still living with my mom, so I couldn't afford to get a professional mod. This was the first time I had ever pierced myself. I prepared a week early. I bought a set of 16 and 18 gauge needles and one 18G captive ball ring. I had some alcohol prep pads to make sure my tools were properly sterilized. I spent many anxious nights reading the experiences of others who had pierced themselves. Soon enough, the anxiety became more of an excitement. I had a positive attitude and an overall good feeling about this. I could hardly wait to get it done!
On the night of the piercing, I sterilized an 18G needle by holding it over a flame, held an ice pack on my eyebrow for a minute and cleaned the spot off with an alcohol prep pad. At first, I tried to push the needle straight through. I was afraid of damaging the skin so I took my time, carefully twisting the needle upward. The needle was too dull at the tip so I had to screw it upwards until I heard (and felt) my skin snap. I sat on the floor with a needle hanging from my face until I was ready to make the final push through. I wasn't uncomfortable, but my hands were tired.
The entire procedure took me three hours. Pushing the needle through the top was as difficult as getting it in. I was frustrated at the very end while trying to get it to poke from the top. I scratched at it using my fingernail and the eye of a different needle. Breaking through the top was the most difficult part I can remember, the skin was especially tough. There were just a few spots of blood when I was finished. I found the tiny captive ball ring, fumbled with it for awhile and eventually decided it was too small. I sterilized a small earring (also 18G) and pushed the needle out with the ring. There was absolutely no pain.
The result was beautiful for a home job. When the ring was completely through, I did a little dance. I was proud of what I had accomplished on my own. I had to change my sleep position that night. I normally rest on my right side, but couldn't risk catching the jewelry on my pillow. I managed to sleep well and had no problems with bleeding, scabbing or infection of any kind.
It was a clean, beautiful piercing. I washed it twice a day with saline solution. I kept it for atleast month. My girlfriend at the time accidentally tore the ring and it migrated a week later. I didn't like having to remove it, but knew it was not very attractive or practical to keep it hanging on by a tiny patch of skin.
The second time I tried to pierce my eyebrow was six months later. To this day, I have a very dark scar where the original had migrated. The skin was too tough to penetrate so I decided on the left side. Unlike the first time, this was an impulsive decision and the results were poor.
Again, I had to keep twisting the long needle until it gradually worked its way through the bottom up. By the time I was ready to make the final push, I realized I didn't have the proper jewelry this time. I let the needle just dangle there for a few minutes as I went through my 18G ear studs. None were long (or thick) enough to fill the hole so I had to abort this one. The passage of the needle was raised where some air had gotten trapped inside when I pulled the needle out. The scar healed quickly.
My third attempt was tonight. I sat on my bed sliding a 16G needle through my right eyebrow. It went all the way through. The tip of the needle poked right out the top. I was certain I'd have an absolute beauty. It was perfectly centered and had taken just under an hour to get in. I wanted it more than anything. One little problem, the jewelry wasn't going through. I slid the needle out, slowly, while attempting to insert every piece of 16G and 18G jewelry I had. After ten pieces failed, I took the entire needle out and nearly cried at my failure. It had been so perfect and just like that it was gone. All I have now are two vertical holes, aching to be filled.
I have read many glowing experiences on self-pierced brows, perhaps it made me feel at ease with the concept of doing it myself. Hopefully my next experience will be more promising. After a year of failed attempts, I finally plan on having this done professionally.