I've wanted my eyebrow pierced since I was about 12, and pretty much everybody I talked to knew this. About that time, Real World Boston came out, and Elka had her eyebrow pierced. I think that was one of the first reasons that I wanted it done. I asked my parents if I could get it pierced when I was about 16-17, and they said I had to wait until I turned 18. Turned 18, went to college, still didn't get around to getting it done. For my 19th birthday, one of my friends suggested we go get it pierced. FINALLY!
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When Six months ago Artist Lyn Studio Red Dragon Tattoo Location Richmond, VA We went to her house first to get a camera, and her parents were against it, so I started getting nervous. They kept telling me things like, "Are you sure you want to do this? You only get one set of eyes. What if something goes wrong?" We kind of ignored them - I had started out so excited about going that day, and despite the fact that I was getting nervous, my friend took me anyway.
We left her house and had to find the piercing studio. I'd decided a while ago that if/when I got my eyebrow pierced, I was going to Red Dragon- a teammate of mine had gotten her eyebrow pierced there the year before, and it looked exactly like I wanted mine to. Plus all the things I'd heard about the place were good. So, we got to the piercing studio, walked in, and started talking to the piercer. I'm a pain wimp, and I was really nervous (thanks to all those reservations my friend's parents voiced). I almost didn't go through with it, but the piercer was very calming and answered all our questions. I'd also wanted it done for so long, and I knew if I didn't get it done then, I probably wouldn't ever. It was also my first (and only) piercing - I'd never had even my earlobes pierced as a kid. And the best time to get a "non-traditional" piercing is in college - what do your professors care if there's a ring in your face or not? I think the deciding factor was, "It's on my aw ay message that we're getting your eyebrow pierced." and "Mine too." Great thinking, I know.
Anyway. When I finally said "OK OK I want it done let's do it," Lyn got everything set, and I signed the consent form. I picked my right eyebrow. I don't remember when I'd decided this, but I knew I'd wanted the right side pierced for a long time. I don't know if that's supposed to signify anything like a right ear piercing on guys does, but whatever. Lyn marked it, it looked great, and she put the clamp on. Then in went the needle, and about all I felt was a "punch" through it. Surprisingly, the piercing itself did not hurt. But I don't find plucking my eyebrows painful at all, and I wanted the eyebrow ring so much that I guess I just zoned out the pain if there was any. I don't think there are that many nerve endings in your eyebrows, anyway. It was definitely weird to go home and be able to see it out of the corner of my eye. But it looked so good. I was ecstatic about it. Still am, come to think of it.
About three months after I got it done, I got a smaller ring put in. That was weird. It was supposed to have healed well enough to change the ring without any problems, but even though I went back to the studio to get it changed, the new ring would NOT go in my eyebrow. I think it too longer to change it than it did to get it pierced in the first place. But the smaller ring made it easier to not brush it with my hairbrush, easier to sleep on, and easier to put a swim cap on. (Note: don't swim for about a month after you get it done; it starts to ooze nasty stuff.)
It's been about 9 months since I got it done, and it's still beautiful. My parents don't even mind it (I think the 7 years of warning helped.) Unfortunately, I think it's starting to grow out, which is a very sad thing. I'll have to decide whether or not I want to get it re-pierced once it completely grows out. If I do get it done again, I'll go back to the same place - I haven't had any problems with it. Eventually your body just rejects it; I've known people who've had piercings grow out within a few months, and I've known people who've had them in for years without any problems. Your eyebrow is one that just grows out. I knew that when I got it.
So: I would HIGHLY recommend that anybody who's even thinking about getting an eyebrow piercing to go and get it done. You can always take it out, and you can hide it under your hair if you need to. One final word of caution: KEEP IT CLEAN.
Happy piercing, folks.