Ever since I was 15, possibly younger, I have been interested in piercings. I love the idea of having jewelry in my body. Eyebrow piercings, belly buttons, tongue piercings, it was a forbidden sanctuary. I would walk down the streets in my city, and I would see my friends and strangers going by, all done up with body modifications. They appeared so happy, and yet fearless, while continuing to maintain their unshakable individuality.
At A Glance Author amanda When A week ago Artist Leo IV Studio the purple scorpion Location salem, MA Since I was under the legal piercing age of 18, I had to wait for my own mods. My family is of strict Christian background, so asking to put unnecessary holes in my body was out of the question. Until my 18th birthday arrived, I had to sit back as body modifications become more and more popular among my friends. It was a wretched length of time I had to wait. Finally, March 22nd 2003 came. In April 2003 I had my tongue pierced. I had always heard it was very painful, easy to strike a nerve and cause major damage. I discovered these were all lies. My tongue didn't hurt. I felt as though nothing had changed. This experience encouraged me to attain more piercings.
I had pierced my own navel about 5 times, letting it heal, then taking out the safety pin that retained the hole. There was still a lot of scar tissue from it having to heal many times, so I decided against having my navel professionally pierced. Next in line on my top wanted piercings list was my eyebrow. I had always admired the look of a sleek barbell. It was typical, yet sexy and adventurous. Being unemployed, I never had enough money to pay for this procedure. For my 19th birthday I asked my friend Steve to pay for my eyebrow piercing as a gift. He agreed and the date was set. March 20th 2004. I was very excited. All I could do was continuously search on BME, knowing that soon I could add my own picture and story. I looked on different body jewelry web sites, and I found the bead I wanted to have in the captive bead ring I would be sent on my way with. I chose a pink tigers-eye. I knew it would look fabulous.
Saturday rolled around and I found myself, Steve, my sister and my best friend Katie on our way to Salem. We went to Purple Scorpion, a well known and respected shop on Derby St. I had my tongue pierced there a year prior, and I loved it. They are very clean, informative, humorous and endlessly helpful. As I walked in I saw Leo, my tongue piercer. I knew I would be fine no matter who pierced me, but having Leo made it a little easier. I told them I wanted my left eyebrow pierced. I then signed a few papers, forked over my ID, picked out my bead, and went on my way. Katie went in with me, as always. We went to the same little white room. It's immaculate. Leo began telling me about the procedure, what he would be doing, different soaps and anti-bacterial cleaners I would need to buy for my piercing. He told me about the different needles and instruments he would be using, and what they were for.
Finally it was ready. He marked me with the blue ink, had me look in the mirror to make sure I liked the positioning. Perfect! He attached the clamp. Most people say the clamp hurts very much, but it's more like an annoyance. Something you can definitely deal with. Leo turned my chair towards my friend, and I watched her face grow in shock as he punctured me. Yet again, I did not feel a thing. I didn't even flinch. He then put in the ring, attached the ball and cleaned off some off the ink Afterwards he went over the aftercare instructions, told me what soaps to buy, to take two showers a day, to make sure if I was going to pluck or wax my eyebrows to do the pierced one first, and so on.
My friend and I thanked Leo and walked out to show my friends my new jewels. I was so proud that I finally got my piercing. I tipped Leo $10, took my aftercare instructions and went on my way.
It is only a few days after my piercing. I am taking good car of it, and so far am not having any problems. In 8 weeks I can change the jewelry, maybe to a barbell. Until then I will continue babying my new holes.
As soon as I want more piercings Purple Scorpion is the number one place I am going to. I highly recommend going to Purple Scorpion if you are in the MA area. They are insanely great at their line of work, piercing and tattoos.