At A Glance
Author	Ciara
Contact	rabbimurphy@hotmail.com
When	A month ago
Artist	Tim
Studio	Mark's Piercing
Location	Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK

Almost everyone who's into body modification can tell you of 'The Urge'... The feeling that you NEED another mod. It's even stronger after long periods of not having been pierced/tattooed and, the day I got my bridge pierced, it had been about 7 months since the last time. So, in other words, my face was 'gagging for it'.

I hadn't given it much thought prior to finally having money for another piercing - as has been the way for the past couple I've had done. On this particular day I happened to have money, time and 'The Urge', so I hopped on the bus with my dog into Hemel Hempstead. Obviously I couldn't take the dog into the piercer's, so I left him outside with a friend before rushing to the cash point to draw out the only £40 I'd likely to have in my possession in a long while.

The studio is set on the first floor of a hairdresser's but, have no fear; it's not your typical 'go by the gun' place (thankfully). Quite the opposite, in fact. I've been going there for over two years and have always been dead impressed with the cleanliness, friendly and professional attitude Tim holds towards each of his customers.

"Hallo there! What can I do for you today?" he asked, unlocking the door to the piercing room.
"I'd like a bridge piercing today, please!" chirped I.
"Sure thing!" He said, whilst getting out the appropriate form for me to fill out and sign. He made some joke about me being able to do the form blindfolded by now but, truth be told, I wasn't really listening. Whilst I was filling the form in, Tim was setting the required equipment out. As usual, everything in sterilized packages, surfaces wiped down with disinfectant and constant changing of gloves.

After signing the piece of paper, we went through the colored barbells to find one that would match the rest of my jewelry. Alas, he had no BlackLine ones in that day, so I had to settle for a dark purpley-blue. Sterilized and all that jazz, naturally.

We then decided upon the position of the piercing. It was a bit hard, at first, to get the thing slap-bang on center. After a couple of goes, the placement looked perfect so I laid down on the bench with my head supported by an ever-so comfortable black cushion, looking forward to the process.
Firstly, Tim changed his gloves again. He then opened his 'tools' and changed his gloves again. Picking up the clamps, he told me I should close my eyes. So I closed my eyes. I'd prefer to have watched it all take place, but I suppose that wouldn't have been the 'wise' thing to do.

"Ready?" He asked.
I would've nodded if my face wasn't restricted by the clamp so had to make do with a simple, yet effective, "uh-huh". In went the needle. It didn't hurt as much as I expected it to. More of an acute feeling of pressure being applied to the area. In went the barbell & out went the needle. I wouldn't have known this had happened if I hadn't opened my eyes - just couldn't resist a quick little sneaky peak! I was told that he was wiping away a little blood (I feel special if I've bled after a piercing... Like I got my full money's worth!) and then that he was attaching the ball to the open end of the barbell.

I sat up and took a look in the mirror. Alas, I wasn't too sure about it. It was placed perfectly and pierced wonderfully but... I just didn't feel it suited my face. Tim said he thought it looked good, which consoled me a little. I took yet another after-care sheet later and a quick run-down on the do's and don'ts. I paid up and left for the pub with the dog and friend, both of whom had been waiting patiently outside for the duration of the process. My friend thought it looked good, as did some bloke at the pub. I have grown to like it a lot more now, just looking forward to the day I can afford black jewelry to match the rest.

I've been doing the usual salt-soaks with cotton-wool pads and Q-tips twice daily and have had no problems at all; even when a girl accidentally hit me in the face, fueled by alcohol. It was a bit swollen, but went down in no time.
Surprisingly, my glasses don't knock the jewelry/wound one bit, which is great considering they help conceal it from prospective employers and annoying family members!

I've also found that this piercing is the one that has received more "Can I poke it?" questions than the others. After politely declining their dirty fingers, the next most-asked question is the usual "Did it hurt?", usually followed by the person pinching that area of their face to see if it does.

Surprisingly, they tend to flinch with pain.