At A Glance Author Corinthia Contact Corinthia@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Didn't catch his name Studio Ground Zero Location Munsie, Indiana There is a back story to this. I had wanted to have my eyebrow done for awhile, ever since I saw a picture of someone with two piercings on the outer edge of the eyebrow with different-sized rings in them. I thought this looked incredibly awesome, and wanted to get it done. So, you could call me a copycat or what have you, but I don't claim to be the first one who thought up the idea to get their eyebrow pierced in any case. Yet, I digress.
About a year ago, I got my eyebrow pierced. It was for $30 in Asheville, NC, and I do not recall either the piercer's or studio's name. I had it pierced with a ring, and this caused some complications in the healing process. For one thing, it irritated me when I slept and I'd sometimes awaken with a little dried blood encrusted around the holes. For another thing, I was advised to clean it with Bactine and, in retrospect, I don't think that was the best idea. I also had a minor infection not long after it had healed. I was dealing with various things at the time and finally decided that, as upset as I was about the situation, it really would make life easier to let it close up and get it re-pierced at a later date.
About a month ago, I had the inclination to get it done again. Now, I live in the DC area and, as yet, have not had a single piercing in town. I do understand that it costs a lot more to get a body piercing around here than it does, say, in the middle of nowhere. One day, I found myself near a piercing/tattoo studio. I stopped in to see how much eyebrow piercings cost there, and it was $50 *minimum*, up to $85 depending on the jewelry. Now, I know people who'd spend $50 on a piercing. I am not one of those people. I believe as long as it is done by an experienced professional in a sterile place, there is no reason why a piercing should cost a ridiculous amount of money. After all, we are paying people to put holes in our body. Now, I had already planned a weekend trip to visit my friend Danielle, who goes to college at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. I figured it would probably be best if I got my piercing while there.
On the evening of the piercing, I went to the piercing studio, with my friend Danielle and a few friends of hers. Everyone got a piercing. All piercings above the waist were priced at $30. I opted for a barbell instead of a ring, given my previous experience with the ring. However, I don't see any reason why a ring would bother me once the piercing is fully healed. I was excited when it came to be my turn to get pierced.
First, the piercer cleaned the area. He asked where I would like to have it done, and I chose the outermost end of my eyebrow. He made marks with a surgical pen to show me where he would pierce it. It is slightly further out than I may have imagined that I wanted it. However, if you look at my face closely, there are still a few eyebrow hairs that far at the end. I also figured that it would be better (in terms of infection) to be pierced where there were fewer eyebrow hairs to trap germs. So, I approved the location.
He then sterilized the needle and I lay back on the thing resembling a chair at the dentist's, where the piercee sits. I was prepared, holding my friend's hand. I generally don't have particular problems with pain. Ideally, I'd rather not have it, but I can deal with it for the sake of decorating my body. I am not the type to freak out at the sight of blood, cry, or faint, or anything of that nature. First he put the needle through, then came the jewelry. It hurt, but no more so than my last eyebrow piercing did, no more so than my tongue piercing. Before I knew it, he had screwed the balls onto the jewelry, and I was all done!
He said it would take 4-6 weeks to heal, I believe. He recommended cleaning it with anti-bacterial soap... I'm not so sure that's the best idea. I've been using my sensitive skin facial cleanser, though I try not to get too much soap into the vicinity of the piercing. I clean it twice daily with a sea salt solution (1/4 teaspoon of sea salt per cup of water). So far, no problems or complications in the healing process. Haven't had any bleeding except for that tiny bit on the night of the piercing. I do occassionally touch it by accident, but as long as my hands are clean, I don't think that's really such a big deal. I love how it looks.