So once again, I was bitten by the bug. I was aching for a labret. I had some money in my pocket, and coincidentally, it was just enough for a labret and a tip. I got in my car by myself, and headed towards A-1. About 10 minutes before I got there, I started getting the much loved and hated knotty feelings of anticipation in my stomach, knowing I was to get pierced.
At A Glance Author McErin Contact McErin@bme.anon IAM whereisjustin When A month ago Artist Chris Hughes Studio A-1 Tattoo and Body Piercing Location Gladstone, MO I arrived at A-1, got out of my car, and walked my quivering body into the building, which was fairly empty at the time. The counter-girl smiled at me, and greeted me by name.
She asks, "Are you here to see Chris, because he went home sick tonight."
Immediately, I am taken over by feelings of devastation and relief. It's not everyday I work up the balls to get a new piercing.
I replied with a simple, "Damnit. I wanted to get a labret tonight."
I chatted with her for a while, and then left, saying I would call back the next day to see if Chris was there, and feeling up to doing a labret.
So the next day, I called and talked to Chris. He said he was feeling better; he would do a labret. Again, I got all excited, and the knotty feelings returned. When I finally got up there, after driving around a few extra miles, he tells me it will be about 45 minutes, because he has to autoclave the jewelry.
I decided to hang out there for the 45 minutes, because if I left, I knew I probably wouldn't come back. I chatted with the counter-girl and watched some giddy little girls come in to get their navels pierced, only to leave rather discouraged, because they didn't know it would "be so much trouble without a parent."
Finally, it was time for me to get pierced. I nervously followed Chris into the piercing room and sat down on the purple table. I rinsed with blue (yay!) Listerine, and drooled on the paper towel he gave me. (Oops.)
He started making lines on my face to ensure proper placement. After everything was settled, he placed the clamps on my lip and grabbed the needle. This is where I made the biggest mistake of all. *I looked at the needle.*
As soon as he got within two inches of my lip, my reaction was, "Oh fuck, I can't do this!!"
So Chris remained polite and patient, and unclamped my lip and got me some water. He asked if I was ready to try it again, and I said yes, so he clamped me again. Well, I'll be damned, but it happened again. He picked up the needle, and I couldn't sit still. Chris just laughed at me, and said that while he is a good piercer, he can't hit "moving targets."
I sat back and cursed to myself for a few minutes.
Finally I sat up and just said, "Fuck it. Just do it."
I guess the third time is a charm, because this time, I remained calm enough for Chris to get the needle through my lip. This piercing didn't hurt for me. I compared it to an earlobe. It did take a little longer to get the needle through with this piercing, so I did vocalize an "Oww!" before it was over, but it was completely unnecessary.
Chris and I went back out into the main area. He handed me the paperwork, and again pointed out some aftercare procedures.
A girl waiting in the lobby asks, "Did that hurt?"
I said, "No, I just freaked out quite a bit though."
Chris adds, "She's just psychotic."
I laughed and said I wasn't tipping him, just for that comment. He gave me a repeat customer's discount, so despite the comment, I tipped him $10 anyway.
He said, "Thanks, you're definitely going to heaven."
So to sum this all up, needle-phobic people CAN get pierced. From one needle-phobe to another, I have made it through seven successful piercings. The procedures have never gone smoothly, because I freak out every time. If you hate needles as much as I do, just take extra special care in choosing a piercer. Make sure they know about your fear of needles, and will be patient with you. Also, if you can, try to go into the shop at an off-time, so you can get more time devoted specifically to you. It may actually take more than one time of going into the shop and acquainting yourself with the piercer and the procedures, but the end result has ALWAYS been very worth it to me.
If anyone has anymore questions about this, feel free to contact me, via email, or through my IAM page. I will gladly answer any questions one might have about this subject.