So, like I'm sure many other people are when it comes to needles, I am pretty scared of them. Ok, let's be realistic. I'm TERRIFIED of needles. Only, it just happened to be that I wanted a lip piercing very badly. I liked the look of them, I liked the concept, and I had to get one. Although it's kind of geeky, I went into the tat shop a couple of times intending to get pierced, and walked out, because I was scared... Ya, that did not make me look very cool.
At A Glance Author Cat Contact Cat@bme.anon When A year ago Studio Ace Tattoo Location New Hope, Minnesota I did have a little bit of piercing experience, other than the holes I had in my ears. When I was about 14, I had managed to stick a very dull safety pin through my belly button. Cool huh? Ya right. On top of the fact that it got infected and hurt like hell, my mother found out about it, and I had to take it out anyway. What a waste.
One day, on sort of a whim, (it's a good thing it was, because I didn't give my head enough time to start freaking out about it) I picked up a friend of mine and set out to Ace Tattoo. Not only did I not walk out of the place, I actually told the artist that I wanted to get my lip pierced. And he, um, held me to it, of course. (Note to those who are nervous: Piercers WILL hold you to your intents, that's what they get PAID to do.) Pluus, the guy was really hot and I didn't want to look like an idiot again, so, well, I sucked it up. Hmm, I can't remember his name. Oh well.
I sat down in the chair, and thought I might puke, but I closed my eyes, and managed to hold that one down. Turns out, I'm a wimp. The piercer/artist marked my lip, had me look at it, and I closed my eyes immediately afterward. (Yet another note: if you have a phobia of needles, DO NOT look for or at the needle.) He attached the clamp, which really didn't hurt very much. I never saw the needle, and I hardly even felt it. I was astonished. I hadn't even flinched! I looked so tough. (he he) Just a tiny pinch, really. However, he did manage to get my lip caught in the pliers which hurt a lot more than the piercing itself. I told him "ow" as best I could, considering I just had a pliers caught on my lip, and he said "it wasn't that bad." Then, luckily, he realized that he had my lip pinched, and got that taken care of. I looked in the mirror, admired my new facial decoration, and then walked out. Although I felt a little like falling over, I bought some cold water, which I had to sip through a straw. It took me some time to learn how to drink normally without spilling. The thing never got infected. And I played with it a lot. (Yep, they tell you NOT to do that) I'm such a rebel. :op Just kidding.
Do I love my lip ring? Of course I do! It's hot for sure. (Final note: EMPLOYERS do NOT like PIERCINGS, so it's safe just to leave it out.) Other than that, I didn't get toooo much crap from onlookers, other than my mother, who couldn't look at me for days, and my father, who wondered if I had had a fishing accident. I believe that you have to have a pretty good sense of humor to put up with some of the people who like to bother people like me. I get a kick out of people who tell me that I looked a lot better without my lip ring. And people who ask me what I did to my face.
Personally, I like wearing a ring, but sometimes it's pretty cool just to switch to a stud. I've had the piercing for about a year and a half now, and sometimes I leave it out, just to mix things up. I'm easily bored. I don't have any other facial piercings, although I would like to get my nose pierced... I'll have to wait for some money to come along for that one. Still haven't gotten the tattoos I want either, but those cost some money too. Anyway, overall, I'd say that my piercing experience was pretty damn good, and I would recommend Ace Tattoo to anyone in the Minnesota area. And for those who are too scared to go through with it, GET OVER IT. If you can't get over it, you weren't destined to be pierced anyway, so don't sweat it. You can always get your ears pierced...he he.
-- Pierced and pretty,
Cat Martinson