I started getting into body modification as early as the age of ten. At ten I went for the standard lobe piercings. At fifteen I got two more holes in each ear. At sixteen I got my left ear cartilage pierced as well as the left side of my nose with a small stud. So let's jump forward four years to the age of twenty. I still felt like something was missing. I really wanted another facial piercing besides my nose. I had 'considered' getting my lip pierced with a hoop but never really took it seriously. I mean, I would look at the pics of lip piercings on bme but I was still sort of 50/50 on the whole idea. But one night I was sitting in my bed and just said ok you know what? I'm going to do it!!
At A Glance Author way's girl Contact way's girl@bme.anon When N/A Artist angella Studio all star tattoo Location venice,ca So, I had called a bunch of places in my area and got prices. I ended up going to all star tattoo for $30. Now please keep in mind I'm still living at home with my dad and he is TOTALLY against piercings. He frowned at my nose ring when I got that done, so I could just not imagine what he was going to do with a lip ring! But, I still did not let that stop me in any way, shape, or form.
On my drive there my heart was pounding so damn hard. But I kept saying to myself "this is worth it. this is worth it." I parked, got out the car, and start walking to the piercing place. I was greeted by a girl who in my opinion had a GREAT look. She had red contacts in, blue hair, and countless piercings and tattoos. I said to her that I wanted to get my lip pierced. She infact wasn't the piercer but just one of the counter girls. I signed some papers, gave her the $30, and she asked me to be seated. I waited about 5 minutes due to the fact that someone was ahead of me. I nervously sat there saying to myself "holy crap I can't believe I'm really doing it!" The counter girl called me to the front and told me it was my turn. Next came the good stuff...
So the piercer Angella introduced herself to me and was very very sweet. I sat down in somewhat of a dentist's chair. She showed me how everything was new, sterilized and un-opened. Her doing this made me very comfortable and that I was able to trust her. I gargled with listerine, and then she cleaned the outside of my lip. She asked me where I wanted the hoop to go. I told her on the bottom right. She marked the spot with a marker and on her FIRST TRY it was exactly where I wanted it. So then she gets the needle and says "Ok I'm going to pierce you on a count of 3". Basically at this point I was gonna pee in my pants lol, but I was okay! I just nodded to her and gave her the okay to do it. She counted down 1...2...3... and BOOM the needle was in. It was the oddest sensation! It's hard to put into words what it felt like. It didn't really sting, it was more of a burning or something. She put in the hoop and the captive bead. It was done! I felt kind of stupid because I had built myself up for the worst and it truly wasn't bad at all. I looked at myself in the mirror and fell in love with it. It was perfect!
Angella talked with me for a good 10 to 15 minutes regarding the aftercare. She said to clean the outside of it with orange dial soap twice a day for a month, and to gargle with listerine after everything I eat for a month as well. She also said no oral sex, kissing, ciggs, or alcohol. Pretty much the after care was pretty basic, simple stuff if you ask me. She said if anything unusual happens to call her right away. I thanked her many times, tipped her, and left.
Walking out of the piercing shop with my new lip ring felt so wonderful! The second I got back in my car I must've stared in the mirror for 10 minutes just admiring it. On my drive home I thought to myself "oh crap, what the hell is my dad going to say!". When I parked the car at home and was in the garage I figured maybe there was a way I could hide it lol. I walked into my front door with my hand over my mouth and RAN to my bedroom and closed the door. Of course my dad heard me and knocked. He said "why is your door closed?" I said "um because it just is". Of course he then OPENS the door and SCREAMED "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO!" I replyed "dad calm down it's just a lip ring" he said "Why would you want to self mutilate yourself like that?? I don't get it!". He then left and slammed the door behind him. I guess in all honesty I expected that reaction of out him. On the other hand, my mom really liked it. She told me it suited me and looked cute. So, on to aftercare!!
Later that night it started to swell, and by the next morning my lip was almost twice its original size. But after about a week the swelling went down. So I stuck with soft and liquid foods for a good week and a half. I did everything she said. I used the listerine after everything I ate and cleaned the outside of it twice a day. A good month had passed, so I stopped the aftercare and since then everything has worked out just great. It is for sure my favorite piercing. It's so cute and the rings come in such pretty colors. My suggestion is, if your considering a lip ring FOR SURE do it! Just make sure you go to a reputable shop and piercing person. You will love it! Thanks for reading my story :) and feel free to e-mail me!