For as long as I can remember my mom has been anti-tattoo and anti-piercing. On the other hand, I've loved tattoos and piercings for quite some time. This seemed to really kill my mom, especially when I would come home with new ear piercings (mostly gunned, but now I know how stupid this procedure is) practically every other day.
At A Glance Author Marilyn Contact Marilyn@bme.anon When N/A Studio Soul Survivors Location Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Besides the fact that she hated piercings, there were other factors holding me back as well. I worked as a cashier at a local grocery store where any form of individualism were basically forbidden, the price of piercings, and the fact that I attended a Catholic Prep. school for 12 years of my life.
Now at my school, if you had too many ear piercings you'd get suspended. If your hair was "unnaturally coloured" you would be forced to dye it "natural". Basically, I was trapped in a box that I couldn't get out of.
Then came AFI. Truth be told, if it wasn't for this band I would probably be depressed. Besides their music, there was one more thing that really captivated me. Davey Havok & his lip ring.
That's when it came to me. I want... no, I NEED a lip ring. I brought up the idea of getting a lip piercing to my mom & time after time, I was shot down. After a good year and a half of begging my mom to let me get a lip piercing, I nearly gave up hope. Thank heavens for my brother. One day at dinner my brother tells my mom he wants to get an industrial done - and she said yes. How could she say yes to him but no to me?! I burst out screaming with the usual rant about it being unfair that one sibling gets what they want, and the other doesn't. Begrudgingly my mom finally agreed to let me get the piercing done.
I searched up and down for a good parlor when my friend said she had gotten her tongue & navel piercings at Soul Survivors. So off went my mother and I to the parlor! I presented my I.D. along with my mom, signed a stack of papers, scheduled an appointment for the next week, & was off. Euphoria!
Then came the day of the piercing. I remember sitting in my mom's car shaking so hard that my teeth chattered. I felt like I was going to be sick! My stomach churned at the thought of having a needle shoved into my lip. We arrived at the parlor a bit early for my appointment. We waited about 20 minutes - this just made me even more anxious! Then out came my piercer (so sorry I forgot his name!) . He seemed "experienced", probably because he had more than 6 visible piercings & quite a few tattoos. He shook my hand, was willing to answer any questions I had & he was also very polite. This really calmed me down.
He helped me pick out CBR that would suit my face & off he led me and my mom to a room. It looked like the dentist's office for a second, which also calmed me down knowing it was a sterile environment. I sat back in the chair, my heart about to explode out of my chest. He showed the packaged needle & the packaged jewelry for liability purposes & so I could see that everything was perfectly sterile.
We determined placement (lower right lip) & he handed me a small cup of mouthwash. As I rinsed me mouth out he washed his hands & slipped on gloves & a mask over his mouth and nose.
This was it! No turning back. He asked me if I was ready & told me to take a deep breath. When I exhaled he put the needle in. That was it? Barely any pain. A short, sharp pinch & that was it! Soon after went in the jewelry which was a bit bothersome, but nothing all that bad.
I was told to get up slowly because I would be a little lightheaded. & Boy, was he right! About which CBR would look good and about the lightheaded feeling. We talked about aftercare, I payed for the piercing, gave him a hug before I left & went home.
I was grinning like a fool by the time we were home and slowly, but surely, my mother got used to my new piercing. I'm absolutely in love with it! I experienced minimal swelling and my lip healed wonderfully. I most definitely recommend Soul Survivors to anyone in the Winnipeg area! They have wonderful staff, reasonable prices & a wide choice of jewelry.
One thing for sure is this was definitely not my last piercing. Since then I've gotten a smiley, another lip piercing right beside my "old" one, a tragus, & an anti-eyebrow. I'm also anticipating my tattoo in a few months! Wish me luck, it's my first tattoo!