So it seems like it has been a really long time since I got my first "real" piercing, when in reality it's only been a year. I guess it seems like its been a real long time because so many things has happened since then, both emotionally and physically (in a body mod sense).
At A Glance Author Dustin Contact Dustin@bme.anon When A year ago Artist Cour Studio Randy Adams Location ft.worth texas I guess my beginnings start when I first got my ear pierced in the 5th grade. Up until the 7th or 8th grade I hadn't really thought about it other wise, because one I was young, two, the pain didn't appeal to me too much, and 3, I hadn't been exposed to anything like that yet. So my junior high days came around, and I started listening to different genres of music that exposed me to piercing(before I was mostly listening to Motley Crue and various other hair metal because that's all my dad listened too). My roots started with Blink-182, and I was instantly attracted to Tom Delonge's lip piercing. It attracted me because it looked cool, no one else at that time had it, and most of all, it would give me individuality. Other than that, I really don't know what made me want it so bad. I guess Tom just makes it look that good.
So on impulse, I begged my parents. With my dad (I think every kid gets this reaction) it was the whole "go ask mom" routine. Then of course my mom said no, and that she didn't want me looking like a "freak". I think that made me want it even more because I hated that my mom would be that stereotypical, and I just wanted to rebel against that. So for a couple days I would ask constantly and get in arguments with my mom over it, so I finally just gave up.
Over the next year or so, I would ask here and there if I could get my lip done, and finally it came to an "I'll think about it". So fast forward to the last day of my freshman year. I had finally convinced my mom into letting my go to get my lip pierced, so naturally my choice was to go to one of the best shops in the metroplex (and also has some of the best tattoo artist in the world ) which was Randy Adams. So immediately after school on that day, I asked my mom to take me to go to Randy Adams. I took my best friend, and my future girlfriend along with me (only to find out later that only one person could be taken into the piercing room with me). Randy Adam's shop is located in Ft.Worth, which is about 10 minutes away from my home in Kennedale.
So after my nerve racking car ride, we finally arrived at the shop. When we stepped in, I was immediately impressed about how much nice it was on the inside, than it was on the outside. The first thing you see when you walk in is a room filled with tattoo flash and benches. The tattoo artists have their own individual rooms which are also built into the main waiting area. Walk to your left down a little hall and that's were the glass counters with all the body jewelry is, and the counter were you pay and show all your info to the receptionist which was also the lady that pierced me). The young woman that pierced me name was Cour, and we started out talking about what I wanted, and then that followed by my mom giving her my birth certificate, and photo I.D. from my mom and I, and the 50 dollars to pay for it (which covered the jewelry, the process, and the antimicrobial soap and mouthwash). After that, she told me that I could only bring one person into the piercing room with me, which naturally was my mother, and she wouldn't hear anything against her coming with me.
So we stepped into the piercing room, which was hospital
like, and not very inviting. But at least it was very clean and sterile (I wouldn't expect anything less from Randy Adams). After we walked in the room, I was asked to sit down in a dentist like chair, and Cour first prepped my lip by cleaning it with alcohol I believe. Then she made a couple of marks with a disposable marker on the left side of my lip for me to choose which spot I like the most. After that she gripped my lip with a pair of forceps and asked me to take three deep breaths. I this point I was kind of nervous, but not like freaking out nervous. As I took my third deep breath, she pushed through the needle. It was relatively fast, but I wouldn't say painless... but it didn't hurt that bad. To me it felt like a real hard pinch. After she pierced my lip she took the forceps off and set them aside, so she could thread through the jewelry (I chose a standard 14 gauge CBR).
After she was done with the procedure, I hopped up and took a look in the mirror, and was very satisfied. All the time, and work it took to convince my mom was well worth it, and I think in the end my mom liked it too. So when I was done gazing at my beautifully done lip in the mirror, Cour gave me a printed out sheet of aftercare instructions, and then personally told me how and when to clean the fresh piercing.
After everything was done I walked out of the piercing room, and jumped down the stairs and ran to my two friends that were waiting for me, eager to show them my new prized possession. They immediately approved, and told me how good it looked. I left the shop very happy with my new piercing, and from that moment on the piercing bug bit me.
Since then, I've gotten 6 more piercings that include my other ear getting pierced (and both of which are stretched to 0), both sides of my nostrils, my septum, and the other side of my lip. Getting my lip pierced that day has pretty much changed my life forever. Tattooing and body modifications are one of the most important things in my life now, and plan on pursuing a career in it once I am of age. Getting on BME is a daily thing for me now, and it has expanded my knowledge greatly. That one day that seems so long ago, has definitely changed my life for the better.