Since I was eleven years old, I had wanted a labret piercing, but no matter how hard I tried, I never got one. I begged my parents for two years to let me get one, but they didn't show any signs of giving in.
At A Glance Author Lacra Contact Lacra@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Simon Studio Tiki Monkey Tattoo Location Gorgie Road, Edinburgh Three years later, I still wanted my piercing, I just didn't ask for it anymore. I decided I'd just have to wait until I was sixteen. Then... my brother came along. He had just been paid, and we were in town so he could buy some things with his first pay-check. We passed a piercing studio called 'Tiki Monkey' (in Edinburgh) and he asked if I still wanted my labret piercing. Of course, my answer was yes!
So we went into the studio, and there were two guys in there, one with the most fantastic tattoo work I've ever seen, and the other with the most amazing piercing's. However - it turned out that because I'm only 16, only one of their two artists who done piercing would do it! And, he wasn't working for almost a week.
I left the store, a little worse-for-ware, but I knew that one day, I'd get my piercing... maybe one day sooner than I had thought.
Over a week later, we were passing Tiki Monkey again, and my longing-stare set in rather quickly. My brother said he'd give me the money and permission if I still wanted to get it done - and I don't think I've ever moved so fast in my life.
We got into the store rather quickly, and a man with the most impressive tattoo-work and piercing-work I've seen in a long time was standing behind the counter - he and my brother started to have a rather long conversation which confused me slightly - my brother knew this guy? He did!
So, the artist asked me if I had any allergies and other such things, and asked me to fill out a form, which I done quickly and made my way to take a seat. He quickly informed me that I wasn't to take a seat - that I was getting it done, now.
He led the way back into a small room toward the back of the store which was amazingly clean and gathered his items into a small tray. It was now that two facts settled in:
One - I'm getting my first piercing - I hadn't even had my ears pierced until this point - and I was finally getting the thing I had waited so long for!
Two - I have a terrible phobia of needles and can't even be in the same room as them.
I guess I started to breath a little heavier - because he asked me if I was ok, and told me not to worry. He told me what each thing on his little tray was and explained exactly what he'd do with it. Next, he showed me a labret stud and a ring and asked me which I'd prefer - and explained a labret stud might be slightly better for healing - so I chose that one - because I'd seen the jewellery that it'd be changed to already in the cabinet in the shop.
He asked me if this was my first piercing, and I told him it was. He asked me if I was worried and I replied simply with 'I hate needles and always have'.
What impressed me most was the fact that everything was so clean.
He changed his gloves and marked the position, asking if that was ok. I told him it was and he started describing everything he was doing - from opening each packet to positioning the needle, pushing it though and changing the 'straw' for the jewellery. He pushed the labret through and started to tighten up the ball.
He asked me if I felt light-headed or anything, which I didn't. He asked me if anything felt odd or different - yes, I had a piece of metal through my face - a piece of metal though my face I didn't have before! I stood up and he double checked I was feeling ok.
He handed me a mirror and I checked the positioning and things.
It was perfect, exactly what I'd imagined!
So, he led me out of the room, explaining the after-care and what to do if a problem occurs. "Contact me - don't think twice - just do it. If you can't get me - go to your doctor!" - his reassurance and friendly manner were perfect, exactly what I'll look for in a pierced in the future! He made me relax a lot - it helped, knowing that it really wasn't anything to worry about.
I cleaned it twice a day, and only had one problem -- the jewellery loosened slightly and came loose whilst I was sleeping. I returned to Tiki Monkey and asked if they would possibly re-pierce it for me - I was heart-broken! Simon wasn't the piercer working that day, but the other guy was just as great. He took me through to the back and used a taper to open the closing-hole. He put new jewellery in - and he didn't even charge anything for his time or supplies!
The piercing healed really well, and really quickly - for which i'm glad.
They really are the most amazing place in the world -- I've already had another piercing from them... how many more are to come?
They've sparked my imagination... and they've kick-started my fascination into the world of piercing!