Ever since I came to Boston, I've been looking into a new piercing or tattoo. After a whole semester of school, I finally decided that I was going to be brave and get my hood pierced. I'd seen it in pictures and heard about it from other people, and I thought that it would be really cute, as well as pleasing to my boyfriend.
At A Glance Author Indigo Contact Indigo@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Erin Studio Chameleon Location Harvard Square, Boston, MA On a Wednesday, my suitemates and I took the T up to Harvard Square, where Chameleon's is located, because of the two notable tattoo parlors in Boston, Chameleon's was the only one with a female piercer, and that was definitely a deciding factor in where we went. Shannon, one of my suitemates, had been to the studio before and knew they were cool. So we went up on a Wednesday, but the parlor had closed early due to snow and bad road conditions, so we came back the next day, but Erin wasn't working (she only works on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays), but the girl who worked at the Jewelry Center gave me 15% off for coming up so many times. Finally, we came back on Friday, around 5:30, and I got an appointment for 7. They were pretty busy, so we went and got some pizza and went shopping for a little while.
I knew that a hood piercing would hurt, but I was ready. I have my tongue pierced, and that didn't hurt at all, and I've also sat down under the needle twice to get two tattoos (a tiger on my shoulder and my name on my lower back), so I was relatively prepared for what was to come. Little did I know that this would be one of the most painful experiences of my life!
Erin was mad cool. She's covered in tattoos and even has her septum gauged out, and she was totally friendly and nice. Shannon and I went back into the room together (mostly because Shannon had never seen a genital piercing before, and I didn't care if she watched), and I dropped trough so Erin could see if I was suited for a hood piercing. In a wave of disappointment, Erin stood up and told me that I had a flat hood, and wouldn't be able to get the vertical or horizontal hood piercing. Her face lit up, though, and she told me that I could try another piercing that was really beautiful, and was the next piercing she was thinking of getting herself. It was called a Christina. I hurriedly agreed, mostly because I just wanted to get something done, but I trusted her that it would be okay.
We looked over jewelry together, and I found a pink barbell I liked, but I really wanted a purple gemmed one, and Erin went right over and made one for me herself. That made me feel better, too. I got Alyse, my other suitemate, and she came in with me, and offered to hold my hand. By then I was getting WAY nervous!!
I laid down on the bed gyno-style, and laughed, just 'cause I was half naked in front of my two suitemates and a complete stranger. Erin came over and showed me the needle she was going to use, which was HUGE!!! It was like a fish hook – very scary!
Quickly, Erin told me to take three deep breaths, like she did in yoga, and at the end of the third one, she started to push the needle in. Needless to say, I started screaming. It hurt SO much. I was really unprepared for that. I tired to stay really still, but it was almost unbearable. Crazy pain, I'm telling you. And I was told afterwards that when I had started screaming, Erin had barely started pushing it through. But she did get it through, and it hurt even more when she had to pull the barbell taut so she could screw on the bottom bead. I was dying. But, like I've heard, once the whole thing was over, it didn't hurt at all. Being the sweetheart she is, Erin even offered to let me come in so she could change the jewelry for me if I wanted.
I've been taking care of it for a week now, and my only worry at this point is if my body's going to reject it. I just want it to hurry up and heal. I know it will be a pleasant surprise for my boyfriend on Valentine's, but it seems (as I've read) that the Christina has one of the highest rates of rejection for any piercing, and I will be so disappointed. I've been taking care of it as directed, but for now, it's just waiting to see if it will be okay. It will really be pretty, though, when its all healed up. Erin promised!!