Hey my name's Jamie, and I'm 15 from Mass. Okay, I've wanted my tongue pierced for about a year and a half now. I bugged the crap out of my mom forever and ever, the answer was always "No! I know what those are for!" So, I finally gave up. Well, I guess I didn't give up, I just laid off for awhile. Then, in November/December my mom's boyfriend started going to this new tattoo parlor in Taunton, which is relatively close to where I live. He was getting a big piece done [actually he still is], so he kept going back. The first time I ever went was when my mom dropped off her design. We got to talking to her and her boyfriend's tattoo artist, and he said their piercer would do my tongue right then and there, and my mom said I could! But, I chickened out.
At A Glance Author Jamie Contact Jamie@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Lenny Studio Action Ink Location Taunton, MA Now you're probably thinking, wow great story....you chickened out and didn't get your tongue done. Well my mom went on Thursday, January 10 to get her tattoo started, and out of sheer boredom I went along. So before she goes in to have her tattoo started, I decide I want to get my tongue pierced right then and there. So, the guy behind the counter gives us all the paperwork and my mom signs for me. He then tells me about aftercare, and gives the piercer a call to see what time he'll be in. Turns out it's going to be about a 30 minute wait, which is okay because we're going to be there for awhile anyways. The wait was definitely the worst part, I am scared to death of needles, and every minute that passed made me more and more nervous.
Finally, the piercer arrived! By this time I was about to shake out of my own pants. I swear I was so damn nervous it wasn't even funny. We went back to the room and watched him set all the stuff up, I tried not looking at the needle 'cause I am the type that'll pass out at the site of one. He had me swish a cup full of Listerine [good stuff!] for a minute before, and went over all the aftercare with me. The Listerine was probably the most painful part of the whole experience. My mouth was burning so bad, I almost spit the Listerine out all over the floor. I got up on the chair, and attempted to hold my mom's boyfriend's hand, but the piercer wouldn't let me because you tend to jerk more if you're holding something. At this point I was shaking so bad my mom's boyfriend thought I was going to fall off the "dentist chair," as some call it. He told me to stick my tongue out, and he checked for veins and stuff. He marked it, dried it, and clamped it. Some people say the clamp h urts, I didn't feel a thing. Then I closed my eyes and next thing I know I have a barbell in my tongue! :] Completely painless! I couldn't believe I got myself so worked up over that. There was next to no blood, like maybe a drop. The best part was school the next day. Practically no one in my school has their tongue pierced, I am one of maybe three people. Everyone loves it, except for the few who think it's nasty, but screw them!
If you're thinking of piercing your tongue, you should definitely go for it! I am SO glad I did it. And if I can do it, anyone can. The aftercare is pretty easy, and as long as you follow all the instructions you should be all set. I wasn't able to eat solids for about a week and half, and I also talked kind of funny for the first week. After about 3 weeks my tongue was completely back to normal. I rinsed with diluted Listerine after I put anything in my mouth for about the first four weeks [what they recommended]. They also told me to have no oral contact for the first 4 weeks....that was definitely rough, I didn't exactly last the whole time. Also, if you're in the Southern Mass area and looking for a good place to get pierced, I highly recommend Action Ink in Taunton. They're very clean and professional, as well as very nice. I love my tongue piercing :]! Kissing and all that other fun stuff you do with your mouth is 10 times better now! I'm currently trying to convince my mom to let me get another piercing, but I can't decide what to get—my belly button or tragus. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about tongue piercing, I'd be happy to answer them.