I have wanted my tongue pierced since I was about 13 years old (my 20 year old sister had it done and i thought it was very very very very very cool) I just liked how it looked and I thought it would be fun to play with. Unfortunately, my mother and father never liked the idea so I had to wait until I could go get it pierced (legally) myself.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When Two years ago Artist some guy Studio illegally im pretty sure Location california I never ever really thought the experience (illegally) could come at the young age of 15 instead of waiting until I was 18. When I was in grade 10 my award winning concert band class (unfortunately, yes I was a band geek) went to a trip to Disneyland and while most of the time was spent playing at various venues around Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego we did get the odd bit of free time. Much of it was spent shopping in California which was very exciting for a bunch of kids from British Columbia, Canada...
One day my very best friend and I went off with her boyfriend who had been in Anaheim, California recently and we went to a place he referred to as The Black Market (really it was just a warehouse that had many stores selling brand-name clothing and electronics at an extremely reduced rate.) At the back of the warehouse there was a really shady piercing and tattoo shop and I casually mentioned that I should get my tongue pierced. I was totally joking because the place didn't look that clean... My friend, who I have known since I was 5 so she knew how much I wanted it to get done, unfortunately enthusiastically agreed. She basically forced me to get it done. I still didn't really know because the place was so shady.
Finally after seconds of deliberation I finally agreed and I paid the 20$ (yes... only 20$) and signed a couple of forms saying I was 21 (as previously stated I was only 15, this place was really shady). I was in the chair and I had already paid so there was no turning back. I chose a barbell with acrylic balls that were pink and to my relief I saw the piercer pick a needle out of a package so that told me the place was at least clean.
Before I knew it the piercer was telling me to stick out my tongue but it would barely come out of my mouth when I finally stuck my tongue out far enough it would not stop shaking! The piercer finally put the clamp on and in seconds he was done piercing it! I didn't even feel it! He told me to get some gross mouth wash and clean it with that and sent me on my way.
I was so pleased that it didn't hurt but I was dreading the swelling and pain to come in the days preceding my new piercing. However, to my pleasant surprise, they never did! My tongue did swell a little bit to the point where it sounded really funny... my english teacher made me read a whole chapter in a book and I was lisping the whole time and my classmates were quite amused with that... eventually it got quite embarrassing and I finally asked the teacher if someone else could read.
When I got home I was so excited and I couldn't wait for my for my friends to see it, most of them loved it and a few even got one themselves. I planned on not telling my mom but not hiding it at the same time. That was funny. She actually noticed it right away but she didn't say any thing about it for about a week and she didn't freak out and ground me so I was definitely pretty happy about that.
I really loved my tongue piercing for the few years I had it but one day I decided it was annoying and I took it out. I can still put it back in but it hurts for a few days and all in all I don't really want it that bad anymore. That first piercing of mine definitely started an addiction to piercings for me, unfortunately I do not really like facial piercing so my options are a little bit limited as of to day I have two belly button piercings and 9 in various places in my ear. I plan on getting my hip surface piercings, my nape, industrial and nipples.
My advice to anyone who wants to get any piercing is to just do it! Do not be afraid the pain only lasts a few days (if that!) but if you take care of it properly, but the actual piercing and benefits can last a lifetime or longer!