The weather in London has been sweltering for the last week or so, and yesterday was no exception. The humidity was high, and everyone was walking about look limp, damp and exhausted.
At A Glance Author Ransack Jane Contact Ransack Jane@bme.anon Artist Lee Studio Into You Location Farringdon, London, UK Having had my navel pierced about a month ago, it was time to go back to the studio Into You in Faringdon, London) for a check up and so my Significant Other could have an industrial in the cartilage of his left ear. He had also booked a piercing appointment for me, but because of the heat and my extreme tiredness I really didn't feel like having one done- and I couldn't decided which part of my anatomy would be best with a hole in it, either.
I was particularly inspired by the thought of eyebrow piercing, and I have rather fancied it for upwards of three years. At first the Significant Other thought it would look terrible, because I have fairly strong features. I disagreed, but we bickered abou6t it all the way until I was so disheartened that I decided not to have anything done at all. Cue guilt from b/f, and he changed his mind and gradually came around to my way of thinking.... [One of us. One of us. Snigger]
We arrived at the studio at about 6.30pm, and were disappointed to find that we had accidentally only booked one piercing appointment. Luckily for me, my b/f decided the industrial was too expensive and too much hassle on such a hot day, so he let me have my eyebrow pierced instead. This was a huge relief because I was very excited and psyched up about it, and would have been terribly disappointed if I had had to wait any longer.
We arrived, and I filled out the consent form. I decided to have my piercing done with a barbell, rather than a ring because I think they are more attractive, and impose on your eye less. I paid my (aaaargh) £37 and we sat down. We had to wait for some time, but it was ok because it was slightly cooler inside than outside, which was a relief.
The piercer, Lee, did my naval too and is a very nice, kind, reassuring (and skilled) bloke. He donned his surgical gloves, cleaned my eyebrow thoroughly, and then asked me where I would like to be pierced. I indicated the spot, and he advised me to have it done at a slight angle. Since it was basically a spur of the moment decision I had done no research, so I took his advice because I trusted him. I think if you don't trust your piercer then you are in significant trouble, because you have to have confidence in someone you are voluntarily allowing to injure you (same applies to surgeons!).
I then lay on the dentist style chair and stared up at the designs on the ceiling (something tells me I will become very familiar with these, in time). He asked me to close my eyes, and keep them closed until he told me to open them again, so I did as requested. I could feel exactly what he was doing though, but I was relaxed. Two friends had told me how painful eyebrow piercing is, so I was expecting the worst...
He attached the clamp, and asked me to take a deep breath. As I expelled it he would do the piercing. He did, and pushed the needle through my eyebrow into a cork. The pain was burning, but not intense. It was less painful that squeezing a stubborn spot, and that is a level of pain that I inflict upon myself all the time! The needle passing through was the most painful moment, and the rest was just very slight discomfort. Overall it was marginally more painful than my naval piercing but a lot less painful that having your ears pierced with a gun- although personally this is no bother either- I've had it done nine times.
Finally he pulled the bar through and screwed on the ball... I could hardly contain my laughter because I was so excited and relieved. I leapt up rather quickly- which was a mistake, because my face went very red and blotchy, and I felt rather overheated. I stepped out of the piercing room- where it was ridiculously hot- and into the corridor, and the cool air and a drink of water made me feel absolutely fine.
Now it feels like a bruise, but I am delighted with the results. I cannot wait to get the length shortened from 9mm (1.2mm width) bar to a 5 or 6mm!
Unfortunately my parents didn't love the idea, but since I am 19 and do not need their permission, it was not a huge problem. They don't object per se, but are 'concerned how other people will judge me'. I think this is a load of crap because nowadays body piercing is as common as muck, and millions of people do it. I think by the time I enter the workforce it will be so common that no one will give it a second thought... I hope so, anyway.