I have been interested in body modification for as long as I can remember. I got my first of many tattoos when I was 17. I had always wanted my navel pierced but there were a lot of things stopping me. Mainly my mom, but also the fact that EVERYONE had it done. Even if I did decide to get it done I would have to wait till I was eighteen. Moreover, they were so trendy this was a huge downside.
At A Glance Author nanc Contact n_man04@hotmail.com When Three months ago Artist Heather Studio Lighttouch Tattoo Location Big Rapids, Michigan I wanted to do something fun with my best friend, Care, on my eighteenth birthday. So we decided that we would go and get our navels pierced. She had been wanting to get hers done but was afraid to go alone. She decided that now was as good of time as any. It would be her birthday present to herself (her birthday is exactly a month before mine). She picked me up at my house the morning of my birthday and we were off.
Just a little about the shop and crew. I know everyone who works at Lighttouch, both tattooist (Dennis and Jack) and the piercer (Heather) personally. I am friends with all of them and would not trust anyone else to tattoo or pierce me. The shop is amazingly clean and all the people there are very friendly. They will answer any questions you might have.
Anyways, when we got to the shop I told Heather what we wanted. We were both getting our navels done and I was getting my nipple done (but that is another story for another time). Care told Heather that she was very nervous. Heather just laughed and said that it would be okay. She then explained the whole procedure to us and showed us the needles and jewelry she would be using. I asked if it would be possible to get it done with a curved barbell instead of a captive bead ring and she said that was fine.
We decided that I would go first so Care could watch. Heather had me stand up while she marked the entrance and exit hole. Then she had me sit down and stand up about a million more times to make sure the placement was perfect. The clamps are the worst part of navel piercings. They are insanely uncomfortable and look funny. Once Heather had the clamps in place, it was needle time. At first, I did not want to watch but I made myself. It was so cool to watch a 14-gage needle pierce my belly button. It was not at all, what I expected. I was expecting it to hurt, at least a little bit. It did not. There was a burning sensation as if maybe I had spilt something hot on my stomach. She corked the needle (why do they do that anyways?) and put the jewelry in. I could feel the needle being pulled through and the barbell going in. She put my ball on, spayed some Bactine on it and I was done. Care did great, she did not even yell or cuss which I expected her too.
Heather gave us our aftercare sheets and sea-salt and told us to go home and soak them. That it would take the burning sensation away and soothe it. She said that if we had any problems to come in and see her. In addition, if we were scared to change our jewelry the first time to come in and she would do it for us.
The whole process was very clean. Everything was individually packaged: the needles, clamps, jewelry. Heather wore gloves the entire time and changed them after each piercing. This was very calming for me because I am a huge germ-a-phobe.
I love the look of my new navel piercing. I no longer care that it is "trendy" or that everyone has it done. I LOVE IT! My navel no longer fel or looked "naked".
I sea-salted it everyday and washed it with antibacterial soap when I took a shower. I have had it since September of 2004 (it is not February 2005) and have not had any major problems with it. It took the longest out of all of my piercings to heal but it is doing well. I keep it clean and put antibacterial lotion on it.
If anyone is in the Big Rapids area and is considering a tattoo or piercing I recommend, no, I DEMAND you got o Lighttouch. I seriously cannot say enough good things about all the people there. They are nice and friendly. The atmosphere is just great. They will answer all your questions and will even draw up a tattoo for you. Dennis and Jack have done all of my tattoos and heather has done all of my piercings. You can visit their website at: http://www.lighttouchtattoo.com/