| At A Glance |
| Author | Ren |
| Contact | Ren@bme.anon |
| When | It just happened |
| Artist | Chantel |
| Studio | Evolution Studios |
| Location | Providence, RI |
Since I was 12, I wanted a bellybutton ring so badly. For 3 years, I begged my mom to let me get my bellybutton pierced, but she was always adamant about not letting me, saying I was too young and that she didn't think it was safe. I bothered her constantly over it. She went from 18 to saying it would be a graduation gift, then saying i could get it at 16. When i brought up the argument that it was bad enough I had to wait until then to drive, she reconsidered. Now at the age of 15, she finally relented and allowed me to go this past tuesday with my cousin to get it done. I was absolutely thrilled...until the day it came around.
Tara, my cousin, informed me she would pick me up after school and we would hang out for a while, then meet up with my mom and go to Evolution Studios to get our navels pierced, sort of like a bonding experience. I was so excited and could barely eat at school. I asked all my friends and read here on BME about what it would be like, so I knew basically what to expect. I got very mixed reviews about the pain factor, however...a few people said it hurt extremely bad, but one girl, who went to the same studio as I a few years prior to mine, said it hurt no more than her cartilage piercing. No sweat, I thought. When Tara picked me up after school, I was extremely excited, until I asked her about the first time she had hers done.
Tara told me about her bad navel experience. She took bad care of it and got a nasty infection right after it was pierced, mainly because she was young and stupid and refused to take a month or two off from swimming in the gross pond behind her house. She had let hers close up after a wedding and was now heading to a new studio hoping for a better piercing. After a bit of hanging around, it was time to meet up with mom and head to the studio.
I walked in the door to Evolution and took a glance around. There were tons and tons of cases of beautiful jewelery--more than I expected, and i was eager to pick out my barbell. It took me forever, but I settled on an adorable pink steel curved barbell with a light pink jewel, on the small side because i have a tiny bellybutton. The prices weren't all too outrageous-they ranged from $35-$75, depending on the ring or barbell you wanted. Mine totaled to about $73, with aftercare products, which were an extra $3. Lisa, a very nice employee at Evolution, talked to Tara, my mom and I about the aftercare and the risks, but with every word she said i could feel myself growing more and more nervous. Suddenly, I began feeling lightheaded and warm. I got very dizzy and realized I was getting SO stressed, I was hyperventilating, and had to lie down. Real cool.
After almost passing out, another patron at the studio talked to me, and told me it barely hurt at all (contrary to what I had heard) to get a navel ring and to just relax. I couldn't back out now, so Chantel, the piercing artist, escorted me (when I had calmed down) into the back room. It was a small and clean with lots of certification and diplomas on the wall, with soothed my frazzled nerves a bit. Chantel talked me through everything...cleaning my navel, marking it, etc. Up until the time to lay back and get pierced. The clamps went on, and I was shocked. Tara said they were worse than the piercing at her first time, but these didn't hurt at all. Chantel told me to take a deep breath and she would put the needle through, so on my nervous exhale, she pierced me. Don't let everyone fool you...that needle hurts like hell, but thankfully only for a quick 10 seconds or so. I gasped in pain as she popped it through both layers of skin and slid in the barbell. I was panting as she put on the ball to secure it, but the pain had already begun to fade by then.
Before I knew it, i was standing up and watching Chantel apply the clear bandage over my nice, straight, oh-so-cute pink navel ring. I was ecstatic. At school, I showed everyone i know and made sure to recommend the place i went to. Still, 3 days later, I cant help but show off the awesome job Chantel did. I highly recommend Evolution, if you are looking to get a piercing and you're in the Providence area. I also have to say this...the piercing was painful, but nothing worth making a fool of yourself and almost passing out over. Theres many things that hurt more.
