get an eyebrow piercing

How I did it: I wanted one ever since I started high school, but they were not allowed. When I graduated, I fought with my family for a long time about how it looked unprofessional and no reputable place would hire me and all that jazz...

Then one day it occurred to me there was a tattoo parlor about half a mile down the road from my apartment - so I figured, why the hell not?

Ten minutes and ten bucks later and I was wondering, "Did it really take me that long to do something that simple?" - and I felt phenomenal.

Lessons & tips: Check your sources! Look around for some place reputable to do your work. You'll want a place that uses new, clean needles every time and does not use a piercing gun. Guns are terrible about complicating piercings, and it's true no matter what you get pierced - eyebrow, nose, lip, even ears. Places that use them are likely unskilled and you want better service than that! Make sure to bring your ID (or a parent if you are underage) and about twenty bucks - most places won't charge much more than that.

Don't psych yourself out! The thought of having a thick needle rammed into your flesh is a little unnerving, I know, but take it from me and so many others who have done it: the pain is completely bearable. You probably hurt yourself about as much rolling out of bed each morning. I would rather get another eyebrow piercing than stub my toe or get a paper-cut any day. On a scale from 0-10, pain rates at like a .5, maybe a 1 if your piercer is annoying (then everything hurts =P)

Keep your stuff clean! It's a pretty clean procedure, very little blood, but make sure to keep the area clean, especially in the first few days. In other words, don't prod at it with your dirty little fingers while it's healing. Most places will sell cleaning solutions right there in the parlor. They can be a little expensive but I recommend picking one up if the price isn't unreasonable. It makes life much easier on you, since otherwise you have to remember a lot of rules about what you can and can't use to clean it. If you take good care but still experience a lot of bleeding, pain, or infection weeks after, it could be that your body is rejecting the piercing. Sometimes that just happens. Simply remove the jewelry, clean the piercing thoroughly, and let it close on its own. Sorry, it just wasn't meant to be.

Don't let other people influence your decision! In the end, this is all about you, and all up to you. Certainly bear in mind the possible consequences of your actions, but if you feel passionately about having it done then don't let anybody convince you that you shouldn't do it. If you are concerned about having one in the work place, talk to your employer. If you aren't happy with his response, either wait or find a job that caters to your personality (you'll be happier anyway). If you aren't working now but you are afraid an eyebrow piercing will wound your chances at finding a job, remove the piercing during the interview, and ask your potential employer about their policy on the matter. If it is frowned upon but you really want/need the job, then let the piercing close up and redo it later, if you still want to have it. The benefit to having an eyebrow piercing over other facial markings is that it closes up very quickly (frequently, in less than two days) and usually does not leave a noticeable scar. All in all, there's no reason you shouldn't get one - just remember that some things might (or might not) become more difficult for you afterward.

May 29, 12:14PM PDT | 0 comments | 1 cheer