Home piercing
Many years ago, long before every Tom, Dick and Fanny was getting their tits 'n' bits pierced I (an early adopter) started getting some (at that time) pretty hardcore piercings and subsequently decided to try my hand at doing the same as others. However, I thought it would be unethical to do this without practicing on myself first, so after a brief instructional from my piercer I got the kit and prepared to start.

First job - horizontal left nipple. In my mums conservatory. It took about 45 mins of pushing and a lot of pain and sweating, my mate (observing) said he'd never seen me so white. But I got it through.

Second - navel, some months later, in my flat. Took about 45 mins again, got it through, had intended to do my eyebrow straight afterwards but as my flatmate had just come in and I was concerned about the practicalities of not being able to see what I was doing, I let him do it instead.

Subsequently I did about 50 piercings on mates and - with help - a few more on myself before hanging up my needles. My brother eventually became a proper piercer for 8 years and explained a few things I'd been doing wrong which could have led to me maiming someone - in the end the worst thing I did was fuck up my mates nipple piercing, it worked the second time we tried but he then fainted. I still wear my own nipple and navel piercings, among many others.

Lesson - don't pierce at home, that way madness lies.
(rampants, Tue 25 Jan 2011, 16:17, 2 replies)

piercing ears is easy
had 7 in my right ear. i had 3 done professionally and did 4 myself with a piece of ice and a pin.
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Tue 25 Jan 2011, 17:02, closed)

I had my eyebrow pierced for a while, but the sort of pubs I was hanging about in made it an increasingly idiotic idea (because, y'know, it's so sensible normally).
What did worry me was hearing after I'd got it done that if they get it wrong either side by half an inch they can paralyse half your face.

Dunno if it's true, but it kind of made me glad it didn't happen to me.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 26 Jan 2011, 12:31, closed)