Hi there! Even though I'm only fifteen years old, I've had a few more modifications than the average person my age. I have 6g lobes, a navel piercing, a retired industrial in my right ear, and a self-done lightning bolt scarification on my left ankle. Still, when getting my nose pierced, I was nervous.
At A Glance Author Paige Contact paigedixon94@gmail.com When A week ago Artist lu Studio Lasting Empressions Location Dothan, AL I've been wanting to get my nostril pierced since October. My father promised to take me, until my step mom decided that she didn't want my ten-year-old step sister exposed to (I guess just facial) piercing. They let me get the industrial that I wanted instead, despite it being much larger and more obvious. I got my industrial, and I loved it, despite the trouble it gave me, for about four months, when it finally migrated too far. I feared that it would rip all the way out, so I made a deal with my mom that I would take it out and she would allow me to get my nose pierced in place of it.
On the conditions that I wouldn't stretch it and that I wouldn't wear a hoop in it around her, she promised to take me to get my nose pierced. Facial piercing are not allowed at my school, so she made me wait a few weeks, closer to the end of school. We decided to go on a Saturday, with eight days left in my Freshman year. My friend and I decided to get them on the same day, but she lives 2,000 miles away, so she couldn't come with me. I was with my friends all Friday night and Saturday, so she picked three of my friends and me up and took us to Lasting Empressions. I had my navel and industrial done at Lasting Empressions, and I love my piercer. She always seems to do a good job, both with the piercing and putting me at ease.
The four of us walked into the little shop, and my friends looked at jewelry while my mother and I filled out the required forms. My mom signed the consent form, while I filled out the medical form with the usual questions: no pregnancy, IV drug use, hemophilia, etc. Lu pulled out a little display tray thing and asked me which nosescrew I wanted. I chose a small light blue piece. I forgot to ask what gauge they were, but I'm pretty sure they were 18g. My mom went to sit in the car as she always does, and my friends and I headed back to the piercing room. I climbed into the big green dentist-y chair that I love so much, and chatted with Lu as she got everything set up. She started to clean my right nostril, but I reminded her that I was getting my left one pierced. She spun the chair around and my friends stood on the other side. I grabbed my best friend's hand, as I've done for every single piercing I've ever gotten. Lu handed me a folded paper towel. I'm not sure why, but I guess it was to try the water from my eyes.
The Piercing:
Lu handed me a mirror and told me to "wrinkle my nose like I was angry." I unwrinkled it, and she marked me with the purple pen. I wrinkled my nose again as instructed, and then unwrinkled it again. I checked the placement. It looked a bit high, but it seemed to fit my face. She had me remove my glasses, and placed clamps on my left nostril. They felt strange but not uncomfortable. I closed my eyes and she instructed my breathing. She pushed the needle through. I was expecting an awful pain, but it was really just a pinch. I'm a big baby, but this didn't hurt much at all. I felt slightly more pain when she inserted the jewelry, but I expected it. It felt like a sharp pain as she put it in, but it was certainly bearable. My eyes started watering, and she wiped it away. I was already holding a mirror, so I looked at my nose. I put my glasses back on so I could see more clearly, and I looked again. It was adorable! The jewelry felt foreign in my nose, but I quickly got used to i t. I thanked Lu, and tipped her with the $3 I found in my pocket.
The first week of healing:
Day 1 (piercing day): I took an ibuprofen just to ease the mild soreness. I cleaned my nose with a wet q-tip and soapy water. I use Dial antibacterial soap, unscented. I've been trying not to flare my nostrils because it causes a bit of a sharp twinge of discomfort.
Day 2: I almost sneezed. Scary stuff. The soreness is nearly gone, but I still get that twinge when I flare my nostrils. I did the Dial and q-tip routine, and I've decided on a LITHA method. Leave It The Hell Alone. I've been a good little girl and haven't touched it too much.
Day 3: First day at school. None of my teachers or the administration said anything to me or asked me to take it out.
Days 4 though 7: Good. No soreness, mild crusting. I've noticed a tiny bump at the edge of the hole, but it might just be me being able to feel the jewelry. I like it a lot, although I wish I had chosen a more noticeable color gem.
To anyone who is considering getting his or her nose pierced, I recommend it. Nostril piercing are attractive, widely socially accepted, and relatively painless. I love mine, and I can't wait for it to be fully healed. Good luck to all future modifiers!