At A Glance
Author	Megz
When	It just happened
Artist	Angie
Studio	Jade Dragon Tattoo & Body Piercing
Location	Chicago, IL

I have always wanted a nose piercing. I have always thought it looked really cute and had always dreamed of getting it pierced.

I'm a sophomore in high school and everyone at school has it and I really wanted it. One day I ask my mom, who's a "cool mom" if I could get it done and that I'd do anything for it. Her response was rather surprising, but not shocking. She had said yes, but as long as I got an A in summer school.

For the four weeks of summer school I had worked really hard and earned that A.

The final day, I came home from summer school with my report card. I then asked again and she told me we would go that weekend.

I was very excited and told her I'd found a reputable studio in Chicago called Jade Dragon Tattoo. I had done much research about it and heard a lot too that it was very clean and does a good job. Many of my friends had got piercings there before and said the same thing. I couldn't wait for the weekend.

The weekend couldn't come sooner and my mom and I drove down to Jade Dragon on a Saturday night. I was pretty nervous but I had gotten my cartilage pierced at another place with a needle so I wasn't too nervous about pain. We pulled in front of Jade Dragon and it indeed was as large as friends said. I walked in the door and saw colorful tattoo designs everywhere from floor to ceiling. It also was as large inside as many people said.

I was greeted by a friendly woman named Angie, who asked what I wanted done and I replied a nose piercing. She walked me over to the jewelry case and showed me the jewelry that I was able to use. I picked out a pink crystal stud which was L shaped. I decided I didn't want to do the cork screw style stud. She then went into the back and sterilized it.

As the jewelry was being sterilized, my mom was asked to fill out the forms and then we both had to give her our IDs to be copied. We then paid and waited for my mom to finish filling out the forms. After my mom was done filling out the forms, Angie led us back to the piercing room where I was to be pierced. I was a bit nervous but was impressed when I saw how clean and sterile it was. When I walked in the room, you could smell the alcohol and how clean it was.

She then told me to take a seat in the piercing chair and she then started to get all the supplies out. Everything was in new packaging and they even used brand new clamps fresh out of the sealed package. She also showed me the brand new packaged needle that was to be used. She then explained the procedure and how she was going to do the piercing. Angie then took and alcohol wipe and cleaned my nose and marked it with a marker and told me to make sure it was where I wanted it. It was satisfactory to me but I had her move it over just a tad. Next, she instructed me to lay back and she applied the clamp. I then asked if she had numbing cream and she had numbing spray.

She sprayed the numbing spray and I felt nothing immediately. She counted to three and she pushed the needle through. It wasn't painful at all. She then slid the needle out and she put the jewelry in. All of a sudden, a lot of blood started running and she told me some people bleed more than others. She immediately taped gauze over the jewelry and had me hold a paper towel under my nose and had me tilt my head back.

As soon as the blood slowed down, she adjusted the jewelry to make sure it was correct and in place. She told me to wait a half hour and then take the gauze off. She then explained the aftercare to me and told me to spray sea salt solution which she gave to me, over the piercing and in my nose where the piercing is two to three times daily. I decided to stay for the half hour so she could make sure all was okay and so she could clean up the blood on my nose.

The half hour rolled by quickly and I was excited to see my new piercing. She brought me back into the piercing room and she took alcohol wipes and cleaned up the blood on my nose and inside my nose. She cleaned it and checked the jewelry again. I said thank you and left.

I was very happy with my new piercing. I felt no pain whatsoever and I haven't felt any at all. It is the second day and it hasn't given me any problems or pain.

I highly recommend if you want to get a piercing or tattoo to make a trip to Jade Dragon. It's very sterile, professional, and friendly. They know what they're doing and they do a great job.

When I want my next piercing, I will definitely go to Jade Dragon!