And then there were two...

At A Glance Author Bear Contact Bear@bme.anon Artist Richie Studio Cold Steel Location Camden, London

I had a few piercings including nose, ears and cartilage until I left college in 1993 when they were removed for employment purposes. Three months ago I had a PA done and it's true what they say:

Piercing is addictive!

So a month ago I decided to treat myself to a double nipple piercing. I was very excited for the 24 hours beforehand and couldn't wait before i was 'in the chair' for my next experience.

I went to Cold Steel at midday and after Richie had set everything up we discussed whether it would be just the one or both nipples. he explained that many people don't go through with having both in the same session and leave with one, vowing to be back soon for the second - never to return.

I had set my heart on both so he marked up both nipples and asked if I was happy with the placement. I couldn't wait to get on with it as the PA had been such a fantastic experience so i said "cool" and got up on the chair.

Up to this point I had been expecting a similar experience to the PA, short sharp and low intensity - how wrong could I have been?

My nipples are EXTREMELY sensitive. When we talked before the piercing I joked about the fact you could hit my penis with a mallet and I wouldn't feel a thing but if a butterfly flapped its wings over Africa my nipples would go hard. In retrospect I should have guessed that the nipple piercing would be different at that point!!!!

I cried after the first nipple, I wasn't really crying - my eyes just refused to stop watering. This piercing was the most intense experience I have ever had - and I have done a few very intense things in my 30 years. It's so hard to describe, not painful - just unbelievably intense and, rather unexpectedly, very emotional.

Richie was excellent throughout, he helped by talking about non-piercing things and just being his usual calm and considerate self, heaven knows I needed some company. I was so ready to walk out after the first, the thought of having the second done that day was nearly unbearable because I just wanted to retreat somewhere on my own.

We talked for 20 mins about all sorts of topics until I had regained some composure and I said "OK let's do it" and smiled very weakly. At this stage the first piercing had stopped screaming, and thanks to the cold compress that had been put on the intense heat had dissapeared.

It's so strange, when I felt the needle next to my skin for the second piercing I was suddenly incredibly tired. So very tired from the first piercing. I felt my breath starting to leave my lungs on the 'third breath' and the piercing sensation was double the intensity of the first nipple.

I was transported to another place. No energy left to fight and trembling all over there was a peace the likes of which I have seldom experienced. The pain, the unreal heat in the nipple, the noises of the street, they all seemed somehow to dissapear for a split second. Quite an experience.

After letting me rest for ten minutes richie helped me put my shirt on and I left the studio. If you live in the UK or are here on a trip - I can't recommend Cold Steel or Richie enough - definately worth checking out.

My nipples were really very painful for the first three weeks but now I couldn't imagine not having them pierced. In fact I'd definately do it all again if I they ever had to come out. I said how they were sensitive before - they are now a source of the most wonderful sensations - I just had to touch them, just to make sure, and I'm smiling :-)

Many people I've talked to say they can take up to a year to settle. Like all things in life, once the aftercare routine is a habit the healing time doesn't really matter.

I feel a little anxious in writing my experience. This stems from the fact that a lot of the other nipple experiences on BME express the piercing process as being either un-noticeable or like 'feeling pressure in the nipple'.

My experience is that I think five PAs added together wouldn't equal one nipple for intensity and emotional impact! Notice I don't mention pain - I don't feel that the nipples or PA were painful - just different levels of emotional/physical intensity.

This record is of my personal experience and I don't suppose that it is typical. I have friends that have nipples pierced that say that just shaving in the morning is more painful.

Don't be put off, in fact be more committed as the benefits are lifelong and the initial experience is short and quickly forgotten. In my limited experience every piercing experience is different but they all share an excitement and beauty that is hard to find elsewhere.

Peace

Bear