Will I or Won't I?

At A Glance Author Ash Contact Ash@bme.anon Artist Aric Studio Mos Eisley Location Grand Rapids, MI

It all started about 2 years ago, driving down the highway. I looked to my right, at the driver next to me, and saw the most interesting jewelry in his ear. I now know it to be a circular barbell, probably 6 gauge. I wanted that in my ear. I had to have it. The search was on...

Skip forward through much Internet searching to the day I discovered BME. Wow, what a day that was! I'm sure you all can relate, hmm? I thought of getting my tongue pierced, so I read just about every article in that subheading. I discussed it with my significant other, but he was disgusted by the thought of it. I had recently started a new job which I really enjoyed, and was unsure of how well it would go over there. I resigned myself to the thought that I probably wouldn't get it done, but you can't let a good day on BME go to waste, so I began to nose around in the other piercings...

As I've read in someone else's experience here, "that pasty white nipple drew me in". Yes it did. At first the thought of a nipple piercing didn't really thrill me, but I kept looking anyway. I didn't really care for the captive bead ring look, but then I spotted them, the diagonally set barbells. Yeah, they were on a guy, but I wanted them for myself. So I set out reading the experiences and the FAQ's. It's good to make well informed decisions, right?

Skip forward through months of research and wavering, will I, won't I? I called to check on pricing and ask the standard questions regarding sterilization techniques, jewelry suppliers, etc. I visited a couple tattoo/piercing shops, and also asked for a recommendation on R.A.B., a helpful resource if you first read the FAQ's, survival guide, and ask very very nicely. I decided on the recommended studio a little further away from home, as I really didn't want to run into anyone I know. I called to ask if I needed an appointment, and the answer was no. Will I, won't I?

So one day, I found myself stopped at the light on the street that would take me straight to the studio, about 40 minutes away. "I'll just turn the corner, and see how I feel about it. I can always turn around and go home." "Well, now I've just driven myself about an hour away from home, do I really want to turn around now?" "Well here I am at the studio, I'll just go in and check it out." "Damn, you've come all this way, just get it over with." And I head in...

I find myself in a sterile looking studio, with a rather putrid shade of gray color scheme, appropriately modded young males behind the counter. I find myself blurting out "I'd like to get my nipples pierced!" (That was the hardest part.) Aric introduces himself and asks "right now?" I figure I've driven all this way, so yes, "right now." I look over and sign the requisite forms, hand over my driver's license, and my money, while Aric wastes no time getting out the autoclaved jewelry.

He plops down a packet of captive bead rings stating "we'll use these 14 gauge rings", as I object and say "nope, I want barbells". We discuss which gauge I should use, and Aric recommends the 12 gauge. I've not seen 12 gauge up close and in person, so he begins to search for a set of autoclaved barbells. For my education, he sets out the different gauges as he comes across them, first the 14's, then the 10's, then the 8's come out. At the sight of the 8 gauges hitting the counter, I blurt out "I'll take the 14's!" I admit I was feeling a bit wimpy... He puts them in the autoclave, and I head to the music store next door.

Back in the studio, we proceed to one of the piercing rooms, where we discuss aftercare and I begin to disrobe. That was weird, very very weird. We discuss placement, he assuming I want horizontal, me correcting him and stating diagonal. He marks, I get up and check, not vertical enough. He remarks, I get up and check again, and it looks like it's just what I want. We discuss how much time I want to "rest up" between nipples, and I decide on none. Requisite glove changes, sterile needles, etc. and I'm ready to go! Aric mentions that in all the years he's been piercing, he's never done this placement, but I am oddly unmoved. Well, here's your chance!

I lay back on my hands after making stupid, nervous small talk, and try to prepare myself for what I imagine to be horrific pain. Deep breaths, on the count of three...I would swear he was shoving the needle through dull end first with a steel toed boot. Not at all what I expected. He asked if I wanted to look at the new jewelry, but I feared I would pass out if I did. I took a minute to collect my thoughts, and he moved onto the second one. Now that's what I expected, sharp pain, but brief and not unbearable. I lay on the table, sizing up my wooziness (not bad at all for a girl who fainted for immunizations and an eye exam). I did it! Go Me! I actually went through with it!

It was fun shocking my hubby when I got home that day! He didn't think I'd actually go through with it, but he enjoys them now. It's been 2 1/2 months, and they've been relatively problem free. A little blood the next day, some crusties now and then, a little pain now and then, but they seem pretty happy overall! The worst part of it was cleaning them the first day. I saw black swirls and dropped to my knees in the shower, but the wooziness is gone now.

All in all, it's not a bad experience. I'd say if you've nursed a baby, or had an IV, put the two together and you get a good idea of what to expect from this piercing. The barbells are not very noticeable, unless you want them to be. With the proper bra, they don't show under a form fitting tee. In retrospect, I wish I'd gone with the 12 gauge, and I plan to stretch them to that, as well as change to some high quality titanium jewelry. But first, I'll give them more time to heal up!