At A Glance Author Janell Contact Janell@bme.anon When Three months ago Artist Rob Studio Wonderland Tattoo Location Detroit, Mi. It was December 22, 2001. I woke up that morning and had the most terrible urge to get something pierced. Perhaps it was the memory of my friends holding my face down on a chair and forcing thick metal through my ear as I screamed for them to "force the fucker through" that really did it for me. Whatever the case, it had to be done.
I knew my mom would kill me if she saw it. Our agreement was that I could pierce anything I wanted (in the non-ear category), as long as she could rip it out. For this reason I decided to call my partner in crime.
Now, Mercy and I have been friends since the sixth grade, though there have been many threats of death between us. We were going to get our tongues pierced together (as in, at the same time) and since she has many holes in her head filled with metal, I knew she was the one to call on. I gave her a ring and came over. I told her I wanted to get my nipples done because my mom would most likely not see them there. Her response was, "Cool! Can I watch?" She recommended her favorite place to get stabbed in the head, Wonderland on Harper, and made me call to ask for things like ring size, price, etc. I believe I have a 14 gauge, and they cost $30 each. They would have been $20 each except for the price of jewelry. Speaking of that magical phone call, I recommend calling and talking to Rob just for the hell of it. If you never wanted to get pierced before, his voice will make you. It's like phone sex just hearing him say hello.
Well, Rob asked me what size my nipples were and I think I estimated m&m size. He informed me that if they were too small he would not pierce them. I went into the bathroom and decided I had no nipples. A little cold water later I was able to coax them out of their shell, so to speak. I informed Mercy that they were more like tart'n tiny sized. Never the less, we drove to the shop. I think it's around 10 mile. because I remember passing my girlfriend's house on the way. I almost made Mercy stop so she could see it done, but I didn't want her to try and talk me out of it.
Mercy was afraid I'd faint, but I had a huge brownie and a can of pop before we went. See, sugar is good for you. I was a little nervous but I wasn't afraid of the pain.
She forced me to go up to the counter and talk to Rob. He had a bunch of people in line for tattoos but a piercing is quick and easy so he said he'd do it after a smoke. I wonder if it's as good for him...Anyway, Mercy went out to join him since they're friends and I went along. It was freezing out...hmmm guess that helped, and Mercy let me take a few hits off her cigarette. Funny thing is, I don't smoke, but it really calmed me down.
I sat making dirty jokes with the artist and the deviant until the big moment. At this point, just after Rob drew a modest curtain behind me, I informed him that I was really nervous, and not about the pain at all. He didn't know why so I explained that my breasts were mostly virgins, and no one had ever really seen/touched them before but me. He was very very professional and I was not uncomfortable or embarrassed once he got started. He said he'd seen a hundred boobs before and they were just boobs. Yeah.
He was ready to go so I pulled down my bra, pulled up my shirt and squeezed my nipple out the side...He would have had more luck piercing a turtle. He motioned for me to pull my bra up and over so I just took it off and lifted up my shirt over one breast. He clamped my boob with something that looked like an eyelash curler and walked away to go play in his metal things. I've heard that this part hurts...it didn't. In the meantime I began to sing and stare at the ceiling. "I'm happy, feeling glad, I've got sunshine in a bag...". He did some other fun stuff with cotton swabs and ointments and then pushed a curved needle through my little pink nipple. I hit a high note as he pushed it through, and probably made the ears of all the waiting patrons bleed. I, however did not bleed, (not just then anyway) and it really didn't hurt. The feeling can be described as an awakening. As if all the cells in my nipple said "FUCK! Where's the fire!"
When I looked down I saw thick clearish goo had been pushed out through the needle. "What's that?" I asked, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
"It's Neosporin."
"Oh good, I thought my tit was bleeding cum." And this coming from the girl who says she's shy. There was a porn like that...never mind, it sucked.
"I've never had anyone sing before," Rob told me.
"Any requests?" He did make a request but I didn't know it. I threatened to sing Jesus Loves the Little Children, but Mercy suggested "Napalm Sticks to Little Children" instead. Again on the last note I came close to shattering glass but that needle had gone through just as easy as the first.
I had forgot, to ask questions before I came in so Rob filled me in. Yes, I can breast feed the children I swore I wouldn't give birth too. More importantly I should have asked about method, placement, instruments and sterility. BME has a great section about how a place should be up to code. The place was great. Mercy hasn't caught any diseases yet and she's starting to look like Swiss cheese. He gave me a cleaning information paper and took my money. I took my cloths, mostly in hand, and walked through the brisk fridged, cold, muy muy chili, freezing air, out to the car.
At first I was worried. I kept leaning forward so as not to let my shirt touch them, but then I couldn't help myself. I kept pulling my shirt up and looking at them. Wow...they were shiny. I was only disappointed that the jewelry I picked out wasn't icy blue, as the tinted light through the blue packaging would have had me believe.
The first night my new rings had out I made many many mistakes.
#1) I told a bunch of my friends about it and now I think everyone but my mom knows...it's only a matter of time before I'll have to go get nipple replacements.
#2) I put a tight bra on to hold them down. You shouldn't wear tight clothing for a month or so.
#3) I touched them...constantly, without washing my hands first
#4) I didn't read the cleaning and care instructions until about 3 days later.
Care is pretty easy. Wash your hands with dial (which u can use to wash the rings) and then swab the crusties off with warm water. You don't know what crusties are, but you will, Mu-ha ha ha!. DON'T TURN THE RING! Not until you've got all the crusties off. Put Bactine on the holes, then turn the ring about 5-8 times so the stuff gets in there. I found Bactine at Farmer Jacks but it's supposedly sold all over the place. Let it sit for about a minute and then wash it out under warm water turning the ring to get the stuff out. There is more to know but you should ask your piercing artist.
The verdict? Well lots of good. My girlfriend got jealous at first because I let a man touch my boobs and not her, but then she got all excited about them. Yes they are fun. Fun for you and fun for me! They make me feel pretty, but I think colored ones would be more feminine so as soon as they are finished healing I will put new ones in. The only thing you should really worry about if you decide to get these babies is wearing your seatbelt because you can be ticketed for not wearing your shoulder harness. Finally, and this is my last piece of advice...get your boobs played with first...a lot. Because once you get metal, it'll never be the same.