At A Glance Author Rachel Contact Rachel@bme.anon When Three months ago Artist Jim Studio Murder Ink Location Queens, NY For a long time I wanted to get pierced. I was probably around 14 or so when I made up my mind that I would leave high school with at least one new hole in my body. Preferably something my parents couldn't see, my ultimate pick, my nipple. Unfortunately, the 4 years flew, and before I knew it, I was graduating...without any new adornment.
When I got to college, I decided it was time to do some investigating. I was living on my own and had nothing standing in my way of my need for body jewelry. So I looked into a few places, but never felt quite right. I always chickened out, never quite sure of what I wanted. I didn't want to follow complete trends, but I wanted something I could enjoy. Well, needless to say I always had an excuse...either I was broke or I had no money, the real reason was I had no guts. I guess we are always afraid of what we don't know.
Over one of my breaks I went home to visit my family. My sister told me she was going to get her tongue pierced. I decided it was then or never, so I went and did it (but that's a whole different story) and got my tongue done. After that, I got hooked.
Like I said before, I started my love of body piercing relatively young, and had always kind of known that I wanted my nipples pierced; I was just way too chicken. Then I started pledging.
When I went back to school I began pledging a sorority, Mu Iota Upsilon. During my 8-week pledge period I got to know the girls on my line. 2 of the 5 of us had their nipples pierced. I figured if they can do it, I could do it. So I promised myself that when I crossed over (got my letters) I would go get my nipple done as a present for all my hard work. Not only did I promise myself, but I told everyone so I couldn't back out.
Well I crossed and got my letters, and chickened out again. But I knew I had to get it. When I graduated from my program I came home and started hanging out with some of my friends (who are completely anti-piercing). We were all driving around one night and once again, I was talking about my nipples. All of a sudden, the guy driving the car pulled over to Murder Ink (the same place I got my tongue done) and said "You can either get pierced or not, right now...but if you don't do it now, then stop talking about it." So, being the slightly spiteful, slightly pissed person I was, I hopped out and walked in.
I asked for Jim (trying to seem like I was a pro or something) and told him what I wanted. All of a sudden my nerves got the best of me and I thought I was going to throw up, so I asked for a second outside to smoke a cigarette. Jim came outside and told me not to worry. He said that women tend to hurt less because the breast absorbs some of the pain. I chuckled a little and he said, not to kid myself, it's going to hurt. I must have turned a pale white, because Jim asked if I was okay. My then boyfriend took my hand and walked with me to the back before I could really answer.
I didn't get a choice of jewelry, and he didn't ask me much about what I wanted (gauge or anything) and I was a little put off, but I was too nervous to even say anything. So I laid back and Jim cleaned me up. He made two little dots when the needle was going to go through and asked me to look to see if I liked it. I got up and looked but I couldn't even think straight...all I kept thinking was oh my god; I'm getting my nipple pierced. I asked my then man what he thought, and he said it was crooked, so Jim fixed it, and I laid down again.
He cleaned me up some more and it started. The clamp, the cork, the works. My ex grabbed my hand as Jim jabbed the needle through my nipple. People ask me all the time how it felt, or how bad it hurt...well someone is stabbing a piece of metal through a very sensitive body part, so it's not like it was a little pinch, but it wasn't completely unbearable. It was such an intense feeling. It felt like a hot flash of pain, soon followed by a sharp pain that quickly turned into a dull throbbing, yet completely uncomfortable pain. He told me not to move while he put the ring through, so I didn't. And then it was done.
I laid there for a minute or two to collect myself. I couldn't believe I did it. I actually got my nipple pierced! It was amazing. It looked so cute! After a few minutes of sitting there, I put back on my bra and shirt and left, leaving a pool of sweat where I was laying. As I walked into the waiting room I had the biggest rush in the world. I felt like I had this new part of me, that I had done something that not everyone can do. That I can walk into that room and the majority of the people there could never do what I just did.
After that I hung out a little longer and went home to clean it. I almost passed out in the shower. Rotating the ring is the worst, but by the second day it was a lot better.
One thing that completely helped my first few days that I think can help everyone is my little secret. For as unusual as this may sound, I took panty liners (unused of course) and cut them in half. Sticky side to bra I wore them for a few weeks, changing them as frequently as possible. I made for more comfort from the bra, as well as keep the nipple dry and clean.
Now it's about 4 months later and I love it. It still has healing time left before it's completely done, but I love my nipple ring. I would completely suggest it to anyone that really wants it. You've got to be careful with it, but it is such a pretty adornment, it's hard to resist. And for as much pain as it was, which there was, the minute it was done, I knew if I wanted to I could get my other nipple done in a heartbeat.
It may have taken me the better part of 6 years to get it done, but it was worth waiting for. This way I know, at least, that I made a conscience, adult decision that I wont soon regret.