All my life I've been the typical girl-next-door kind of person. Throughout elementary and high school I was definitely way more on the conservative side of everything, including my choice of clothing. Then, in grade eleven I got my first boyfriend. He opened my eyes and basically showed me the rest of the world and how risks are involved in this big world I thought I knew from my school curriculum. It's not that he was "way out" or some sort of "daredevil", but rather he was just your average boy-next-door kind of guy who was maybe a bit more "wild" than old conservative me.
At A Glance Author Hallie When It just happened Artist Sam Studio Next Body Piercing Location Vancouver, BC, Canada Of the many things he has taught me, expressing your deep-down wild side is one of them. I never considered myself to be wild by any means but I must say I have become more of a risk taker, one who can go out and enjoy herself even if it's not scheduled in her day planner.
I am still with that boyfriend today, almost five years later. In the last couple of years he has been joking that I should get a nipple ring. Automatically, without even thinking about it, I would always answer "no". It wasn't even an issue. I didn't need to contemplate it, consider it, or think about it -- it was an obvious no. More recently when he has mentioned that I should get a nipple ring, the answer was still no, but I was beginning to understand where he was coming from when he brought up the subject. If I even had an inkling of a yes inside of me I should just be crazy, wild, and go for it, just as I did for my belly button ring two years ago.
I think the biggest thing I had to get over in my mind was that I would then fall into the stereotypical category of girls with nipple piercings. What is that stereotype? In retrospect I think it was the typical image played by the media that these girls are risky, daring, kind of eclectic, "different', or even freaky. But once I took the time to research some information on the piercing online, I came to realize that nipple piercing owners were people you totally would not expect to have one (or two).
After reading tons of personal experiences on this board and doing some further Internet research on aftercare I decided to plan to get my nipple pierced. Not only would I be someone who no one would ever expect to have it done, but it would also be something for my boyfriend and me alone, no one else has/had to know.
I work until the evening on Saturdays, so I knew I had to get to Next Body Piercing just before 6pm for the last aftercare info session of the day. Since I had never been pierced there before, I had to have the aftercare session in order to be pierced. I chose Next on Granville Street because my younger sister had her tattoo done there a couple of years ago, and I had heard nothing but great reviews about their piercings. They're not the cheapest, but definitely worth the extra little bit for that piece of mind. They have a great business going there, knowledgeable staff, comfortable atmosphere, access to information, just the thing for wary patrons like me. We got there in time, paid for a basic nipple barbell and waited to be called for the aftercare info session. Although there was only a male piercer working that day, I asked if the girl Sam could do it instead since it would make me feel more comfortable.
So, after the sped-up info session (it was getting late and there was only my piercing and another girl's navel -- plus I had read it all previously from my research) I waited for the other girl to get her piercing from the male piercer first. Don't get me wrong, Jacob (I think his name was...??) was an awesome guy! He was very well informed and had a great personality to go with it. He gave us the aftercare session. I just kind of felt more comfortable with a female piercer, so did my boyfriend.
I was panicking while sitting there waiting for my turn. I was trying to mentally prepare myself for some major pain since I had read that it can affect each person differently. I had read stories from all ends of the spectrum from some that said it was totally nothing to ones screaming out profanities. I honestly don't know where my pain threshold is, all I know is that I do not like it and try to avoid pain at all costs.
When I went into the piercing room, Sam got all of the equipment ready, changing her gloves several times -- it was just as I had read. She then asked me to remove my shirt and said that I don't need to take my entire bra off, just the side we were going to pierce, the right. She cleaned off the area and marked it with two dots, one on either side and then showed me in a mirror so that I may approve it. She then asked if my boyfriend for a second opinion. I'm no expert on this, but it looked just fine to me. I then proceeded to lay down on the angled chair. I knew that I didn't want to make this any more painful that it could possibly be so I opted to not look at the procedure. Sam told me that she would be putting the clamps on the nipple and to let her know if it was unbearable. I had read horror stories about these clamps hurting more than the piercing, but it was totally nothing, not even that uncomfortable.
I was then given the read about lavender to breath in in order to calm my breathing. I also had my boyfriend's had to hold on to. Actually I had to have him hold the lavender up to my nose since I had my hand firmly clasped around his. Once she started to ask me to breath deeply, I knew what was coming. I tried to relax as much as I could, trying to picture a cool down after my aerobics classes. When the needle went through, I apparently didn't say anything until it was all the way through. I did quickly start saying "oww, oww, oww" and start breathing through my teeth to restrict other words from surfacing. Sam then told me she would be putting the barbell in. I must say, the initial poking of the needle hurt the most, but it was soon over. I think it was way more the mental thought that there was a metal rod through my nipple that hurt the most. Kind of like how when you try to envision pain someone else has experienced. Same sort of thing.
That was pretty much it. The pain was more of an inside to outside kind of pain rather than a surface stinging or throb. More like the pain was inside and it was trying to get out through the surface. I was totally delicate with the piercing from then on. I was so afraid to let anything touch it because I thought that it might get hurt. Before I left I was handed Next's aftercare brochure as well as information about a re-fitting in a couple of months when the healing process should be well under way. They pierce you with a longer barbell to allow for swelling and easier cleaning while the piercing is healing. For a simple cleaning fee, I could come back in a few months and they would refit me with a smaller, more long term one. I was allowed to choose a candy for "being so good" and by boyfriend got one for being a "great hand-holder". :) The plan from there was to go along to Robson Street and have a nice sit-down dinner. (We had dressed nicer than casual.)
I must say that I was still slightly leery about having the piercing done, right up until I was actually in the chair with the money paid and the aftercare explained. But now, I do not regret having it done. It makes me feel as though I can do anything and that I am not a mold of what people think I may be. My boyfriend thinks I have a wilder side to me that I know. I was so proud of myself that night for having one through with it. The pain didn't even linger after the initial puncture. I had taken an Ibuprofen just in case as a sort of preparation tactic but I really didn't need any after it was done. I purchased a zinc supplement to take for the first week since I had read that it boosts the immune system and I didn't want to take any chances. It's been three days now and it only gets a little achy/stingy when I wash it with the basic soap. Obviously there is an open flesh wound and soap stings even when you get it in your eyes! As soon as I stop handling it for cleaning, the very minute pain goes away and everything is fine. I also bought some sea salt to do a soak every few days or so. It's a good psychological measure to make me feel as though I am actively taking care of it and they say it can cut the healing time in half!
If you are considering getting your nipple(s) pierced or the idea has ever crossed your mind, go for it! It's not that bad at all and can definitely boost your self-esteem:) Thank you to all who posted their stories on this board, they helped me through the process a lot! Best of luck to everyone with their own piercings!