It started when I opened my big mouth at work and said that I was thinking of getting my nipples pierced, and a friend of mind teased me about it for the week. He kept insisting that I wouldn't follow through with it, even though my friends and I had decided to get a new piercing or tattoo for our 21st birthdays (ours were all within a one month span). When the friend and I were out hiking, a week or so after I had made the initial comment, he suggested that we do it today, and I, not willing to turn down a challenge, reluctantly agreed (too much pride?). It took some convincing on his part as I was planning to wait another few days (another friend of mine worked at a piercing/tattoo/"hippie" shop that was halfway between my home and where I go to school, so I was thinking I'd do it en route to school when break ended). The guy I was with hiking insisted we'd have time to do it and still have time to be outside some more.
At A Glance Author tigermountain Contact tigermountain@bme.anon When It just happened Artist JB Studio The White Room in the Mystical Emporium Location Auburn, ME We hit the road and I had forty five minutes --plus lunch--to worry about the procedure, but we went right ahead. Cyndi, the girl at the shop, was psyched for me, and she introduced me to JB, the piercer. I couldn't recommend JB more. I'm this little girly nearly-twenty-one year old girl (and I have no tats or piercings, except for the traditional one hole in each ear) attempting to stick a needle through my nipple. Fun. JB was awesome, very easy to talk to, all of his tools and equipment came right out of its own surgically-clean bag.We talked about aftercare and he gave me a shit with a ton of information (knowing that I'd forget as soon as I left)...he also reassured me that his phone number was at the bottom and he'd be happy to answer any questions if the need arose. He asked if I wanted to do one or two, and I had planned to do just one, but mentioned I might change my mind halfway through. He prepared both for me.
He asked me how I wanted them done--horizontal or vertical--and I turned to my guy friend that I was with, quizzically. I hadn't really thought about it and I had assumed vertical was the way to go. My friend said that vertical would be cool because so few people have it, and JB added that most vertical piercings can use belly button jewelry - and that sealed the deal .Vertical it is.
He had me stand in front of him, lift up my shirt and bra, and stand with my head straight and arms at my side so he could do a steady marking. He marked both my nipples, I took a quick glance and agreed, and he had me sit down in his chair. I didn't exactly want to watch what was going on so I turned away, but JB talked me through it, and my friend kept me company and talked, too. JB clamped my left nipple, and a second later I felt the pain of the needle. I yelped, sort of out of surprise, and my friend brought his face close to mine to comfort be a little bit, and then JB said he was going to spin the jewelry in. I didn't feel that at all --
He asked if I wanted the second one done and I decided not to, knowing that if I choose to I can get it done some other time down the road. JB folded up a paper towel and covered my newly pierced nipple, and I folded my bra and shirt down and was ready to go. It hurt, for sure, but it was really only for a second of surprise. The adrenaline afterward was unbelievable--as my friend looked for jewelry for his nose ring, I tapped my fingers incessantly and sent text messages while talking to Cyndi, who was grinning from ear to ear. I paid JB and talked with Cyndi, and then my friend and I decided to head home.
I could feel the pain, for sure, when I walked outside because of the cold (winter in Maine), but it was like this strange ache, sort of awkward but not terribly uncomfortable. The pain sort of faded in and out throughout the day, but nothing was really that bad. Meanwhile, I carried a huge grin on my face for the rest of the afternoon :)
The part that hurt the most was cleaning it the first time that night; the first time I actually moved the ring, it hurt so much that I started shaking abit, and I felt a little nauseous (...I'm not a nauseous person, either, I can stomach a lot). I sort of just stopped what I was doing, went and laid down in my bed for a half an hour, and calmed down before attempting it again. It hurt so much after cleaning it that I started wondering if it was even worth it.
The next morning, though, everything was fine, and when I cleaned it it didn't hurt much at all. Mid-day cleaning was a little shaky (and I was at work, so that was funny heading back out onto the salesfloor with the after-cleaning-ache). Night cleaning went just fine :) I'm so excited for my new little piercing, and I think that the slight pain from cleaning and the second from the piercing itself is totally worth it. Not only is it a great little accessory (and will be great after it fully heals!), but it's added a bit of confidence and spring in my step. I'm really proud of myself more than anything! I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a little bit of secret to put a spring in their step every day:)