Well, I had been wanting my nipples pierced for a long time, since I was about 14 but I never really worked up the nerves to go through with it. To me, it just seemed like it would be such a painful piercing, the nipple being a very sensitive place to start with. But, as time went by, and as I learned about friends getting theirs done, jealousy grew and I finally decided that I would get mine done too. It was one of the most spontaneous piercings I've had done. Sitting in my room with my friend, looking for something to do on a cold winter day, I came up with the idea of going for a new hole. He was all for it, so we hopped in the car and drove to Northbay to Empyre 77, a relatively new shop, where 3 of my friends had already gotten pierced. It was my first time there. On the way there I decided it would only be one nipple (part insufficient funds part chicken-ness).
At A Glance Author RC Contact RC@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Jen Studio Empyre 77 Location Northbay, Ontario So, I walked into the shop, it was very nice, clean and relaxing. It had a very good atmosphere and the bluish paint on the walls was very calming. The walls were decorated with awesome artwork and there was music coming from the back of the shop which made it seem a bit more alive. It smelled very clean and I immediately felt comfortable and trusting of the staff. I walked up to the desk and asked if they had time for a nipple piercing. "Sure" they said, so they made me fill out the form and actually checked my ID! This was a bit strange to me, since I was 17 and was never carded for a piercing, but at the same time, it really made me feel like they knew what they were doing. If a shop actually takes time to verify ID, I think it means a lot about their integrity, like they don't only do it for the money. Anyways, needless to say I was still a bit nervous, as much as I am accustomed to getting pierced, I can never surmount those "filling out the form" shakes. So the guy collected the 60$ and asked me if I wanted a ring or a barbell and which nipple I would get, I chose a ring (easier to clean) and the left nipple. Meanwhile, the girl, Jen, went in one of the little rooms to get some things ready.
The guy told me to go join her and when I did, she instructed me to sit on the white leather dentist chair. She taped the burgundy shower-curtain door closed and I watched her prepare everything in front of me, which was pretty interesting. She explained to me the aftercare, gave me a little bag with soap in it. She told me I had to wash it with that twice a day for 2 weeks. "Take off your shirt" she then said, so I did. She washed her hands and put on gloves. You can never be too hygienic! I'm not very shy about my body so it wasn't a big deal to then take off my bra so she could mark the spot with a blue fine point marker. But first, she cleaned it with an alcohol swab and put that yellow stuff all over it. She spent a great deal of time doing the marks, making sure it looked good, that it was at the exact right place and also that it wasn't crooked. I really appreciate the fact that she took all the time needed to give me a good piercing, again, it gave me a good impression of their professionalism. When the markings were done, she measured my nipple to get the right sized jewellery and she told me to lie down on the chair. Next step was the clamp! The cold, evil pinchers of death! Okay, it wasn't THAT horrible but it WAS uncomfortable. A few minutes went by while she was getting the needle and the jewellery ready and then, the phrase I had been waiting for came: "Take a nice deep breath..." No stranger to those words, I knew that when I would exhale she would stab me with the needle. JAB! A little pinching...."That's it?" I ask myself "It can't be". I looked down and there it was, the needle through my nipple! Virtually painless.
She then put the jewellery in, which she seemed to have a bit of a hard time with. After a bit of struggling, she succeeded in putting the ball on the ring. She then told me we were done. I made a comment about how I really expected it to hurt more and put my shirt back on...So that was it! I was ecstatic! I kind of regretted not getting both done though, since it was so painless and also that I have somewhat of a symmetry issue. But I was too happy, so I shrugged those thoughts off, drank a bit of cold water and got up. I finally had my nipple pierced, after all those years! I thanked her (I forgot to tip her though, I felt so bad!! ALWAYS TIP YOUR PIERCER!) and I grabbed my stuff and left the place. I couldn't stop smiling!
I was very careful not to touch, bump or apply any pressure to the now sensitive and sore nipple. It didn't really hurt, but after about an hour, I could feel the pain seeping in. It didn't last long though, you kind of forget about it after a while. The next day, I worked a 7 hour shift and didn't even feel any of the pain or discomfort I was expecting to experience. The first night with the new ring, I kept my bra on to sleep, and it was like that for the first week and a half. I slept on my back and was very careful not to play with my fresh new piercing. I followed the aftercare, but sometimes skipped washing it with the soap and just cleaned it with a Q-Tip and hot water. The first week, there was a bit of dried blood mixed in with the crusties, but nothing to worry about. I have to say, this is one the fastest healing piercings I've had, it's been three weeks and I couldn't be happier with it! I've had no problems whatsoever with it so far and it's almost completely healed, but I still get a bit of crusties.
I feel so much more confident about myself with this new piercing, it's really helped the way I look at myself. Also, not many people know I've had this done, only my close friends, so it's like a little secret. I've shown a few of them and they all think it looks great....Sometimes I forget I have it and when I feel the ring turn or get a glimpse of it in the mirror, I kind of stay surprised a bit! I guess I still can't believe I finally have this long awaited hole in my body. As for the sexual side of it, I haven't had the chance to try it out, but I think it's gonna spice things up a little bit! ;)
Now I am really looking forward to getting my right nipple done! Anytime I get a chance, I'm totally up for it, but that's going to be another experience....I'm definitely going back to Empyre 77 and recommend it to anyone in the Northbay area who wants a piercing but isn't sure which shop to choose. You will be more than satisfied at Empyre! The staff is very knowledgeable, the shop is spick and span and they do AMAZING work (they are very good with tattoos also)! But my advice to anyone thinking of getting their nipples done is GO FOR IT!