Before I go ahead with having a new piercing, I always always read as many stories, look at as many photos, and generally research the piercing before I even go anywhere near a needle (I'm not really a spontaneous kind of girl!), therefore I think it's only fair that I help out and offer my story to everyone as a way of thanks for the help they have given me in my decisions about my mods. This is the story, as the title suggests, of my much longed for and much loved nipple piercing.
At A Glance Author Nicky Contact Nicky@bme.anon When Six months ago Artist ? Studio the purple shop on the corner! Location Newquay I have always been intrigued by the idea of nipple piercings since I saw a (slightly wild, rebellious) friend of mines at the tender age of 14. Having just persuaded my mother to allow me to have my navel pierced (the story of which is amongst the many others on this site) a few months previously, and screaming blue murder from start to finish despite the fact I actually don't remember it being all that painful, I was not particularly desperate to have a repeat experience... plus the fact that I would most certainly not want to be pierced by anyone who would go near a 14 year old's nipple! However, the idea stayed with me, and countless times up until last august when I finally submitted to the urge, I thought about having my nipple pierced.
Having entered into a relationship with a metal-loving (in both the music, and piercing sense) young man in May 2 years ago, I watched a number of piercings take place over a period of a year, and every time the urge to get my nipple pierced grew and grew, but for some reason my boyfriend at the time was very much against the idea. Along with this I was still living with my parents and I was far too scared of their reaction if they were to accidentally discover this 'disgusting and vile' piercing as my mother puts it! Unfortunately for me, my relationship started encountering a few problems around March time, and by June we really were in the final stages of our time together, and my partner decided that there wasn't much point in him arguing against it any longer, perhaps because he knew he wouldn't be around much longer to see this new mod, and agreed. That barrier overcome, there was only the situation with my parents to stop me, and my gradually disappearing phobia of needles that had developed from 18 years of painful medical treatment.
In August we arranged a weekend away with some friends to Newquay, which both I and my ex had agreed would be the last chance for us, and the final experiment to see whether our relationship could survive any longer. Whilst we were there (with a number of friends who were already very experienced in the world of mods) we went to a beach a few miles away to join another couple for the day, both of which have a number of piercings and a collection of beautiful tattoos. As we were sitting in the sun, (I was burning, they were all tanning themselves!) we discussed their mods and my longing for a new piercing, particularly one through my nipple. As the day went on I itched more and more to be pierced, and having been with my boyfriend to have his lip pierced the day before and having spoken to the artist about it, I finally decided that I really should get it done, after all, I was on holiday! I told the rest of the group what I was planning, and was immediately told by one person that it was their most painful piercing.... So I stopped to think again.... But I really was determined, and this was the closest I had ever been. After a few hours of wondering around the beautiful town of St Ives, still with the thought of my soon to be pierced nipple in my head, we headed back to Newquay and went straight to the studio where my boyfriend had his lip pierced the day before. I discussed what I wanted with the piercer and we were taken straight downstairs where she marked and measured my left breast (chosen because it seemed to be the least sensitive and I hoped it would heighten sensation, and it might hurt less to be pierced!) as soon as I was asked to lay down, questions of doubt raced into my mind, along with thoughts of my heavily pierced and tattooed friend stating it was the worst pain he had felt, and I felt instinctively uncomfortable. Noticing my facial expression my boyfriend asked if I really wanted it done, and noticing my delay in answering the piercer immediately told me if I wasn't 100% sure I should leave it and come back another time. I agreed, and got up and dressed, told her I might see her later and left feeling like the worlds biggest pussy! As soon as we walked out, my boyfriend told me he knew I wouldn't go through with it, and from that moment on I was absolutely determined I would be pierced before I went home the next day! I drove back to our caravan park, jumped into the shower and washed off the sand, (another reason for not wanting to be pierced, I felt unclean after a day at the beach) then proceeded to get ready for our last night out at the rock pub in Newquay that we had visited a couple of times. Whilst showering I decided that it might not be a bad idea to be pierced that night, after all the studio was open until 10!
After dressing comfortably just in case, we caught a bus back into town and headed to the pub. I think by this time I had already decided this was it, the day I would be pierced, but I hadn't announced it just yet to anyone just in case! I had a couple of drinks, then asked my boyfriend if he would come back with me to get pierced. He agreed, and kindly offered to pay for me to get it done, probably because he thought I would chicken out again! So we crossed the road and walked into the studio, while I felt sick, slightly dizzy, and like a whole butterfly farm had escaped in my tummy! To be totally honest the next bit is a bit of a blur. All I remember is walking downstairs and the lead up to the actual piercing being very quick, probably because I had gone through it all earlier with the same woman. I had noticed when I went with my boyfriend that it was a very sterile looking room, and familiar procedures were carried out as to what we were used to back home in Birmingham to ensure cleanliness. All I remember about the actual piercing was a cold sensation as the area was frozen and clamped, then a very warm, stinging feeling as I was being pierced. I do remember a feeling of pain, but it was a very short sharp one which subsided in a few moments so was certainly bearable. As the jewellery was inserted I took a peek and a grin immediately spread across my face. When I was shown my new metal in the mirror I realized I had made a fantastic decision, and the look on my boyfriends face made me think he approved too after all his protests beforehand! He even seemed happy as he handed over £30 plus £3 for aftercare solution! I was bandaged up and got myself dressed with a crazy smile on my face and headed back to the pub where I was greeted with cheeky smiles from everyone and lots of requests to have a look! The next few hours went by with that post piercing rush and lots of alcohol keeping me smiling!
The next morning I woke up with a little bit of a hangover, although I had tried to be good with my alcohol consumption so I didn't do anything stupid to affect my piercing, and because I was driving home the next day. I went to the poor excuse for a bathroom and nearly cried when I saw the blood as I removed the dressing. There was just so much of it! I hadn't even realized it had started bleeding but apparently as I sat up it had trickled some blood and by the looks of it hadn't stopped all night. The pain that morning was barely existent, there was just a dull ache, and as to be expected it hurt when it was knocked, which did happen a lot more than I thought possible! I suppose you notice it more when it's freshly pierced.
The healing process was a rather long one. I am first to admit that I am quite poor at aftercare and only tend to clean a piercing when it looks like it needs it, or if it's quite sore, as I'm scared about over cleaning, and partly because I'm lazy. Now, almost six months on, I still get a small amount of discharge, but this comes off in the shower, or if necessary with tea tree oil which I find very soothing. I had the barbell changed a week ago to a slightly shorter pink titanium bar, which I have to admit is rather cute, and has been shown to a lot of people!
I think we've come to the end of this particular story now, but just to finish, in case you were interested my boyfriend and I did break up a few weeks later, and I have since continued my body mods by having my nose pierced (twice) and tomorrow I'm hopefully starting my collection of oral piercings by having my tongue web 'done', so you may be hearing another of my mod stories soon.
I would really recommend this piercing if you can handle a rather long and sometimes painful healing process. Thank you to all of you who have also contributed stories to BME, most of my piercings would not exist without you!