I had been planning to have my vertical hood pierced for about a year and kept telling my friends in the hope that it would encourage me to get it done, or look like a chicken! I decided that this wasn't working and I still had no courage. The thought of having a random stranger poking around down there was just the start of the worry, the needle being the most worrying!
At A Glance Author Eve Contact Eve@bme.anon IAM Eve When It just happened Artist Julie Studio Cold Steel Location Camden, London I had read a number of experiences on BME and they all seemed to confirm that it wasn't going to be as painful as I was imagining. This, however, did nothing to qualm my fears. I finally asked one of my good friends, Ewa, if she knew any good piercer's in London as there were none in Northern Ireland that I was comfortable with. She had been pierced at Cold Steel in Camden and said it was a great place.
I went to their website and found they had a forum. I continued to read others experiences of the process. I still felt no more comfortable or happy about having it done. Only my want for having it done drove me on. I finally decided it was a now or never experience and knowing I was flying to London to visit my sister for 2 weeks only heightened my dream of having a cute little ring in my hood. I decided I would get it done on Thursday the 22nd May as I was flying to London on the Tuesday. Then I moved my flight to the Thursday and knowing I would be travelled and not up to it didn't want to have it pierced on that same day. I had the chance to chicken out and nearly did. Ewa said she was free on the Friday, the day after my flight, and convinced me to get it done.
I kept thinking in my head that they might not have space to fit me in and various other escape ploys. In the end I flew to London, the thought of the piercing the next day looming over me. I was nervous but excited. I met up with Ewa and went to have lunch (and to smoke copious amounts!) to calm my nerves, no joy! Ewa by this point was nervous and making me worse. I got to the point of either getting it done or walking away and so told her we were going now.
I arrived at Cold Steel and looked around, and the guy there asked me if he could help, I said nothing. I stood there like an idiot for about a minute just looking at him and him and Ewa looking at me. A tiny voice came out of my throat saying I wanted my hood pierced vertically. He smiled and gave me the sheet to fill in telling me not to be so nervous; I told him it was easy for him to say! I paid my money and he told me the piercer would be ready in a minute. I browsed the jewellery trying to forget why I was there. Eventually, the door opened and Julie came out checked the sheet and asked if I was Eve, I nodded, probably looking terrified. She smiled and pointed to the door. I went in grabbing Ewa and pulling her with me. Ewa's only request for coming with me was to take photos, anything I agreed just to have someone with me. Julie put me at ease straight away and talked to me about her freaky dreams. She had such a personal approach that really settled me. She asked me to remove my bottoms and pants and Ewa stood getting snap happy with her camera. I sat on the bed (glad there were no stirrups!) and waited. She marked the point on my hood and gave me a mirror. I was happy and she explained what she was going to do. She got everything ready and put the receiving tube in. She said that it would be the most uncomfortable part but I didn't find it was a problem. She got the needle ready and told me to take a deep breath in then out and she would pierce on the out breath. I did as she asked and felt the needle go through. It wasn't half as bad as I thought! It was definitely a very different feeling to any other piercing I have had. She put in the jewellery, a little black matt ring that I had chosen before and handed me a mirror to see my newest piercing. I was overjoyed. I walked out feeling very happy and surprised that the pain hadn't been terrible and that I didn't have any pain afterwards.
I would definitely recommend Cold Steel to everyone. They were really fantastic with me.
Thankyou Julie!