First off I must say if you are in the Winnipeg area and are looking for a body piercer, go see Jay at Steel Beauty. He runs a sterile establishment, has a hand wash only sink and is religious in avoiding cross contamination. Also he is a friendly person, always smiling and has a soft comforting voice for anyone who is wary about getting a piercing done. Lastly he is a person of morals and if he feels your body will not accept the piercing well or if you walk in with a poor attitude, he will tell you and not perform the piercing. He is more interested in ensuring the piercing is done right and you are satisfied with it than the money involved.
At A Glance Author AoD Contact warez1@hotmail.com When A month ago Artist Jay Studio Steel Beauty Location Winnipeg With all that being said let us begin.
Well I walked into Experience the Beauty (ETB) with only one intension in mind, to talk to Jay about what I wanted done with my septum (stretching and jewelry) and my next steps on my lobe stretching. He was busy that day and took a little while to get to me. As he was working I was observing around at the people there and what they had done to get possible ideas for what other possible places to have metal inserted into my body. Jay walked into the waiting area and saw me, smiled and said "Hi". As he walked back into his work area I noticed two shinny beads on the back of his neck. I was surprised I had never noticed them before (later finding out that it is only a week old...hence why I never noticed). I had contemplated a nape piercing prior to this moment but never had been serious enough with myself to follow through. Now I had a wave of motivation and a need for change!
When Jay finally got to see me we talked about what I had originally came in for (septum and lobe stretches) and he asked me if there was anything else. I looked at him and said "I want what is coming out of the back of your neck." He smiled and asked when. I really wanted this done and so we decided the next day. I think he gets just as excited as his clients do when they are getting a new piercing. A least he loves what he does. ;-)
The next day I called Jay to ensure he had the jewelry in and how much it would cost. I knew I forgot something the day before. I came in for my 5:30 pm appointment and he was in the back with another client. He was more busy than the day before but always greats me (and others) with a smile. I told him that I didn't mind waiting around and I let every other appointment after me go just so I could ensure that the alignment was done with accuracy. Why I worried I do not know because he always takes his time with every piercing to ensure accuracy, irrelevant if it overlaps into another appointment. His motto is 'you would not want me to rush if you were the one being pierced.' or something to that effect.
Finally my turn came and everyone was gone and done. I signed the usual form stating I am not sick, have informed the piercer of any know diseases I have, and am not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. I hopped up onto the "operating table" and he had me take off my shirt and necklace while he put on some fresh gloves. I am going to add now (so I don't have to keep mentioning it) that he changes his gloves after every step (avoiding the cross contamination mentioned earlier). He scrubbed down my neck with a cleaning solution (I could not say which one...I've never bothered to ask) to sterilize my neck and dried it off. He instructed me to look straight ahead while he mapped out my spine (to find the center of my neck) and then had me cock my head upward and back to map out the natural folds in my neck. He did a look over on it to see if the lines were good but he wasn't satisfied with them. He felt the lines were out some what (I am guessing because we were gabbing away and I unknowingly moved my head off center while he was marking). So we redid them and I consciously held my head still this time. Again when he was done he did a once over to ensure the marks were good and he came around to the front of me. He showed me the claps, needle and jewelry and that they were all still in the package, autoclaved and sterile. Now on to the actual pierce!
He came around behind me and clapped my skin. He asked me if the clap was too tight or pinching. I assured him it was perfectly comfortable and we proceeded. He next took the blunt end of the needle and pushed it up against the entry point to let me get a feel for it. He then told me to take a deep breathe and to concentrate on my breathing as he did the piercing. I felt the needle being inserted with very little pain associated with it. I didn't realize I was holding my breathe until he asked me for one more deep breathe. So one more deep breathe and it was through. It was the longest piercing I had ever had, but one of the least painful (aside from a lobe). He next put the surface bar through (though I wish I knew how seeing as it has a 90 degree bend in it...wish I could see). The bar seemed to slide though with ease and I only actually felt it for half of the way (yet there was zero pain involved...I expected something...but no). I got up, grabbed the hand mirror an d walked up to the full length mirror to have a look. Needless to say I loved it!
I paid and he explained the aftercare for this particular piercing. He said that I should let my body naturally heal on this one and to use the antibacterial soap he provided sparingly. He told me that if it is cleaned too much it may dry out the skin and may cause the body to reject it. So we chatted for a while longer and I was off.
The next day and even to this day (3 weeks later) the piercing has not bothered me in the way of pain or migration. The only time it causes discomfort is if I accidentally hit it with my hand to scratch (forgetting it is there) or if my shirt collar rubs against it. I have slept on my back from day one with no problems to report. Now I realize how much I love surface bars and the next one at least I can finally watch it done.
I hope this helps someone! Love ya!
AoD
warez1@hotmail.com