Viper's Nest was a studio my mom picked out. It probably wouldn't have been my first choice but it was the studio where she felt comfortable with so I agreed as it was the only way I'd be pierced. At that point I had really wanted my navel but when I heard his policy on only piercing them with CBRs, I was a bit standoffish. Many things about this shop should have alerted me not to go to it, but I blame the fact that I was still somewhat a piercing virgin.
At A Glance Author shes_a_dreamer When Two years ago Artist Jay Studio Viper's Nest Location Springfield,Ma I arrived at Viper's Nest with my father, two friends and mother. I immediately found out I didn't have a choice in jewelry. Jay,the piercer, insisted that traguses/rooks and daith were pierced with 18G CBR.I knew a 14G CBR was the regular size, but I figured he knew what he was doing so I let it go.
Fast forward to the piercing part, for starters most piercers I know wouldn't let more than two people in a room with you.Jay let four people in with me. The room was dimly lit and just had an overall trashy vibe. It's a typical place my mother (who is a nurse) wouldn't let me be pierced at but I think she allowed it since she found the piercer to be an overall nice guy. The piercing hurt but it wasn't all that bad. In retrospect to what I've got now, it was a piece of cake.
He used a curved needle and a receiving tube. I got both sides done and after squeezing both my friends hands and a quick "OW" I was done. We paid Jay $80($40 an ear) and we were off. I knew from experience how to practice excellent aftercare for my fresh piercing. But within a few months I developed tiny bumps on the exit holes of my piercings. They looked disgusting and hurt tremendously.
I tried fighting for the piercing but nothing seemed to help. I did sea salt soaks, tea tree oil, vitamin E,etc.The bumps would go down for a little while and then be even bigger within days. It was horrible.A lot of piercers suggested different techniques but most insisted on sea salt soaks.Every piercer also commented how the jewelry was way too small for the piercing. I received negativity from every piercer I encountered.
My mom was getting a bit scared about how they looked and took me to the doctor, as to make sure they weren't infected. My doctor told me I wanted to keep them she'd have to put silver nitrogen on each bump (which was three times what I paid for the initial piercing.)I agreed for her to proceed and within days they fell off. I was really excited because I figured my long ordeal was over. I was wrong.
I had noticed with some of my other ear piercings that with some of them surgical steel had irritated them.The bumps were back and were very small so I figured it wouldn't be bad to change the jewelry. My boyfriend and I were at hot topic and I decided to buy some 18G titanium curved barbells. By now the piercing was at the point where it should have been healed so I cleaned off the jewelry and figured it would be a quick ordeal.
I got to say trying to open a CBR that's in such a tiny place sucks, especially when the piercing is easily irritated. We tried for about an hour to undo the CBR with various techniques. We couldn't get to a piercer and it hurt like hell. It was so much worse than the original piercing. Finally after I cried (yes it was that bad) I found a small pair of manicure scissors (WARNING: Do not try this at home!!) and angled them in the CBR.I started opening them and the ball popped out.
I had to then extend the ring open so it would slip out. This took sometime and I had to lube the ring with Vitamin E oil to finally slide it out. By that point I realized it wasn't worth keeping. I never realized how much I adored my daith piercings until they were gone.
I plan to get both repierced at a later date by a more experienced piercer. I feel I should have looked more into the shop I was going to.When you're younger it may seem life or death to get what piercing you want, but you should seriously wait until you can go to a proper shop. I "settled" and ended up with a lot of pain.
I've had friends who have mixed experiences at this shop, though the good ones tend to be at the West Springfield location.For me, it wasn't worth it and it taught me to really research who I'm going to let stick a needle in my body.
Good luck and happy piercing!!