On the 12th of February 2007, I had gone into town with my friend Skipper. She wanted to have her sternum pierced with a voucher I had brought her for Christmas from a piercers in Leicester. Kazbah, which is in the Malcolm arcade in Leicester city centre.
At A Glance Author Clare Contact Clare@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Pete Studio Kazbah Location Leciester city center, UK. We arrived in town and proceeded to go bra and apple juice shopping- basically, Skipper was stalling.
But that's her story.This is mine.
After she had been pierced, we returned to a shop in which she had left her bag, as we know the owner. We stood talking with him for a while, but I wasn't paying much attention. I really wanted to be pierced.
I had seen Snugs on BMEzine.com about a year and a half earlier, and fallen in love. They just looked so small and simple, yet so cool, too. I only had three lobe piercings, so this would have been my first cartilage- more importantly, my first needle piercing.I rang my dad, and after some talking, he decided that yes, he would give me permission, as I'm underage (I'm 15 currently, you have to be 16 to be pierced without parental consent).
We returned to Kazbah, and I told the woman behind the counter in the shop what I wanted. She looked confused, and told me to explain to Pete, the piercer when he arrived back, as he'd gone out for something. She rang my father to confirm his permission, Skipper paid as part of my Christmas present she had yet to get me, and I selected a black titanium curved barbell. Me and skipper loitered round in the foyer for about 15 minutes, looking at the jewellery on show, and I was getting nervous, and couldn't stay still. We had a discussion with the woman behind the counter (I really should ask her name next time) about jewellery, and another piercing salon in Leicester. Pete arrived back, and beckoned for us to follow him up the stairs to the studio. He asked what I wanted- and as soon as I'd said the word 'Snug', his face lit up. He told me to sit down, and we discussed placement, finally settling on a 45-degree angle at the top of my ear. He put gloves on, and got the needle out of the packet.
I grabbed skippers hand, closed my eyes, and tried to concentrate on my breathing, but suddenly, all the stories I had read about the 'cartilage crunch' and the horrible pain from these piercings loomed to the forefront of my mind. Willing them away, I felt Pete place the needle on the entrance point. Then he pushed the needle through.
I remember thinking 'Oh cripes!' as I felt the needle slide through the layers of cartilage- hearing a faint crunching which was less than I expected. With the needle fully through, he relinquished the pressure, and I was surprised, to be honest. That had not been as bad as I was expecting- at all! Obviously it hurt, but I was expecting to be gripping onto skippers hand for dear life- apparently, I didn't even tighten my grip, and all I did was furrow my brow, and bite my lip!
However, still in a state of shock, when Pete asked if I was alright, all I could get out was a strangled 'Mmhmm!' The look on my face was priceless, apparently. I felt him insert the jewellery, draw out the plastic tube, and assure me that it was nearly over. He screwed the ball on and went 'There! Done! Have a look.'I opened my eyes, and blinked a few times. Looking into the handheld mirror Pete was holding in front of me, I grinned hugely.
'Skip! I've got it! Finally!'
They both laughed at me, and we continued talking for a while, as skipper had a ball she had just brought inserted into her lip ring.
'I'm so glad you two came in- normally with half term it's belly buttons and eyebrows all the time.'
We laughed, and he turned to address me.
'The bar you've got in is a ten mil...but when you come to change the jewellery, you can ask for an 8 mil if you would like your snug to be a little more...well, snug.'
Terrible pun, but a lot of nervous energy was let out as I giggled over the statement.
We both thanked him (me, profusely) and left to go downstairs, picking up a purple aftercare leaflet as I went (even though I already had two at home).
I was so glad I rang my dad and asked. It didn't hurt as bad as people think, and really, it looks gorgeous. It's a little bit swollen now, on the second day of having it, but honestly, it's been fine. I've been washing it with salt soaks, and also LITHA-ing it. If you're dithering over this piercing, don't- it's subtle, whilst being noticeable. I love it, and you will too.
Clare.
XxX