I've wanted a nose piercing for quite a long time, but in a kind of 'one day, just not today' way. However, a little while ago, as my industrial had started to heal properly, I decided to set a date and have it done. I'm a student, and I'm on holiday for the Easter at the moment, making today a doubly good time to have it done, as I've got loads of free time on my hands.
At A Glance Author emabelle Contact emabelle@bme.anon When A month ago Studio chioko Location london I started getting re-interested in piercing about a year ago, after about a gap of about seven years. Up to my 13th birthday, I'd had seven piercings, but all in my ears, only one in cartilage, and all done with dreaded guns. About this time last year though, I went to have my navel pierced, and since then, an industrial and labret, as well as stretching some of the existing holes. I've never really considered myself as being that interested in piercings, or as having many done, so I was surprised today when the bloke at Chioko described me as 'a regular' when we were discussing what I wanted done. Just goes to show how easily these things happen...
When I'd walked into the room, I'd been asked if I was nervous, and I'd said yes. Despite having been pierced 11 others times, and despite or maybe being on a drip a lot when I was young (due to asthma), I have serious issues with needles. I've heard about some people finding the whole piercing/pain thing and the adrenaline rush that goes with it the best part. They talk about it as being 'a buzz'. For me, however, the pain is a necessary evil for an effect I really want! The guy who was doing the piercing told me to just close my eyes and keep breathing deeply, neither of which I managed to do for very long. I even got a nice green leather dentist's chair to sit in.
The whole nose piercing procedure was incredibly weird. Firstly after choosing which colour stud I wanted (pretty blue sparkly one), I had to have my nose cleaned (inside and out) by the Piercer (bet they don't write that on their CVs!). I was then handed a cocktail stick with purple ink on the end, and asked to make a mark where I thought I'd like the stud to go. I liked the idea of this, because I'd always thought of piercing as being a 'I name a body part and you stick metal somewhere through it' affair. Also, it meant that the final outcome would be what I was expecting.
My first attempt at placing the stud didn't go very well. I was asked if I was sure I wanted it where I'd put the mark. It was quite low down, and I was told I should put it higher up if I was ever going to put a ring in (which reminds me, I should probably go and wash off the first purple mark, now I've walked around with it all day). The second purple mark was in a much better place. With it in place, I was ready to have a lump of cotton wool shoved up my nose and the needle inserted!
The odd thing about having your nose pierced is being able to look the Piercer straight in the eye. I kept being told to keep my eyes shut, and just relax, maybe so my terrified look didn't disturb him. Then came the usual routine... slight pain with the needle (though apparently I jumped after it had gone in) followed by the jewellery being slotted in (ow, ow). It really wasn't as bad as I was expecting, and the Piercer was incredibly careful and reassuring, which only made me feel guilty when I felt a tear trickling down the side of my face.
As soon as I sat up, I asked to look in the mirror. At first, it was a bit of a shock, as the stud was a bit bigger than I'd been expecting. After about 2 seconds though, I decided I absolutely loved it. I spent the rest of the day doing the vanity thing, using every reflective surface to stare at my nose in.
What's surprised me, is how subtle this piercing is. When I bumped into friends for the rest of the day, I had to point it out to them before they noticed it. Even my mum, despite making a 'yuk' at it when I showed it to her, had to have me announce it and point at it before she actually realised it. I'll have to see what happens with it over the next few days to really know for sure how noticeable it is. I think I like it this way, as I was a little worried that having two facial piercings would make me look quite tough, which isn't the look I'm personally after. So far however, I'm really pleased with what it looks like.