Hello! Kali hailing from Charlottesville Virginia. I wrote about my lower helix experience a little over a year ago (also by Lyons) and I'd like to start this off by letting you know I can say nothing but wonderful things about Lyons Hardy at ACME Tattoo. She is very professional, clean, friendly, skilled, just all around excellent and if you are ever looking to get some work done in the Charlottesville area, I highly recommend her. And now, dear reader, a bit about me:
At A Glance Author Kali Contact Mellowshipslink@cs.com When A year ago Artist Lyons Studio ACME Tattoo Location Charlottesville, VA I'm soon to be 17 years old, happy, unschooled, a dancer, I love snakes, and I believe that my body is a temple and thus should be decorated! I think that modified people are so beautiful and nothing makes me happier than seeing someone happy in their own skin, whatever that skin may be like. And in my experience, nothing makes me prouder of myself and my body than showing the world these decorations and marks that are part of me and sometimes say more about me than I can put into words.
I have 5 lobe piercings in both ears, 14 gauge low helix piercings in both ears, 3 scars on each breast, a small eye of Ra tattooed on my pinkie, and a nose ring. I had a helix piercing that I retired because it was done with a gun before I knew better and it never healed. I also had my tongue web pierced, but I took out because it was conflicting with an orthodontic device. And recently I repierced 2 lobe piercings because they too were done with a gun and never healed properly. By the way, I have done quite a few of my own lobe piercings but I am very careful with that, I use proper equipment, and I get everything else done professionally. On to my nose!
When I was 14, I decided that I would get my nostril pierced. Fast forward 2 years, my 16th birthday is coming up and I still want to have my nostril pierced. I am a bellydancer and in many areas of the Middle East and India it is customary for females to have their nose pierced, so it seemed appropriate to me. I do not always dance in traditional style, but I like to remember the roots. Another reason: I have a very good self-image and for the most part I think I'm beautiful. But I must admit my nose has never exactly been my favorite feature. I do not hate it, but having quite a few German relatives in my recent family history, it is not exactly delicate per se. So not only does having a nose ring tie into my dancing, it gives me a reason to love my nose. So I called Lyons and made an appointment.
Saturday evening at the appointed time, I pulled into the parking lot of ACME, with the usual butterflies and hyperactivity. I bounce merrily to the desk and sign in and fill out paperwork with my parents, then retire to a bench to wait my turn. Turns out I was sitting next to another nose-ring client, so we had a nice chat about symbolism and procedure and just how damn cute it was.
Soon it was my turn and I went back into the piercing room with Lyons and sat on the black table and swung my legs while she put on gloves, got all her equipment ready, swabbed with alcohol and marked my nostril on the left side with a toothpick dipped in gentian violet. She gave me a mirror, and although it was placed perfectly on the crease, I wanted it a bit further back. She remarked it and handed me the mirror again. It was perfect. She bent my nostril screw to fit the piercing and allow for swelling.
I lay back on the table and she swabbed the area with povidone iodine. I had chosen a plain 18 gauge surgical steel nostril screw so she got the 18 gauge needle and receiving tube ready while I began to take deep breaths. She talks you through the breathing exercise in a very calming way, and tells you what she is doing. Some people like to be surprised, but I prefer to know what is going on.
On my third breath she pricked me and then slid the needle through and into the receiving tube. My eyes did not water at all, but I felt an intense pressure as the needle was sliding through. She threaded the nostril screw through and I had a nose ring! It was beautiful! The placement was perfect. I paid her the normal fee and threw in a nice big tip.
For those of you worried about pain, I don't really know what to say. For me, the pain/sensation is a part of the experience and although I can not say I love pain for the hell of loving pain, I welcome it as part of the whole thing. It is not unbearable by any means, but I will not say I did not feel and thing and it won't hurt, or that you should get it done 'cause you won't feel a thing. everybody is different.
For the next three months, I followed her aftercare instructions to a T. I think everybody is different and you have to find a method that works for you, and hers is the best I have found so far. I soak twice a day in saline solution (1/4 tsp. sea salt in 1 cup distilled water) and wipe off crusties with a Q-tip. Simple and effective.
Healing went very well, except for a crusty red bump that appeared around the piercing about a month or two into healing (lovely, I know). Lyons told me this might happen, and actually I have found that this seems to be a normal part of healing cartilage piercings for me... the bump forms, I keep on soaking the piercing, it clears up after a few weeks, and heals very well after that.
I've had this piercing nearly a year now, and I'd say it was completely healed after about 6 months. I love love love love it! It is beautiful. I went back to the shop a few months ago and got a nostril screw set with a clear stone which flashes when I turn my head in the light. Thanks for reading this! If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me.
Love, Kali