At A Glance
Author	Anne
Contact	vegafem@hotmail.com
When	A week ago
Artist	Erin Duff
Studio	Chameleon
Location	Harvard Square, Boston

After twelve previous piercing experiences in northern New Jersey and the Village in NYC, I finally decided that lucky number thirteen would be my septum. I just started my freshman year at an all-girl college (Simmons) and nostril piercings are almost as common here as tight jeans and cell phones. Therefore, I decided to go for a little more variety. So after my last class on Friday, Sept. the 12th, I took the T with some friends to get my septum pierced.

We got off at Harvard Square (red line) and walked to Chameleon Tattoo and Body Piercing, which is located in the Garage smack in the middle of Harvard Square. Nervously, I browsed through Newbury Comics while I gained back some of my nerves. I reminded myself how much I wanted the piercing. Then we breezed into the shop.

It was pretty busy as usual. I told the woman at the front desk that I wanted my septum done, and she directed me across the hall to a body jewelry store. At Chameleon, you must first buy the jewelry at it's sister store (which is called The Gallery) right across from Chameleon, and then bring it back and present it at the front desk. At the jewelry shop, I was helped again by another friendly young woman, who presented me with an array of jewelry choices. She informed me that Chameleon pierced septums with a 14 gauge needle, then showed me 14 gauge captive bead rings, curved barbells, and a retainer (the jewelry that looks like a curved staple). After about 10 minutes, I chose the captive bead ring. I decided to return to buy a retainer in order to hide the piercing from future possible employers, etc.

After I was carded and I paid ($50 total, for both piercing and jewelry), I was sent back to Chameleon with the jewelry in a little plastic bag stapled to a sheet of paper with my medical information. I gave it back to the woman at the front desk of Chameleon, and then waited until my name was called.

Another insertion – I'm a big fan of Chameleon, but the shop atmosphere took some getting used to because of my past piercing experiences in the Village (NYC). Don't go to Chameleon if you're used to a more personal piercing experience. In the Village, I'm used to sitting with the artist and looking through their portfolio, having a cup of coffee in the shop, not waiting too long, etc. At Chameleon, the two piercing artists, Owen and Erin respectively, are very good and in high demand. The shop is so damn busy that they practically have to give you a number. On busy days you have to wait. And wait. And wait. And when you're been pierced, you're run out just in time for the next customer. However, I've been modded by both Owen and Erin, and I couldn't be happier with the placement of the jewelry and their level of professionalism.

After half an hour of waiting and leafing through tattoo magazines (mind you, I never made an exact reservation), I was called in by a friendly and cheery piercer named Erin, who made it all worth it. While examining my nose, she told me that septums were one of her most favorite piercings (hers, I'd estimate, was stretched to a double 00). She asked me about my ears (which I'm currently stretching to 00 gauge from a 0 gauge) while carefully cleaning the inside of my nose with iodine and some other funky medical concoctions.
The piercing room was very clean, and Erin used high-quality surgical instruments. I felt very comfortable with her level of professionalism and experience. She then fiddled with the placement of the piercing, and showed me how high it would be in a little mirror.

Then, she told me to take a deep breath. She readied her needle and receiving tube and I tried to relax. I felt a slight pinch, and then it was over. Seriously, people, I've gotten my tragus and the inner conch of my ear pierced, which were pretty painful for me. On the pain scale (from 1 to 10), I'd estimate my thick little tragus to be about a 6, and my inner conch to be an eight. My septum was at most a three. It was an easy experience.

Erin then smoothly inserted the jewelry while withdrawing the 14 gauge needle. She expertly closed the captive bead ring, cleaned up a little more, then stepped back so I could examine her handiwork.

The placement was perfect. The captive bead ring hung straight down, equal on both side, without tilting at any strange angles. Needless to say, I was very happy. Erin gave me a big hug and told me if the piercing healed slightly crooked, she'd re-pierce it again for free. I tipped her $15, and left the studio with an adrenaline buzz. It was an amazing experience, and I have plans to return to the shop to get more piercings (namely, inner labia, a lip ring, etc).

So check out Erin's picture on the shop's website: http://www.chameleonbodyarts.com/piercing.htm

And if you find yourself in Boston, take the red line on the T to the Harvard Sq. stop. One block away is a great piercing experience.