I went to India about 4 years ago and ever since have wanted to get my nose pierced. Almost all the women there had beautiful gold little balls on their noses. So, that's pretty much what I wanted. Nothing major, just a little, cute, sparkly jewel on my nose. I was going to have a gold stud put in while I was in India, but then couldn't quite get up the nerve. Ever since, though, I have been entranced by nose piercings. I want one...I love when I catch the glint of a jewel on someone else, so I wanted that to be me.
At A Glance Author anonymous When A month ago Artist Mikely Crue Studio Black Pearl Location Kenosha My boyfriend assured me that a little stud would look great on my nose. Upon consulting with some friends, they also agreed that it would look good on me. I was going to have him go with me, but the timing never worked out. Then, we were in Hawaii with some friends, and he was going to get another tattoo, I was going to get my nose done. Went in the store and were treated pretty much like we didn't matter, and the piercer wasn't in. So, we nix that idea and wait some more. Now my boyfriend is telling me to go alone and surprise him sometime. Thanks, I think. Me, who had a doctor pierce her ears (just once, in the normal spot on the lobe), and has never even set foot in a tattoo parlor. Great. I was nervous to go. Not for the pain, but more the experience. What if it was really bad?
But, I was working late one night and decided that was the moment. A friend of a friend had told me of a place she went to get hers and stressed to make sure before you're going to get it done that the jewelry they have is small—otherwise they'll put some huge ring in or something. I'm not one for big piercings, so that kinda worried me. However, I couldn't find the spot that she told me about, so I got on the internet and found somewhere close. But....piercer wasn't in. Could the recommend a place? Oh, yes....go to the Black Pearl, in Kenosha. Ask for Mike or John.
Called, they were both in, and drove over. It was actually closer than where I had originally called. Got in, was shocked by the size of the place (seems huge compared to the outside, to me), and impressed by the sterility of it all. Mike sat me down in the chair, and I asked a couple silly nervous questions, like "Do you have small piercings? I don't want a honkin' thing in my nose." Oh yes, I'm clever. He gives me a funny, pitying look (as he has several rather large holes in his face) and assures me that they're small. Again, this size thing was very worrisome to me. I was very concerned that I'd be unhappy with what I had just paid for. He shows me the tray, though, and I get to pick one out. Teeny tiny little stones on sticks. Perfect. I sit back and try to relax and not say anything stupid again.
I adjusted his initial placement and wished I had someone else to consult with. Clamp around the marker dot on my nostril, let out my breath, needle in. Kinda hurt, but not too bad. I think my eyes watered a bit, but I feel like stubbing my toe hard has been worse. He somehow slid the piercing in, and I hardly felt it. Sat back for a bit, had the blood cleaned out of my nose, and it was done. Cool. How pretty!
I was given full and complete instruction on care, which I appreciated, since I had no idea what I was doing. It was late-ish when I was done, and I was tired, so my main pain for awhile was that it hurt when I yawned, from the piercing being swollen. That was gone in a couple days, though. My nose needed to get used to having something inside it, but I did have the piercing tightened after a few weeks, and that helped a lot. It didn't move around in my nose when I breathed this way.
I still have the stud in, and I think Mike did a great job. He was very gentle and considerate, all things taken into account. I have unfortunately had two piercings within this first 5 weeks lose their jewel, though, which is a definite bummer. I don't know if it was that stock or the brand or me or what. The Black Pearl didn't charge me anything for replacements, which was nice, and since Mike's there all the time, I could go whenever to get a new one put in. Other than that minor annoyance, everything was great!