I've already been through one bad septum piercing in the past. I didn't want that to happen again. I told myself that I would ask appropriate questions and not be so impatient to get it done this time around. But waiting a few months since the septum-gone-wrong, I had already grown impatient. I've read the stories.. both horror and happy, thought about my first bad experience, but I still wanted it. I wanted to feel that metal through me again. I wanted to feel that anticipation you feel when waiting, and the accomplishment you feel once done.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Woody Studio Artifact Location Santa Clarita, Ca I called various places in the Santa Clarita area, hoping that I would find somewhere good so I wouldn't have to drive to LA. I found a place and I was off. 45 minutes later, I smiled faintly at the guy sitting outside, and continued inside. I talked to the girl at the counter and she remembered me calling. She gave me the necessary papers, and as I was initialing each line, the guy from outside walks over to me and practically brushes his stubble against my cheek while he looks down at the papers. He says something briefly about being sorry for being nosy. Next thing I know, there's a screaming baby in the midst. The stubble guy walks from the back holding the screaming child just as I tell the girl that I would like to speak to the piercer before I pay, just to ask a few questions. She lets me know that he just walked outside with the screaming baby. If I was less impatient about getting things done, then I probably would have left by this point. He comes back in and I finally get to speak to him. I ask him a few questions and he says "Look, do you want the piercing or not?" I tell him "wooooah there. Yeah I want the piercing, I just want it done right this time." He apologizes and answers my questions. I pay, $40, which includes the jewelry, and we go into the room. He is getting things ready, while at the same time, that baby is still crying in the background. Finally, she falls asleep and someone brings her in to the same room as where I will be pierced! First thing I thought was "Crap, if that baby wakes up screaming at the exact time the needle is going through my nose.. it wont be good." So that made me a little nervous. "Woody" apologizes a few more times for "barking" at me, saying that he is under a lot of stress. I say that I can come back another time, but he says its fine. He tells me I look nervous. Nervous? Nervous that this guy that just creeped me out minutes before is going to soon be sticking a needle through my face? Nervous that there's a baby a few feet away from me that just fell asleep c "\Ãw€ë rying? Nah. I was just nervous about the hidability of the piercing once I had it. Hiding it would mean I would still have a room in this house. Hiding it would mean that I would still have that place at work. Hiding it was absolutely crucial.
The first time I got it pierced, I let this kid do it that had maybe pierced only 3 septums in the past. I only had to buy my jewelry, and I was going to make merch for his band in return for the favor. I sat on his bathroom sink. I hadn't read much up on what kind of jewelry is best or what type of things to watch for concerning the piercers way of doing things. He ended up piercing it way too low to allow for hiding, and it was crooked.
This second time, I felt more prepared. The clamps go on. Not so uncomfortable. A couple of guys come in the room to watch and I hear one of them say David Copperfield. And in went the needle. It was through. The first time I got it done it was definitely a lot more painful..but probably because the guy didn't know what he was doing, and neither did I. I go to the mirror to do the anticipated 'flip up'. No success. He got out the pliers and fixed up the jewelry. I was expecting maybe some pain here, but there was none at all. I tried again and it worked! When I flipped it up there was no sign of any piercing whatsoever. Complete relief came over me. He told me about this deal he makes with some people. If I have 5 more people come to him for piercings or tattoos, then I will get either $100 off of a tattoo or a free piercing. Now is that not a deal or what? Overall it was a good piercing experience, even though everything in the beginning was telling me to leave. But I didn't feel like driving 3 minutes up the road to the next shop. My septum piercing is perfect. It's only been two days since, but so far so good. When I have it flipped up, I just have this outrageous urge to pick my nose. If I had to say a downside about the septum piercing, it would be that I can no longer pick my nose (if its flipped up).. which I must say, I kind of miss that............................
but its a price I'm willing to pay.