The first septum piercing I had ever seen in person was on a girl in my high school years ago. Her name slips my mind, but I haven't quite forgotten my distaste for the look of it. With all the piercings out there I could never quite understand why one would want a bull ring between their nostrils. One of, if not the only facial piercing I felt that not only failed to add to beauty to the female features, but actually subtracted from them. Few people could even pull them off, and no one looked better with one. The second septum piercing I became acquainted with was on my friend, Rey. Not my ideal choice, but it fit his personality, reserved and uniquely zany. For this reason I was more lenient on my judgments, especially because he's a guy. Beauty was not an issue.
At A Glance Author Red Contact Red@bme.anon IAM starsativa When A week ago Artist Joe Studio New Age Body Piercing Location coconut grove, FL I have always loved the look and meaning of piercings. The older, more open-minded and exposed I've become, the more I find each of them beautiful in their own individual ways, along with the wearer they adorn. I have embraced and fallen in love with many of the modifications I was either unaware of in my younger years or at one time, completely turned off by. Still septum piercings, unlike all the others, had yet to win my heart.
Often I cruise the picture galleries of BME just like the rest of us, investigating mods that have caught my eye, researching the ones on my wish-list, and comparing results and jewelry of others to mine. Over time I found myself clicking into the septum piercing page more and more frequently. It began to intrigue me with its pros. It can easily be hidden, which is a definite plus for me since my working environment does not allow any visible piercings, but other than the convenience factor, the actual look of the piercing itself seemed to add something a little special to the wearer that I'd never caught on to before. It has a little extra flair, something a little reckless about it. Anyone who knows me knows I am ALL about flair and recklessness, yet still I did not seriously contemplate it. It just didn't seem like the right look for my face, plus it's been hard enough dealing with my family's dislike of my current modifications, let alone the dreaded "bullring". Plus I did feel slightly hypocritical for liking something I had loathed so much before. Very soon it hit me, "why not!" I realized this is what I want and I have never been one to deny myself and if anything, my pangs of guilt for my hypocrisy will only serve to remind me of how much I have grown up and turned away from any smidge of close-mindedness I once held.
Now I knew I wanted it, just not too sure when and not happy with the 'where'. Since Noel, my most trusted piercer, friend, and the owner of my usual studio moved up north, he had hired new employees. Even Noel's right-hand man, Luis whom I had also been pierced several times and know rather well was usually M.I.A from the shop since the new kids showed up. I soon realized that regardless New Age has always been the location I go to for all my piercings needs, it's always professional and trusted, plus I had to get to know these newbies sooner or later. So last week I strolled into New Age before work, actually hoping Luis would be there so he could take a look at my failing surface wrist piercing. Instead I was greeted by and finally met this new 'Joe' character. After some discussion and debate, I had him take my once most prized piercing out after 9 long months of painstaking toil and tears. I was filled with despair at its final demise, but the short experience with the man left me impressed with his knowledge and know-how and some of my confidence was restored. I said thank you and told him I'd be back the next day as I was interested in getting something new.The next was my day off so I made the Miami public transportation trip over to the Grove. The closer I go the more nervous I got. Once I made it to the shop, Joe and company were about to get something eat, so I told him to take his time I would just come back after their break. He assured me they would be back in 20 minutes and asked what I was looking to get done. When I told him my septum, his eyes lit up and he giddily asked me to make sure he was the one who got the privilege. His excitement gave me some assurance and we went our separate ways. Killing time was no cup of tea. I went to Starbucks for my usual caffeinated concoction and made a few phone calls to pass the time. I didn't want to seem too eager so I tried to wait as long as I could before heading back. The mixture of nerves, caffeine-fueled blood, an otherwise empty stomach, and chain-smoking cigarettes was making me nauseous. Clammy hands and all I could not remember the last time I was so nervous to get any sort of work done. I counted down the minutes and seconds till it had been exactly an hour since I had left before I headed over. At 7:30 on the dot I hurried me and my butterflies back to the shop.
Upon walking in we got the "boring part", paperwork and IDs, out of the way. He asked me what size I wanted and I told him it depended on the jewelry they had available. He showed me a beautiful 14g black titanium horseshoe-shaped ring. Since I was going to be keeping it tucked away most of the time, the black would reduce the shiny metallic glisten inside my nose to make it more discreet. Perfect. He had me sit down in the usual dentist-type chair and I told him how I was also looking to get my industrial bar changed, so he took a measurement and went on needle-in-the-haystack style hunt for the right bar since supposedly no one had organized the proper drawer. In the meantime I sat silently in the chair, trying to remain composed, speaking only in response to his occasional apologies and questions while he prepped everything.
Finally getting down to business, he first changed my industrial, stretching it to a 14g. Now it was septum time and he felt around inside my nose for a second and out came the clamps. Oh how I hate clamps, especially having them up my nose, my eyes began to water automatically. I mentioned to him how I had little experience with clamps to which he made a comment implying I was wrong because they do everything there with clamps. I beg to differ as all my ear piercings (with the exception of my daith), my tongue, nostril, wrist were all done freehand and in that shop, but I didn't come to argue with the man, nor was I in the position to do so with his fingers up my nose and wielding a needle.
He continued to adjust the clamps, looking for just the right spot, and without warning I began to get the feeling he was piercing me. I had to assume it, I couldn't even tell! I had not even realized the initial insertion that's how painless it was. How crazy is that! The needle exiting out the other side was quite a bit more noticeable, but it wouldn't even be considered in the realm of pain. He slid he jewelry in with ease and before I knew it, he told me to go ahead and check it out. I could hardly move out of shock that it was so easy... almost too easy. I walked to the mirror and what to my wondering eyes did appear, but a little black ring right between my fair nostrils.
Afterwards he flipped it up for me and told me not to flip it down for at least a week to avoid it possibly getting crooked as septum piercings are prone to that sort of thing. Then he went over the usual aftercare with me, diluted Dial soap and salt water to do the trick. What I liked the most about his approach from beginning to end is he never assumed I knew something, so he explained everything in full, yet still spoke to me as a seasoned experienced equal, which I appreciated greatly. He told me the damage was $50 and if I wanted a new bottle of H2Ocean it would be an additional $10, so I shelled out the $80, a nice tip for making it such a smooth experience (I'm a good tipper. Anyone in the food service industry is). We also discussed how he was going to be bringing in some new titanium surface bars in a few weeks and I told him he would definitely be seeing me in a couple weeks then. I thanked him profusely and I continued on my fantastic day, filled with post-piercing pride and excitement.
It has been about 5 days since I got my addition and so far so good. I have gotten used to the feeling of having 2 balls in my nostrils all the time, it's actually kind of nice, a constant reminder of the newest and most surprising piece to the Leslie puzzle. It makes me smile every time I think about it, especially because it reminds me of much I've grown above and beyond my prejudices. Sometimes the things we do and the decisions we make that are the least expected, give us the most pleasure and satisfaction in the end.