I first considered getting my nostril pierced about a year ago. My roommate at the time really wanted hers done, and I was intrigued by the idea, although not sure if I wanted to go through with it. She had to wait for her swim season to be over however, and when we came back from break, she had a shiny stud in her nose.
At A Glance Author Nich Contact Nich@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Julie Studio Cold Steel Location Camden, London I was a little bit jealous, but didn't really think about it much. I wasn't even sure I was the type of person who could pull off a nose piercing.
It wasn't until I came to London to study abroad did the idea come up again. I got my bellybutton pierced, because it seemed like a good first piercing, and instantly wanted something else done.
I spent a weekend in Amsterdam with some friends, and my friend Sarah and I debated getting it done there. We had seen what looked like a good piercing place our first night, and our second night we decided to go there. However, we ended up going to a few coffeeshops instead, and decided getting holes while high probably wasn't the best idea.
We were back in London for a week or so before I brought it up again. We talked to a girl we lived with who had had a piercing done at Cold Steel in Camden, and recommended it. I remembered reading about Cold Steel on BME, and it had nothing but good reviews so we decided to head up there later that week.
I was initially nervous about getting pierced in Camden. It's an awesome part of the city, but some of the piercing/tattoo places seemed dodgy, and I always feel as though I'm not quit hardcore enough. But once we found it, I stopped worrying.
We went in and started talking to the man at the front desk. He was really friendly, joking around with us, and told us we could come back in an hour. We paid our deposit, and went to get some Starbucks. I didn't realize I was nervous until I found myself unable to drink my hot chocolate.
So we made our way back into the shop, and were given forms to fill out. Sarah was slightly concerned because she had been drinking the night before, but as the guy pointed out, so had he. I also had to check the box about being prone to fainting, because I had unfortunately passed out the previous day while seeing a play (how embarrassing) but I figured I would be fine.
We took our time picking out our jewellery, and then we met Julie, who would be our piercer. She was really nice, and all three of us went upstairs. We both wanted to go first, but Sarah ended up going before me. Julie went through and explained everything to us, about the piercing itself, and aftercare. We each had a few questions, and she answered them no problem.
Finally it was time to pierce Sarah. She held my hand, but didn't need to at all. She never even tightened her grip. It was strange watching the needle go through, but it really didn't bother me. It made me less nervous actually.
Sarah's bled a bit, most likely because she had been drinking the night before. But it didn't bother her too much.
When it was my turn, I took Sarah's hand. The piercing itself was fine. It barely even hurt. Probably the weirdest sensation was the receiving tube she used. Not used to having cold metal up my nostril... I definitely give Julie credit for the lack of pain, she seemed to know exactly what she was doing. There was a little bit of pressure when the jewellery was inserted, but it was way easier than my navel.
My two biggest fears were that we would be treated crappy and that it wouldn't look good. I was afraid that since we were two hardly modded girls getting what is turning into such a popular piercing, the people at the studio would look down on us, but it definitely wasn't the case. But when I looked in the mirror for the first time, I wasn't sure I liked it. But it grew on me. Everyone so far has liked it, and the best compliment I got on it was when someone didn't notice, because I "seem like the type of person who should have a nose piercing."
Aftercare has been fairly simple. I've been cleaning it with a q-tip dipped in salt water. There's been a little bit of crusting, but no pain. Sometimes the area around the piercing is a little bit red, but my skin has also been so dry because of the cold. I barely notice it anymore; it's already become a part of me. The only downside is that I immediately got a cold. Blowing my nose for the first time was so awkward! Also the combination of being sick and having a new piercing seemed to piss off my navel, but I'm recovering now, and it's not so bad.
All in all, an awesome experience. I know my parents will be mad when they see it (after my mom found out about my navel she said "at least it's not on her face") but it's so worth it. Sounds trite, but I really do feel more like myself with this piercing.
If you're in London and want something done, go to Cold Steel. They're nice, clean, and cheap. I'm actually sad I'm leaving in two weeks, because I won't be able to get any of my future piercings done there.
Because after such a good experience, there's always going to be more...