At A Glance
Author	Hannah
Contact	Hannah@bme.anon
IAM	KamikazeDoll
When	Three months ago
Artist	I've forgotten her name
Studio	Studio
Location	Afflecks Arcade, Manchester

Where to start? I guess background information about why I decided to get the piercings would be good.

Right, well I have been interested in body modification since I was 13 or so, maybe a bit longer. Back then it was stupid stuff that I wanted, everything pierced, every part of my body inked (not that I'm saying that's stupid, just the fact I was 13 and was just trying to be controversial). For a while I wanted my nose piercing, but that turned into wanting my septum pierced. I'd look so much more taboo that way!

3 years on and I hadn't got my septum pierced. My mum was against it and as rebellious as a I thought I was, I wouldn't do something behind her back. Then I turned 16, but, alas, I had no money! So, I just carried on browsing BME and hoping that one-day the money would come. That's how I stumbled across a picture of a girl with both nostrils pierced and little spikes in each. I thought it looked so feminine and 'cute', I had to get mine done. But, I still had no money.

Thank god for Christmas and relatives not knowing what to buy for a 16 year old...thing.

Now £70 heavier I headed into Manchester on the 28th of December with my friends Jess, Leoni and Chels. We started with browsing around the Arndale and Afflecks Palace. After lunch we headed to Studio. I ideally wanted to go to Holier Than Thou but my friends started to complain because it was too far away, so Studio it was. I wasn't as nervous as I thought I'd be but that doesn't mean I wasn't shaking.

I queued up waiting to pay. There was a new girl on the till so it was taking a little longer than expected. Eventually I reached the till and paid, signed the forms and waited for my turn. Leoni was planning to come in with me but she was so engrossed in looking at the Flash in the books they had that I just sneaked off into the room without her.

Good sign - it smelt so clean! I hopped onto the bed and waited while the woman who was to pierce me got the instruments ready. She marked me up and had me check. It was perfect. I imagined it might take a few goes before I liked the placements (being the stickler for symmetry I am) but no, they were spot on.

She got the needle for my right nostril against my nose and pushed after I closed my eyes. It hurt, but it felt more weird than painful. Just the feeling of something going through one side, to the other...it was just strange. She threaded the jewellery through (just a plain silver nostril screw). Then she started on the left nostril. Same procedure, only this time I scraped my lip on the needle as she pushed it through.

Ow.

I looked in the mirror and couldn't help but crack the biggest smile ever. I left the room after thanking the woman a lot and listening to the aftercare advice. Leoni was waiting outside looking rather confused as to where I'd gone. When she saw me she laughed at how much I was smiling and commented me on how much they suited me. We left Studio and carried on shopping.

I couldn't stop messing with them, which I really shouldn't have done I know. On the way home I stopped off in Marks and Sparks (only place open in Bolton) to get some sea salt for salt soaks. The woman who served me told me they suited me as well. I was well chuffed (really happy for all those that don't understand). I got home and my mum didn't really say much, she only asked whether it hurt. I got on with my salt soaks.

I didn't sleep much as I was afraid I might move around a lot and rip them out. In the morning my mum looked at my nose again and in surprise said 'There are 2! I thought you were only getting one!!' She seemed pissed off, but it passed after an hour or 2.

The only bad thing that happened to my nose piercings were that they kept sinking into my nose over 2 days. I really freaked out but after some salt soaks and shoving cotton balls up my nose in an attempt to keep them from sinking back into my nose, they were fine.

My mum just loves telling people that the reason I have 2 studs in my nose is because one day it started to lift up in the wind so I had to bolt it down. Haha. Weird woman. Even weirder are the people who believe it :S