Ever since I was a kid, I was interested in the alternative lifestyle of the "counter-culture." As I grew up, I deeply desired to live that lifestyle. So, of course, in high school I was considered a "freak" or "hippie" or some other form of those.
At A Glance Author Pandoras_Muse Contact Pandoras_Muse@bme.anon IAM Pandoras_Muse When Six months ago Artist Ben Studio Kaliedoscope Location Springfield, MO, USA So, ever since I was fairly young, probably about 7 or 8, I wanted my nose pierced. Of course, I was too young. So, I would have to wait. I got to high school, and I still wanted it. Although, because of my high school's dress code, it wasn't allowed, even if you were 18. This really sucked, but I figured that if I still wanted it in college, than I could get it.
So, I did. In September of 2005 I decided to get my nose pierced. Luckily, there are many different places to get it done in Springfield. I looked at a lot of the head shops, and then my friend Anna recommended Kaleidoscope. She had gotten hers done there, and she said that while it is more expensive than some of the other places, they are very careful, sterile, and nice (which is important). So, I decided to go have it done. I took my friends Ashleigh and Lisl with me, for moral support. I think I would have still done it even if they hadn't been there, but it was nice having them there as well.
So, I drove to the studio with my friends. Lisl hadn't seen anyone get a piercing before, nor was she really interested in the culture, but she thought it might be cool to see it. I was alright with it, as long as she didn't scream or anything. She assured me she wouldn't.
We got there and immediately my stomach started doing flips. This was the first piercing I would get, not including the lobes I got when I was thirteen.
I told the woman at the desk that I wanted my nostril pierced, and she nodded and set out two different studs for me to choose from. I got the one with a little jewel in it, because it was flatter, so it wouldn't get caught on as much, and it was pretty!
She set out a binder full of piercing contracts and asked me to sign one, and that Ben would be with me in a moment. So, I filled it out with my age, driver's license number, and trying to remember my name. At this point my hands were shaking. This would also be my first experience in a piercing shop, since I got my lobes at a cheap place.
Since the piercer was in with someone else, I had to wait. I walked around the shop for a little while with my friends, them taking turns asking if I was nervous. Nervous? Me? Of course not! I played it fairly cool but I know that I looked nervous.
There was a person that walked out of the piercing room, and I got to look in. There it was, the red chair I would come to know and love. It seemed comfortable, but also sort of like an interrogation room. The bright light right above the chair could have caused that though...
So, it was my turn. Ben came over and introduced himself, and told me that I could go on in and sit down, and that my friends could sit on the bench to the side. I proceeded to jump up on the chair, and the butterflies decided to become bats. I was incredibly nervous as he started taking out the instruments. They were all in sterile packaging, which made me feel a lot better, but also made me nervous because of the sterile hospital feeling. Though, in retrospect, that is a good feeling. Better than a non-sterile feeling.
So, he took out the instruments after he put on some gloves and explained how everything was going to go, and what the instruments were for. Then, he put a dot on my nostril and asked me to look at it to make sure I liked where it was. I looked, and thought it was perfect, so I decided to go with it there.
He placed the receiving tube up my nose, which felt awkward, and then told me to breath, and it wouldn't take but a second. I took a deep breath in, and started to exhale. The needle pushed right through, and my eyes started watering. He said that it happens every time, and it's normal because of how close it is to your eyes. After a few seconds of wiping my eyes, I got to see it. It looked beautiful! I was so impressed! It bled quite a lot, but it was marvelous!
So, I thanked him as he gave me my aftercare solution, instructions, and his card, in case I had some problems. He then told me that it was time for the really painful part: payment. It was 45 dollars because of the type of jewelry I got, but well worth it.
Aftercare was simple, though I liked to play with it a little too much and it got infected. No problem though, I just had to restrain myself from playing, clean it three times a day, and it went away in a flash. Now it's perfect and I still love it!