For a long time I wanted to get a nostril piercing. I guess one day I got really serious about it and started reading as much as I could about piercings, jewelry, and nostril piercing stories. That was about two weeks ago. At first, I wanted a quartz retainer. But then I figured I have until next August that I have to wear a retainer, so why not just go with metal for now? I know I wanted it done right. Sadly, at 20, I still fear my parents. I had to get over it. Gladly, the thought of having the piercing made me happy. I didn't want to do it for show, I just felt the need to do it, that it would prove something to myself. Prove what? I'm not sure, but I feel better with the piercing now.
At A Glance Author Christina Contact Christina@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Wes Studio Checkered Past Location New Cumberland, PA I checked out several studios in my area (Chuck's Tattooing and Tophat Emporium, I ruled out two other studios because I didn't know anyone that went to them). I knew there was a studio in New Cumberland that all the piercers were APP members, but I didn't want to drive that far... Finally I told myself I better do everything right, I might as well go to Checkered Past in New Cumberland (they boast they are the only APP member/studio in Central PA, it is true).
Saturday noon, my friend Nikki wanted to hang out. I asked her to take me to New Cumberland to get my nose pierced. Nikki is my partner with this whole nose piercing thing, she wants her's done too. So she said she'd pick me up at 3, and I made an appointment for 4:30. Google said it would take 45 min to get there, it took us maybe 35. I got there, the place was very easy to find. The staff was very nice. I picked out a light blue crystal steel nose screw. The piercer, Wes, talked very fast or maybe it was because I was nervous... He told me to use Satin and like two seconds later I asked him if I should use it *doh* I'm glad they gave me a aftercare pamphlet because I wouldn't have remembered a thing afterwards! Well, I received aftercare instructions FIRST as well as expected healing time. He showed me the needle and jewelry which were date marked and sealed. He said they use one new sterile needle on each client and then they throw it in the red biohazard box where it is then shipped out to be incinerated.
With all the talking out of the way, he bent the nostril jewelry into a screw, he cleaned my nose, dotted it with ink on a toothpick and asked me if it was placed right. I said yes, he asked me if I was ready, I said yes. I leaned forward on his cue. He asked if this was something I wanted to do for a long time, I said yes. I also said I'm a nursing student (implying that's why I didn't do it for so long). He stopped what he was doing and asked me "Are you allowed to have it done???" I just about turned to stone, I thought he wasn't going to pierce me because I said I was a nursing student! I told him that I checked already and I have to wear a bandaid over it (which is true, you kinda don't overlook that when you spend two weeks thinking about nothing but a piercing!)
He asked me to breathe in and out three times and on the third exhalation, he stuck the needle in my right nostril and my right eye let loose a tear. It was very strange, it just came out, it was very different from the sensation of crying when you are hurt or sad. My left eye stayed dry. He told me to stay still and he put the jewelry in (I didn't watch... I didn't want to see the needle any more than when it was in the sterile packaging) It did not hurt to have the needle put in, it felt like a hard pinch. The jewelry going in just felt like someone maneuvering my nostril. He said it didn't bleed, when I looked in the mirror it didn't have any blood around it.
On the way out, I asked the Wes which bend of nose screw I should get. All the staff kinda gave me a confused look and I said something about seeing online that some nose screw curl to the left and some to the right. Then Wes understood and he drew me a diagram. Another staff member said to me "You must have done your research, not many people think about that!" I swear I must have glowed like their neon sign. I said "Yea, I researched for like two weeks." I thanked them and left. (Oh, I left Wes a tip of course)
I bought sea salt and Satin soap, and I went to Chocolate World in Hershey PA on the way home. It was red for a lil while, but 4 hours later when i went to the movies, someone said "Wow, you got it done today?! It isn't red or anything!"
I don't know if my biological mother has realized it yet. It took my dad a whole day to. He leaned forward and squinted and said "WHEN DID YOU GET THAT THING IN YOUR NOSE!?" I said "Yesterday" He said "I DON'T LIKE THAT. STOP RIGHT THERE, JUST STOP." I said "I didn't think you would" *shrug* and I walked away. I came back and asked him about when is trash day, trying to converse with him like nothing happened. My exboyfriend jokingly said I look more like a dork... Um, ok. My daughter keeps telling people mommy got an earring in her nose. And so far none of my friends haven't said it did not look good.
A link to the picture of my face
So, in the end, I highly suggest Checkered Past in New Cumberland. I heard they have another one in Red Lion also. Checkered Past's website. If you live elsewhere, then save yourself a step and find one off of the APP website at safepiercing.org