At A Glance
Author	Rinni
Contact	Rinni@bme.anon
When	A month ago
Artist	Jeremiah
Studio	Halo
Location	Phoenix, AZ

First and foremost, "did that hurt" has got to be the silliest question ever. I mean, come on guys, they pushed a needle through my skin and then put jewelry into the wound. But, I ask the question too and what I really mean is "Was that unbearably painful and did you cry like a baby?" No.
Deciding to get my septum pierced...
I never liked the septum piercing and that seems to be a trend with other individuals whose stories are featured on BME. Browsing through pictures, I just kind of warmed up to it and now that I have it I absolutely adore it. I have a slight addiction, I'll admit, to body modification (though I remain extremely picky about what and where) and when I'm stressed or unbearably melancholic I have a tendency to show up at Halo, the only place in Arizona you should EVER go for piercings. My septum was probably the only piercing I got because I was in a good mood. I was stoked to finally get a piece of jewelry that would be a declaration of my love of body modification. Did I mention that I can hide it? So much for declarations, but definitely a perk to those of you who need something that only makes a statement when it's convenient for you. Additionally, this piercing gets me some of the most bizarre stares. Pro or con? That depends on you, but for me it has everything to do with my mood, adding even more to my happiness with it's ability to be hidden.
paying to have my nose picked...
I think there's always an "Oh my god, this is the most painful piercing ever" rumor that circulates about select piercings, the septum being one of these. But, if you've had any piercings done before, you know that the level of pain involved differs from person to person. It's funny, though, because I went in to the shop fully expecting to cry. My awesome piercer says "You know this is the most painful piercing ever, right?" He has a lethal case of dry humor which I absolutely adore but, as with any good dry humor, it took me a second to realize he was joking. Not every girl can have an attractive guy clean boogers out of her nose (referring to them as "little guys") and then massage her septum. He warned me that there was a definite possibility that the piercing could be crooked and then explained the anatomy of my septum to me. Did I mention that I love this guy? I was a little confused about what exactly was pierced inside your nose and also a little concerned that there wasn't enough room for a piercing. There's a free space between the bulk of skin at the tip of your nose and the cartilage of the actual septum itself. Your piercing will be in that free space almost at the very tip. Anyway, he goes through all the motions of any piercing: cleaning, marking, showing me the sterile needle and jewelry, instructing me on breathing and remaining calm, blah blah blah. I take a deep breath, he says something offhand about the fact that my eyes aren't closed, I exhale, the needle goes through and I hear a popping noise and then he warns me that he's putting the jewelry in. "Is that it?" and I know I ask that question every single time I get a piercing. I should definitely come up with something new. You build yourself up and it's almost disappointing how painless and bloodless it is. But then, I see these pictures of people with bloody, inflamed piercings and I always wonder what redneck, poorly inked, under-educated individual they overpaid to have shove a needle through their skin. That's the beginning of a rant so let me return to my piercing.
pain and random additional garbage...
I didn't cry as I had expected and I would compare the level of pain I experienced to that of ear lobe piercings (which should be virtually painless). It's rather uncomfortable for my nose to be bumped, but beyond that (oh, and a bloody drunken excursion which I won't relate) I have no problems with the piercing or the healing process. I have currently had it for a little over 3 weeks and have to say that wiggling my nose causes a very weird but pleasant sensation and I love to make funny kissing faces by touching my upper lip to the dangling jewelry. It's a little uncomfortable to blow my nose and I usually have to go at it with q-tips or toilet paper that I've twisted into cones. I have an affinity for spicy food, so my nose gets runny and covers my piercing with little crusties that break apart when you move the jewelry. Also another weird sensation that may become more addicting than scab picking. I'm gross, you can say it.
hygiene...
To clean my septum I use the same antimicrobial product I use with all my piercings, Satin. In the shower (and sometimes in the sink when I'm in a hurry) I tilt my head up, cup water to my nose and blow bubbles until there are no crusties are hard scabs. If I forget to blow bubbles the water goes down my nasal passages to my throat, which is just gross. I then coat my pinkies in a dab of the antimicrobial soap and rub the soap around my piercing. I leave the soap in place (remembering to breathe out my mouth) while I go about my typical shampoo, soap, conditioner routine. My piercing is the last part of my body to be rinsed and I do so in the same manner as before, blowing bubbles.
do it...
You won't regret it and if you ever grow tired of it or need to conceal it for whatever reason, it's easily hidden.