A new city, a new piercing!
At A Glance Author Red_February Contact Red_February@bme.anon When Six months ago Artist Chris Studio Cosmetics Plus Location Chermside, Brisbane At least, that's how I viewed it. 18 years old, ears pierced and lip pierced once. I had caught the piercing bug in November, after having my lip pierced on the right side. I fell hopelessly in love and began planning what I wanted next.
At first it was the left nostril (I'm terribly particular). I wanted an even look, something that wouldn't make my face appear cluttered on one side.
Money was an issue, having just moved into a new flat. I plotted about, questioning the man at my local piercing parlor occasionally.
It was then that I began to notice the septum piercing. I knew of them, having researched all types of piercings intently, but I hadn't ever really considered getting one. My nose was small and I doubted that a ring in the center would suit me that well at all. There were also of course, the terrible comments people would make - "It looks like a bull ring" and "Oh those things look so painful and horrible".
During a university lecture, a pretty blonde girl passed me. She was wearing brown cowboy boots, cream riding pants, a pale poncho and a silver curved barbell through her septum. It looked fantastic.
My mind was made up - I jumped on the computer as soon as I got home and opened an image of myself in Photo shop. With a bit of tinkering and painting, I had a fairly realistic image of what I would look like with my septum pierced. I was satisfied, so the next week (whilst my mother was visiting) I booked to have my septum pierced the following wednesday.
For a week, I completely forgot about it. It barely crossed my mind, until the wednesday afternoon when I got off the bus and met my sister at the shopping center where the piercing parlor was. I walked in, signed my form and showed the appropriate I.D and Chris came out and led me back to the piercing room. I was then asked if it would be alright to have photographs taken whilst I was having my septum pierced. I agreed immediately, having admired the other piercing photos I had seen in the artist's glossy portfolio. My sister waited outside (for which I'm grateful, I'd rather no have someone with me).
Chris chatted to me for a while, explained cleaning (Most of which I already knew anyway) and then had me sit on a bench that was against the wall. He performed the usual duties - applying fresh gloves, wiping my nose with an antiseptic swab. My gut dropped as he marked the points on my septum and showed me the tools he would be using. I asked him if it would be better for me to lean against the wall, to which he replied no, he would rather I sit up.
"Ok, this is going to feel pretty intense," he warned me.
"Aw, that's ok. I've been punched in the face a fair few times," I replied confidently (Although inside I was terrified)
"Well, this will hurt a little bit more than that."
He handed me a tissue and explained that he knew I wouldn't cry but my eyes might water a bit when the needle goes through. He asked me to close my eyes just as he was lining up the clamps. I did so and kept them squeezed shut as he quickly (but not too quickly) pushed the needle through my septum.
I felt a small amount of pain for a few seconds, and then again when he removed the plastic tube and placed in the horseshoe bar. That was it. No tears, no super-intense-stinging sensation.
The camera had been clicking and flashing.
"Aw, I just missed a picture of you with an awesome blood beard!" the girl laughed as Chris wiped my top lip clean of the thick red liquid that had dribbled down.
He stood back to admire his work and faltered. My stomach flipped.
"What's wrong?"
Chris and the camera girl began to smile, and then laugh.
The swelling from my septum had caused the horseshoe to sit horizontally. He showed me in a mirror and I felt sick. It looked ridiculous. We both tried flipping it down again but it sprang back up as if it were spring-loaded.
"Don't worry," Chris told me, "The swelling will go down in a few days and then it will sit right. Give it time."
I walked out with mixed feelings. One part of me was elated and excited about having a new piercing, whilst the other felt dejected for having something that looked so ridiculous.
I took care of it and cleaned it regularly as was instructed. My friends giggled at the spring-loaded action which I became accustomed to, and before long I barely even noticed it. I frequented body piercing forums and posted threads, in which most people gave me the same response Chris had - "It'll go down, give it time."
It took nearly three weeks for my septum to right itself, but I don't regret getting it. It is one of my favorite piercings (I now have ears done once, lip twice, septum once and my left nipple once) and I love how exotic and cute it looks. It's been occasionally cantankerous - It developed a blister which I tended to with Tea Tree oil, and once in a while it would become tender for a day or two, but 5 months later and I still love it to pieces.
My septum piercing is something I am proud to show, yet it is easy to hide. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a piercing that is a little different yet easy to hide for work/school/etc. Just remember - swelling can make them do some pretty funny things!