Piercings piercing piercings. This is my life. This is my hobby. This is every thing I do on a day to day basis.
At A Glance Author Shay Contact shannon@spider-bite.com When It just happened Artist Zippy Studio SpiderBite Location Manchester, NH I breathe TechniCare. I swim in Satin and sea salt. I have customer accounts with over 15 body jewelry suppliers and two very competent medical distributors. I think I may also wash my hands more than most doctors I know. If you haven't guessed, I'm a piercer myself, and find piercings to be all-around the best in every category possible.
I'm not a piercer though, that pierces herself constantly. I like to keep my piercing sessions for special occasions, much like tattoos. Many have been retired, but one keeps coming back for more. Apparently, I can't seem to stay away from my septum, because I had a coworker pierce it again, for the fourth time.
I pierced my septum myself originally when I was 15. Obviously it came out because it was crooked. As a professional I now try and teach my younger clients the dangers of self-piercing. Then again on my 18th birthday, but again, crooked. Most customers say the septum is one of the worst, and coworkers over the years have backed these claims up. My septum, for some reason, neglects to feel this "horrible pain". I think this is why I pierced it again, when I was 19. It was finally perfect. Perfect until four months later, as it was still healing some, as scarred piercings usually take a bit longer to, I was involved in a very serious car accident. I'll never understand why people don't follow simple rules like STOP, especially when there's a nice red sign practically screaming at them. After a couple of days in the hospital (where I did not take any piercings out because I simply didn't want to bother) I went home with a script for bedrest and antibiotics. A few weeks later I needed an MRI due to unexplained (and to this day still unexplained) back pain. MRI technicians as many of you know require you to take all metal out, as it disrupts the picture (not because the machine's magnetism will pull out jewelry). So out came everything, including the septum, and a few hours later, it had shrunk a good portion, and not being a taper fan, I retired it again.
Fast forward 3 years and then some. After getting over completely (and finally) the vicious ex, moving to a new state, making a home in a new shop, and meeting some amazing people, I decided it was time to re-do the septum. I've been contemplating it for the past year. It's my favorite piercing to do. My sister (and practically twin) has hers done. I decided it was time, yet again, to do it.
I'd mentioned it to Zippy, he was down, and this past Saturday was one year to the day everything changed, so I figured it was as good a time as any. He set up, I got out my jewelry (14G 3/8" circular), and ate some veggies. When he was ready, I went back, slightly nervous, but that's a pretty normal reaction to these things.
People ask all the time, what's a piercing feel like? Does it hurt? Will I cry? For four years every customer I have will ask a series of questions which is completely acceptable, and it's ok. I will be honest. I will tell you, from this point of view, exactly how a piercing will feel.
A piercing feels like a sharp object passing through your skin, pinching first, then hot pressure, then slightly sore. Honestly. It's only for a half of a second. Upon the entrance and exit of your skin, when piercing a septum, your eyes will usually well up to the point of overflowing down your face, usually smearing makeup if it's being worn. This is ok, I will give you a tissue after. Or Zippy will give you a tissue. A quick insertion of jewelry and ball placement and voila, your piercing is complete. That's how quick it is.
My septum piercing is not special to anyone but me. No one really noticed it, either because they've assumed I've had it this whole time, or they are simply too busy with their own lives to care. That's fine. Piercings are for you and only you, and that's what makes them so important. More often than not we're bombarded with everybody else's opinions on what looks good. Frankly, I think a nose piercing on a fresh faced clean cut girl looks just as fantastic as my septum piercing, or your septum piercing, or your 5 inch lobes, or standard navel, or uvula.
I'll be honest, my nose is sore, but it didn't kill me. And who knows, maybe in a few months the septum will come out. I can't say I'll have it forever, but for now I'm glad it's back.
And don't worry. It's not really all that horrible. I'm telling you, I've been at this for a little bit now. It's not so bad. It'll do you a little good if you really want it done. I like making people's days, one hole at a time.