Since late 2006, I had thought about getting my septum pierced. Most of my friends dislike this piercing, and I only have two friends who have it pierced, and both had very different experiences with it.
At A Glance Author Abigay Contact Abigay@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Abe Studio Hairhouse Warehouse - Marion Location Adelaide, South Australia
I had no idea if it would suit me or not, and I had only ever squeezed a small ring, with no ball, up there to see if it suited me. It didn't look bad, but I needed the opinion of someone else. So, the day before I got it done, I went into the place I get all my piercings, and Tim (piercer) said I should do it. I couldn't get it done that day though, because I had plans to go swimming-in a chlorine pool, which would not have been good. I asked my friend Rachel, who was with me at the time, and she said she would come with me the next day, as we were already going out for a birthday.
I went home and debated whether or not I should do it. I had really grown fond of this piercing, it looked so good on one of my friends, but I knew all I wanted was a small circular barbell.
So on the 20th of January, my friend picked me up and we went down to Marion. I was nervous, but still didn't know if I was going to go through with it. We met up with our friend, and said hello, then made our way to Hairhouse Warehouse to book an appointment to get pierced. The lady took my name and I asked which piercer was working – she told me Abe, and said he was gentle (he did my tongue), but how gentle can one be when piercing a septum. When she asked what I wanted, she shuddered at my answer.
We went and had some lunch. I can usually eat anything I want and keep it all down, but right then, food was the last thing on my mind, I was just too nervous to eat. The time came, so we got up, left half our lunch there, and went to Hairhouse Warehouse. The same lady pointed us in the direction of the Piercing room, and Abe greeted us at the door, very excited to be doing someone's septum. He said he was the "King of Septums", and was so excited when he saw someone had booked in to get their septum pierced, which made me happy. He was very enthusiastic about it.
I was asked if I had any questions, and I asked if it hurt – knowing too well that it would, and he told me the truth and said it would. So, we went in and sat on the bench. I was given the standard form, circling yes or no to different questions, making sure I understood it was being preformed in a clean environment ect. My palms were getting sweaty, and I was becoming hot, very nervous, though trying to stay calm.
He talked to me a bit about it, and I said I would like a small circular barbell, and he said he knew precisely what he was going to pierce me with, and he thought I would be happy with it. He pulled out exactly what I had wanted. He washed his hands, put on gloves and unpacked everything, then washed the inside of my nose with a swab which smelt very bad, so he said to breathe through my mouth, but I pretty much held my breath.
He changed his gloves, and asked me to lie down, and I did. My friend sat at the foot of the bench so I could hold her hand, and break it. He told me he was going to clamp the area, and it may feel a bit uncomfortable, but it didn't feel too bad. When he secured the clamps, I think my face screwed up, and my hands and toes clenched as hard as possible. I don't really remember what he said, he asked me if I was alright, and ready, eventually I half nodded. I knew my eyes would water. He told me to breathe deeply and he put the needle through..
It hurt SO badly, nothing like I thought it would. No amount of pinching the area as hard as possible is the same, or worse than this pain. I don't know if I let out a cry or not, but my eyes were closed. I felt it go all the way through, and he asked me if I was alright, and if my eyes were watering. Still closed, I said yes. Then I think a few seconds later I opened my eyes, and tears just rolled down my face, and into my ears. When I told him, he said something which made me laugh, though I was trying not to because I still had a tube through my septum. He gave me something to dry my eyes – which I have always kept as a "memory". Then he got the jewellery, and said it may feel unpleasant as the tube was coming out with the jewellery coming in, it did hurt though nowhere near as much. It seemed like a while for the balls to be screwed on, but it didn't hurt and he was making sure they weren't going to come off. I laid there for a few more seconds before he asked me if I was alright to get up.
I lifted myself up and walked to the mirror and smiled. He said it looked Rad, and even my friend who doesn't like septum piercings said it wasn't bad. I was SO happy, I hugged him, and thanked him. We spoke a bit more after that, and gave me the same piercing aftercare sheet, and straightened my jewellery because it was pushed more to one side. We went out to the counter, and the same lady asked how it was, looked at it, and made a funny noise, which made me laugh. I paid him, and thanked him again and left with my friend.
It's always really comforting to have a piercer with plenty of body modifications. I had asked around a little bit, and at another shop, a piercer had told me "I've never pierced a septum, and never will." I would find it much more nervous to be pierced by someone with hardly any piercings, because they can't really tell me anything about their experiences, other than the responses of others. Abe and Tim are always excellent with giving advice, and I always ask them questions about anything I want to know.
The pain, although VERY intense for me, wasn't bad. I say this because with all the other piercings I've got, from the time between the needle goes in and when the tube comes out, it always feels a bit sore and tender, but I couldn't feel my septum. And after the jewellery is inserted, it doesn't hurt at all. The pain is brief, thankfully, and like others in their stories, I very much recommend it to those of you who want a Septum Piercing.
It's only been 4 days since I got it pierced, and it has hurt a bit more since, and the expected "crustiness" appears over the holes overnight, it's really quite an easy piercing to take care of. I wash it ever night before bed, and ever morning after breakfast. I soak a cotton bud tip in a ¼ rock salt to 1 cup of boiled and cooled water, and make sure the piercing holes are very moist, so the crusties just wash off. Then I, awkwardly, bend over the basin and put the cup under my nose so my piercing is being rinsed with the salt water bath. The only downside is having to flip it up at home around my parents, who don't know I have it pierced. But I make sure when I flip it up and bring it back down, my hands are clean and the area is moist, incase there is any crusty areas, so they won't pull the skin around it.
All my friends I have told cannot believe I actually got it done! And I am so happy with it, it's beautiful down, and easy to hide – perfect for someone who needs it to be hidden for work or school.