I, being a somewhat rebellious teen and a girl fascinated by all body modifications, got my nose pierced this past Saturday. The whole begging process began a while ago. It started with me and my mother discussing piercing. She is actually very against most piercing and would prefer tattoos. Anyway, I brought up the subjects of stretching my lobes and she said absolutely not. Then I decided to request a nose piercing, since it seems to be the most publicly acceptable facial piercing in my area and it doesn't have to be too big. She said she would consider it and asked my dad. Surprisingly, he was all for it. My mother feared the possibility of me going piercing crazy and just asking for another after this. To appease her I signed a contract that I drew up myself stating that I will not request another piercing until at least 5/8/09 (I have already marked my calendar). With all of this taken care of my dad decided to get suggestions from my cousin who has various piercing. She suggested the Black Hole.
At A Glance Author hallucination Contact hallucination@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Brian Studio The Black Hole Location Portland Saturday afternoon we were off to the Black Hole. I begged my dad to call first to confirm that I could get my nose pierced there (I am 14 and some places just don't allow that). He called a few times with no answer. He then called the Black Hole in Beaverton and they reassured me that they were open and that 14 year olds were allowed. With the new sense of confidence this instilled in me I merrily hopped in the car and was off to get a hole in my face.
It took us a few minutes to find it because my dad didn't remember the exact address, but luckily it was out in the open so it wasn't too hard to spot. I stepped inside and they asked for ID and I handed over my horrid school ID and my birth certificate and my dad gave them his drivers license. Then I had to fill out a terribly long form and my dad had to initial various areas. After answering the billion questions that they believed to be necessary information, I picked out my jewelry. Just a plain metal ball stud, the exact kind that I had wanted. My piercer, Brian, then lead me and my dad up stairs. On the way up I almost fell over but I got there eventually.
Once up there he had me sit in a chair that reminded me of the doctors office. He marked my nose on the left in the middle and I eagerly agreed. He then told my dad to hold the needle's package so they could track their needles or something like that. He inserted a cold metal tube-like thing into my nose. This was about the time my dad started getting nervous (which did not help me). Then he told me to breath three times, but before I was done with the first one there was a needle going through my nose. It took him a second to get the stud and by this time my left eye was watering like mad. Once it was in I looked at it in the mirror, positively thrilled at the shiny new addition to my face.
We walked downstairs (well, I stumbled) and I received a detailed pamphlet of care instructions and a small bag of sea salt. They told me I couldn't change the stud for at least 4 months and directed me on the salt water soaks. I nodded, dazed. It totaled up to $45. Well worth it. I walked out feeling euphoric.
Upon returning home I was heckled by my brother, but nothing could destroy the piercing high. Before I went to bed I soaked my newly wounded flesh which was quite awkward because it involved dunking most of my face into the salt water. After drenching my hair and most of the bathroom counter I figured I had soaked it long enough. That night I somehow avoided sleeping on the stud. There was little pain accept that which accompanied certain facial expressions. I equate the pain to the feeling of snorting a Dorito, sharp and temporary.
I loved seeing everyone's' reactions. Somehow I just don't seem to be the type people expect to have any sort of modification. My mother is slowly getting used to it. My teachers aren't sure what to think, but my friends are almost as enthusiastic as I am and I have sparked an interest in their own modifications. I hope to get more piercings myself some day but for now this is enough for me.
Overall, I believe it has been a positive experience and I love the way it looks. I would recommend the Black Hole to anyone and I'd like to say that it wasn't as frightening as I had anticipated. So far I have had no problems except the few moments of inconvenient pain. I hope to eventually put a ring in it, but we'll take this whole healing process a step at a time.