Since I was about sixteen years old, I really wanted to get my nose pierced. Now, I'm not talking about a huge septum ring that would freak out my parents: I just wanted a small stud that would sparkle when it caught the light. So I asked my mom if I could get one for my birthday. She said yes: on my eighteenth birthday after I move out of her house. I never once considered piercing it myself because I am ridiculously afraid of needles, pain, and anything that goes along with it (I can't give blood without crying). So I put the idea in the back of my mind and forgot about it until I got to college.
At A Glance Author Nicci Contact Nicci@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Arlo Studio Marc's Tattooing Location Dickson City I turned eighteen a month after I started my freshman year. At that time, I knew someone with a nostril piercing. It looked so nice on her and the feeling of wanting one came back. A week after my freshman year ended, I got together with a couple girlfriends from high school and we got tattoos to celebrate our first year of freedom (which didn't hurt nearly as badly as I'd expected it to). After sitting through the tattoo, I thought I'd wait on the piercing.
Over the course of my sophomore year, I kept thinking about the piercing on and off. Then, finally, during the last week of school I decided that I was going to do it. No turning back. So I called the tattoo parlor that I got my tattoo from (they have an awesome reputation), found out the price, and called my best friend. She agreed to drive and hold my hand during the process. I almost chickened out a few days before I was scheduled to get it done but then I broke up with my boyfriend of 3 1/2 years. After that, I figured I needed a change and could handle anything.
Heidi picked me up at 1 o'clock and we headed down to Dickson City. We pulled into the parking lot and I was shaking like a leaf. I walked into the parlor and was greeted by a man with a smile and a friendly "What can I do for you?" I told him that I wanted my nostril pierced. He asked if I wanted a screw or a hoop. I said a screw and he left to get the room ready. I looked at jewelry for a minute or two then he came back out. He shook my hand and introduced himself as Arlo. I was lead back into a room and asked to sit on what looked like a doctor's table. He asked what side I wanted it on (my right), marked my nose, and asked me to check it. It looked perfect. That's when I got really nervous because I knew that it was actually going to happen. He got out this metal tube and told me that he was going to put it up my nose so that the needle wouldn't go through my septum. I accidently caught a glimpse of the needle (it looked huge!) before squeezing my eyes shut as tight as I could.
Arlo told me that there would be a little pressure and it would be over. I prepared myself for the worst and squeezed Heidi's hand with all of my might. The needle went through my nose and it hurt. I'm not going to lie. It hurt more than I expected it to. I explain it to my friends as hurting "worse then my tattoo for a shorter period of time". It hurt for about 10 seconds and it was over. I was told later that I "made a weird face, a weird noise, and squeezed Heidi's hand really tightly" as the needle went through. I opened my eyes to find a needle hanging out of my nose! I squeezed my eyes shut again and waited for the end. Arlo explained as he put the screw into my nose (which didn't hurt at all), used pliers to curl the end of my screw, and told me to open my eyes.
It was over! I had an adorable little sparkle on my nose! It was exactly what I had always wanted!
Arlo lead me out into the lobby and explained what was now in my face (an 18 gauge, 1.5mm nostril screw) and the aftercare instructions. He told me to use salt water at least twice a day and to come back in three weeks to have the screw tightened (he left it loose so I had room to swell). I left feeling extremely proud of myself!
I definitely say that if you're considering getting this piercing done, DO IT! Yes, it hurt. But it was so worth it just to have this awesome piece of jewelry in my face! So if you want it, GO FOR IT!