I started my summer knowing that I wanted to be pierced by the end of it. I didn't do a lot for my sixteenth birthday, so a girl's gotta celebrate somehow. So I went and did my research--the stories here are great for knowing what the experience will be like. I found pictures, aftercare tips, learned about different kinds of jewellery. I decided on the place I'd like to get it done at. I spent three days bothering my mother about it (yeah, yeah, I'm old enough to do it without her consent, but I'm a good girl). After five days, my time had come. I was excited, but pretty calm. I'd forgotten that it actually involved having a needle shoved through my cartilage; I just wanted to have a nostril stud so badly.
At A Glance Author Lauren Contact laurenlind@hotmail.com When A week ago Artist Tye Studio Way Cool Tattoos Location Oakville, ON We walked in to Way Cool Tattoos, my dad and I. It was noticeably busy, but they guy who had an appointment to be pierced at the time was late so I was able to talk to some of the guys there and get my paperwork filled out. There was a bit of an issue with some of the medication I'm on, so while they were researching to make sure everything would be fine, I skipped off to Tim Horton's for a Sprite on their orders (I'm pretty prone to fainting, so the sugar's a good thing) with the aftercare package to read over while I waited.
By the time we got back, they were just finishing up. I chose my nostril screw (highest quality steel, and with a clear jewel that would not pop out, guaranteed), paid, and then it was my turn to follow Tye to the room downstairs where they do the piercings. There was a table in the middle, sort of like the ones at doctors' offices. Tye proceeded to clean everything off, and went through all the aftercare tips as he did so. He joked a bit, let me ask a few questions, and talked about his own experience with his septum piercing... I felt really comfortable.
He'd gotten everything in order, washing his hands and changing his gloves frequently. All the equipment he used came from sealed, sterile packages and was used only once. He marked a couple spots on my nose, one barely lower than the other. I examined them in the mirror, and decided on the lower one, which he'd used a tool to measure for in case I would like to eventually change my jewellery to a ring. Satisfied, I took my seat on the table, and had my nose extensively cleaned ("This is the cleanest your nose will ever be—or at least your left nostril!"). Then, I lay down on my back, with my knees raised while he got ready to do the piercing. I think I was smiling to myself: I was very pleased to have gotten this far, and especially happy to have convinced my mother to let me go through with it.
He told me that he would ask me to breathe in, hold it, and breathe out continuously and steadily. I breathed in as he prepped the needle and receiving tube, held it while he checked the alignments and told me that my eye would water a bit, and then breathed out as he put the needle through. It felt like a little pinch, nothing I can really remark on. Having the jewellery put in felt a bit like a tugging sensation and my eye did water up a bit, but then it was done. He checked it, gave me a few more tips for caring for it. I checked it out in the mirror with a huge grin on my face (it felt it a bit odd to smile with the stud in), said my thank yous, gave him a tip and was on my way. Adrenaline pumping, I felt so good about everything. The piercing had gone great.
It's been almost two weeks now, and sometimes I forget I have it. It hasn't hurt or bled at all, or given me any trouble besides rotating a bit at first. I'm careful to clean it every morning and night, and not to play with it at all. I've gotten quite a few compliments, and best of all, I'm really happy. I had a blast getting it done, and definitely recommend the piercing to anyone else who has considered it. Way Cool Tattoos is a good place to go, if you're in the area. They've got a website you can check out, and everything about the place and people working there was super professional. If I still want my labret done in a couple years' time, I'll probably see if I can have Tye pierce me again. :)
PS. Feel free to e-mail me to ask questions or whatever. I'm pretty good with quick replies.