It all started when I was getting bullied at school. I was really unhappy and was self-harming, and after I finally stopped I thought it'd be nice to have a new piercing to mark the fact that I'd gone 3 months without self-harming. I've already got my ears pierced twice (aged 10 and 12, both gunned but I didn't know any better) in Claire's Accessories and given their crappy aftercare solution, but enough of that.
At A Glance Author Georgina Contact Georgina@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Lisa Studio Pro Body Piercing Location Huddersfield I'd read almost every nostril piercing experience on BME, and was convinced that it was the piercing for me. I loved the idea of the piercing, and even bought a fake nose ring to see how it'd look. Everybody had said it'd complement my face, and after much consideration I plucked up the courage to ask my mum.
So, after many months of deciding and pestering, my mum though it was a good idea to mark the milestone of 3 months, and it didn't take very long to convince her that I knew how to look after it afterwards. However, my dad was a different story. He thought that nostril piercings looked 'common' and he wouldn't be very happy if I had it done. But eventually, he accepted that it was my decision (and he now thinks it suits my face).
Fast-forwarding to yesterday, I went with my dad and sister to Pro Body Piercing in Huddersfield (it's up Imperial Arcade in case anybody wondered, and it also sells alternate clothing and gorgeous jewelry) to get my nose pierced. They handed me and my sister the release forms, and my dad signed them to say we could have our piercings (as we're both under 16). There wasn't anybody else in the studio apart from me and my sister, so my sister went in first and had her belly button pierced (Pro Body are well known around Huddersfield for their navel piercings), and came out with a huge smile on her face.
Then it was my turn.
I walked into the piercing room with tears streaming down my face (I'm scared of blood [I was worried it might bleed] and I get a bit nervous around needles), but I was relieved to see that it was clean and sterile, and there was an autoclave in the corner. I sat down on the chair (it's like a dentist chair), and Lisa showed me the needle and asked me to choose the stud I wanted in my nose (I chose a blue gold standard nostril stud), and she told me if the piercing hurt I could hit her, which made me feel at ease and made me laugh. She marked the piercing and I asked for it a little lower down and the position was perfect. She then clamped my nostril (right side) and slid the needle through. It wasn't until she told me to look in the mirror that I'd actually realised that she'd pierced it! She gave me a hug afterwards and said she'd never seen anybody pull through so well after crying from nerves.
Absolutely thrilled with my new piercing, she said I could go back in a week if there are problems with the piercing, otherwise I wouldn't need to and to keep the jewelry in for the healing process. She gave me an aftercare leaflet, and I paid my 15 pounds and walked out of the studio with a huge smile on my face.
I've been cleaning my piercing with Saline solution and I've done a sea salt soak a day, and there's hardly any redness now. I've also made sure that I don't play with it and I try my best not to knock it (it kills when I knock it!!).
I know there won't be a problem with school as it states in the prospectus that nostril piercings are allowed, but my grandparents may be a different story as they don't approve of body modifications aside from ear lobes =/
I'd recommend anybody goes to Pro Body, as my experience was brilliant. All the staff there are brilliant and they make you feel at ease and comfortable, they're extremely friendly and ensured that my piercing experience went okay.
I'm extremely proud of my piercing, it makes me feel amazing and confident, and it doesn't make me feel like self-harming which is the best thing! I've knocked it a couple of times whilst getting changed, but the stud hasn't fallen out and I can sleep on my side fine which is always a bonus.
If anybody has any questions, feel free to email them to me and I'll do my best to answer them. You can also email me if you need reassuring about the process, as it's not as bad as many people make out. My email address is gina_jorden@hotmail.co.uk, or you can email me on here.
Happy piercing! :)