I am a novice when it comes to tattoos and piercings. Before I had met a friend that worked at Spectrum as an apprentice I had never even considered getting more than my ears pierced and one tattoo.
At A Glance Author anonymous When Three months ago Artist Jarvie Studio Spectrum Location Sidney I've had my ears double pierced and two tattoos before I decided to finally get my nose pierced. I had it done twice by my apprentice friend, the first time I had to take it out because of my job and the second was a failed attempt on the apprentice's part. (I will say the apprentice is no longer working at that studio so you have no worries about going there.)
The third time I decided to get it pierced, I wanted Jarvie to do it. Seeing as how I used to hang out Spectrum on my time off of work Jarvie and I really started to get along and I trusted him the most.
If your considering getting your nostril done for the first time, ask for it to be clamped because it really gets the initial pain out of the way and makes the actual piercing a breeze.
Jarvie doesn't use clamps, which worked out great seeing as how it was my third time. He literally just lined and marked everything up and then told me to take a deep breath in, and when the needle went in I released it.
When I got it done that time, I just wanted to have it done, I didn't want to have this long talk that I've had twice before. It was nice to just go in there lye down and be done within five minutes.
I'm not going to lie, it hurt really bad, but only because I had so much scar tissue from the times before. Your first piercing or tattoo anywhere will always be the least painful because there's hardly any scar tissue there.
Jarvie is a joker, but when he pulls you into the piercing room he's nothing but respectful and professional. He knows the right things to say when you're having doubts. I think the more you know you're artist the better, because I knew Jarvie so well, he could tell when I was nervous or when I just wanted to get it done. It really turned out great because of that.
If you're thinking of getting your nostril done here's a few tips. Make sure you know the studio's reputation and that it's clean. It also really helps if you know the people you're dealing with. I strongly suggest picking a studio and staying with it.
Cleaning is really easy, clean your hands and use your fingers to clean under and around the stud with soap and water. Be careful of lofas or rags because sometimes the stud snags on them and can pull them out. As always, make sure you soak a q-tip in sea salt water and leave it on the affected area a minute to help the healing process about twice a day for a week.
I've never had a swelling problem with the area, nor has it taken more than a week for me to heal, but keep in mind, everyone's body is different so make sure you go into any piercing or tattoo educated.
The nostril, all three times, was the easiest piercing for me to get. If you've ever been hit in the nose, don't worry, it doesn't nearly hurt that bad.
Every time I've gotten it done, my eyes water, not because it hurts but because of the proximity of the nose to the eye. I think it happens because after it's done, it really feels like sinus pressure for a second. So I believe the eye watering feels like an allergy watering.
Most people are worried about what side to get it on, like which side means you're gay or straight. It honestly doesn't matter. My reasons for getting it done on the right side are that I'm blind in that eye, and I do get distracted if I see something shiny.
I decided to get my nostril done because I thought of it more as a beauty mark, like a mole or a widows peak. I think having my nose pierced accentuates my eyes.
My ex-roommate, who now works as the receptionist there, gave me some great emotional advice when it comes to getting a piercing. She told me that when you breathe in, think of something that has happened to you that deeply hurt you, and when the needle goes through, let it go with your exhale. It really helps to deal with some of the nasty things that come along with life and has helped me deal with some of my problems.
All in all, get it done. There's nothing I regret about the decision or the process of having it done.
Make sure your boss is alright with you having it or putting a clear plug in it, because the studs are a little tricky to remove and put back in. Nostril piercings hardly ever get infected, but they will if you constantly play with them.