For almost a year now I'd been considering a septum piercing and playing with fake jewellery to see how it would look on me and how it would feel to have the pressure of something on that part of my nose. I adore the way they look, especially on females so I knew I had to have one but the only problem was that I'm a terrible needle phobic and I thought that would make getting a piercing near impossible. I felt the only way to do it was to do it to myself.
At A Glance Author robotcityrock Contact robotcityrock@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Myself After spending a lot of time researching placement, procedure and jewellery I bought some 16g needles and a black 16g curved barbell and decided I would do it! I tried not to spend a lot of time over-thinking it so as not to worry myself.
Then when I had all the tools I took to my bathroom with some ice and as much courage as I could muster.
First I washed my hands thoroughly, and although I could've opted for latex gloves, I didn't so I could be able to feel my septum properly.
I opened the needle packaging and looked in the mirror so I could use the blunt end and my finger to feel (and see) where I would place the piercing. When I thought I'd figured out a straight enough placement I numbed my nose with ice and took in a deep breath.
When I first attempted to pierce the skin I was so terrified that it took me several tries to even be able to hold the sharpened point of the needle so close to my nose - (I was so worried it was going to go in crooked or that I placed it wrong!) - but after several times I finally began to push it through. It went through the first half no problems and I could feel a searing pain but it definitely wasn't unbearable but I expected that the pain would probably only get worse.
After some deep breaths and a bit of shocked swearing I held my index finger pressed in my other nostril so I could feel the point of the needle and try and press it through. When I did feel the needle prick through into my finger I flinched away slightly and then had to reposition my fingers, pinched just below where I was piercing so I could ease the needle through. By this point I was shaking really badly and seeing myself visibly shaking in the mirror worried me a little.
When I realized that the needle had poked through the other side of my septum without much unbearable pain or any blood I felt an amazing sense of achievement. I'd actually done my first piercing and the needle looked as if it was sitting straight as far as I could see.
Then I eased the needle out slowly, taking deep breaths, and tried to slip the jewellery through as the needle eased out but, unfortunately, I couldn't get it to push through at that angle so I called my sister to come and help me.
I sat down and tilted my head back on the ledge of the bathtub so she could get a better angle at slipping the jewellery in and then I numbed it a bit more before I told her to begin pushing the jewellery through.
It took a little less than 5 minutes to get the jewellery in and my septum was intensely burning but I didn't find the pain too uncomfortable. My eyes weren't tearing and my piercing still wasn't bleeding although the barbell was being forced through. By this point I expected my pain threshold to completely break and for me to end up wussing out but this far into the piercing I knew I should just bear it - after all, it was almost done!
As soon as it was through and we fidgeted with the ball to try and screw it on. To be honest, trying to screw the ball back on was harder than piercing it!
Then I stood up and examined my new (first!) piercing in the mirror. It looked lovely and I knew I was happy with it instantly! It was straight, not bleeding at all and it felt all tingly and nice.
It's one day after I pierced it and it's still a little tender but not painful at all.
I'm not completely sure I would have attempted a DIY septum piercing unless I had the right tools but now that I have done it I'm more confident around needles and I'm greatly enjoying caring for my septum because every time I feel the jewellery in my nose or catch sight of it in a mirror I feel really proud that it's there. If I had have professionally pierced my septum I would've still felt proud but since this had been a DIY job the sense of achievement is much bigger.