Don't get them 'done', get them pierced...

At A Glance Author schwind Contact schwind@bme.anon Artist ? Studio Bodyworks Location Croydon, South London

It had been almost a year since I'd got my first 'proper', ie. non-ear piercing, and I felt it was about time I got something else. Being still at school, I needed something I could hide, and my nipples weren't something my teachers were likely to see...but I wasn't sure about age restrictions, I thought you might have to be 18, so I planned on getting a tongue web instead. When I turned up at the studio, I was informed that the piercer who does tongue webs wasn't in and I'd have to make an appointment the following week. I was also warned that a lot of people had problems with them.

I tried not to be pouty and disappointed, but I was all psyched up to get pierced, and had been really looking forward to it. I guess my fault for not wanting to be organized and booking in advance...

Lucky for me my friend brought up my nipple idea,so we asked if I'd be able to get it done. After some discussion (the assistants weren't clear on the age requirement either) it turned out yes, I could get it done right away. I think the piercer guy thought I was a bit weird and fickle, not being able to get one piercing so getting a completely different one, but I was so damn happy, it didn't matter.

I made my friend come in with me so she could share the fun... The piercer ( I didn't ask his name, I have a general fear of making conversation with strangers. But I recognised him as the one I assume was apprenticing a year earlier, as he was watching while I got my septum done) asked which one it was gonna be, and told me to lift my top up and pull my bra down. If I'd of thought about it in advance, I'd have found it weird flashing a stranger, but I was completely comfortable. Anyway, I'm extremely flat chested so there can be really nothing pervy about looking at my chest, resembling as it does that of a prepubscent boy.

Sorry, rambling, back to the piercing. Dude wiped and cleaned it, clamped it, and stuck the needle through baby, yeh. Clamp didn't hurt, which is a good sign, and then a sharp pain with the actual piercing. As has been said many times before, the pain is over oh so quick, and the adrenaline rush is a nice side effect. And for £30, I kinda wouldn't mind a bit more pain, y'know, my money's worth, but maybe that's just me...There's good pain and bad pain, and piercing has gotta be in the former category.

So the needle's in, and it's wierd looking down and there being a spike of metal through my nipple. My friend in the corner's looking kinda scared at this point. The piercer then threads the barbell through and there it is. My pierced nipple. My friend looks less scared and manages to tell me it looks really nice. The piercer reminds me about cleaning, puts a bandage on it to soak up the tincy bit of blood, and sends me on my way.

The nipple has been well recieved in all social circles, and I kept on having to flash all my friends in the school toilets which is something I'm sure everyone enjoyed..

Healing wise, I was waking up with blood crusties for about 3 days after, but it soon settled down and 2 months down the line, seems to be doing fine. One weekend I was a bit 'busy' and it didn't like being neglected - turning the barbell while cleaning hurt some, so i was extra nice to it and now it's great. At one point I was using some sort of antiseptic that had alcohol in it and was a bit strong that it didn't seem too keen on, but now I've switched back to my Savlon spray, my nipple and the bar in it are getting along like a house on fire.

>From me to whoever reads this, it is a huge mama hell yea recommended piercing. I've never liked my breasts, which are quite frankly tiny and staying it, but now looking down and seeing the shiny-ness...rapture.

Also, the pierced nipple is now a lot more sensitive. I have to be careful, I always have my fingers up my nose fiddling with my septum, which obviously disgusts everyone ( especially those who don't know it's pierced), but I've now found myself absent mindedly feeling my nipple in boring maths lessons, which luckily noone's noticed, yet. So if you don't want sensitive nipples, then don..wah? what am I saying. Sensitive nipples = hella more fun.

So for my 18th birthday next week, I'm getting the other one done. I wasn't sure when I got it done if I'd want both, but my mind is definitely made up. My friends weren't too happy, they were like 'What if you wanna breastfeed later?' but after researching I'm satisfied it's cool. I think it looks nicer with both, for symmetry, and I don't want the left one getting jealous of the right..

Nipples all the way...