If you'd told me when I left the house that night when I returned I'd have both my nipples pierced, I would have laughed in your face. I was going to work; and besides, I don't even wear jewellery on my fingers, let alone my nipples. As a student I used to supplement my measly income and support my thirst for beer by selling freelance articles to magazines. I wasn't opposed to body mods but I certainly didn't want any for myself.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon Artist Max Studio Bodyline Location Sydney Australia Anyway, I was asked by a friend who had a few tattoos to write an article for a local tattoo rag. I thought about it, came up with an angle and decided that body piercing was the go; it was quite new in our town (this was back in 1993). I got out the phone book, made a few calls and arranged a time for an interview. The time for the meeting came around and off I went, pad and paper in hand, ready to learn all about piercing. When I arrived, the piercer informed me that he had several last minute bookings and would I mind conducting the interview as he pierced his clients. I said that I didn't mind, but secretly I was a bit nervous, as the thought of needles doesn't appeal, even when they're jabbed in someone else.
The piercer was great, very informative and knowledgeable; he answered all my questions and laughed at how ignorant I was about body art. I sat through three navels and a tongue (the tongue scared the pants off me – lots of gurgling and blood dripping on the floor) ...and then came the nipples.
A guy walked in and took off his shirt; he had a stainless steel ring hanging from his right nipple, probably about ten gauge, and I thought – I kind of like that – it looks cool. The guy had a quick chat with the piercer and then lay on the bed. At this point I have to say that I've read a few experiences where people have said that the clamping is the bad part. I didn't see this guy flinch when the piercer clamped his nipples but I heard a sound like tearing leather when he stuck the needle in; he nearly jumped off the table. After lots of groaning, twisting and sweating the guy sat up on the bed and he now had three rings hanging from his nipples; the poor guy was covered in sweat and his nipples were battered and swollen. Despite his obvious discomfort the guy was able to raise a smile which turned to a grin when he saw the state I was in; I had turned white and was breathing heavily, sitting stunned in my chair. The piercer couldn't really explain why he had so much trouble getting the needle through, but he said it was very unusual.
The guy put his shirt back on I and I was fixated by the small lumps in the fabric made by the nipple rings. I asked him how it felt and he patted his chest and said fantastic. I wasn't convinced. No really I said, what was it like? At this point the piercer turned to me with a grin on his face, in his hand I saw the glint of metal – "OH NO" I said that's okay – I'm sure it's great but it's not for me. The guy who'd just had his nipples pierced laughed and said "he's not gonna do it man, he's a pussy" – two minutes later I was lying on the bed with my shirt off, chest rising and falling as the piercer came towards me with the clamp. I couldn't believe I was going to do it, especially after the experience the previous guy had. But, apparently I have good nipples to pierce because they're big and fairly risen, easier to jab with the needle I guess. Anyway with clamp on, the piercer lined up the needle with the marks which he'd drawn on my nipple and pushed. The pain was bearable – it was painful – really quite painful but just when you think it's going to get too painful to bare, it stops.
Five minutes later I had the other one done, two rings hanging from my chest – perfect symmetry. The piercer insisted on doing the other nipple, it will make a great story he said – who was I to argue. We all ended up having a drink after that and the piercer showed me his 4 gauge nipples and 2 gauge PA, the latter he offered to do free of charge for me; despite the alcohol I declined...
It's been a few years since I had my nipples pierced; both healed well and now sport ten gauge rings – I'm still not a body mod junky but I love the sensation of having my nipples pierced and you never know, next time I write an article for a body art magazine I might just take the piercer up on the offer of that PA.