I've always loved piercings, since my first when I was eight (my ears), but however, I'm not much of a get-up-and-go person. I frequently intend on getting piercings, but I never seem to get round to it. Although I've had my labret, cartilage and navel pierced before, I always want more, but don't have the motivation.
At A Glance Author belle Contact art_of_drowning@talk21.com When It just happened Location Camden, London For the last few months, I've wanted to get my nipple pierced. Not quite sure why, it just appealed to me. Most girls my age just have their ears and navel done and I like to be a little bit different, plus I'm a bit of an exhibitionist and tend to flaunt my boobs alot, I guess I thought maybe I should make them a little more interesting! But it's always been an "I'll get it when....", until today.
On Wednesday, I was sitting at the Christmas dinner table munching on turkey, thinking to myself "well why don't I just go ahead and get it done?!". I asked around my friends who'd had it done about the pain (everybody except one said that is was almost unbearable), and read the stories on bmzine, and decided I should. Although people had told me how painful it is, I was determind to ignore them and do it, and besides, half of the people I asked were male and I'd heard it wasn't quite so bad for girls. I'd recieved £70 christmas money from my uncles and grandparents, and thought it was a good way to make use of the extra cash.
This morning, I hopped on the train and made my way to Camden in North London. I walked around the shops checking out the different body piercing studios nervously, and then came across one that seemed to be quite respectable and had a sudden burst of courage. I went in, saw the certificate on the wall and noted the clean surroundings, and asked how much nipple piercing was. It was £30 for a bar, £26 for a ring. Even though bars were £4 more and I prefer the look of rings, I decided to go for bar so that it wouldn't get caught on anything (god knows what a ring could get caught on anyway, but I didn't want to take that risk!), and I'd been told that even though rings are easier to clean bars heal faster. I payed my £30, filled out a form, and was told about aftercare and healing. After a short wait, I shook off my nerves and was led into a small room with a bed, sink and mirror. On the side was a little plastic bag with a horrendously large looking needle in, and another wit h a neat 14mm bar in.
The piercer cleaned my right nipple with an antiseptic wipe, marked either side with a pen, and told me to lie down on the bed. By this time I was feeling pretty anxious, but tried to forget the fact I was about to have a piece of metal shoved through on of the most sensitive regions of my body. She put on gloves and clamped it, which people always say is the worst part, but i only felt a pinch. I squeezed my eyes shut expecting the worst and felt the needle that she'd taken out of the sterile packet go through, but was suprised at how little it hurt. I let out a short gasp in pain but it wasn't anywhere near as agonizing as people had claimed. It hurt a little more when she put the bar through, but all in all it wasn't bad at all. I felt a little sore and shaky, but all in all I was absolutely fine.
After having it covered with a big cloth plaster and receiving an aftercare sheet, I left, proud that I'd finally done something that I'd wanted but not had the nerve to do for so long.
Soon after I got home, I took off the plaster and bathed it in the part sea salt part boiled water solution I'd been told to, gently removed the little bit of dried blood with a tissue and warm water, and sprayed over a fine mist of savlon wound wash. it's now ever so slightly sore but i've had no problems yet, everything seems to be fine!
If anybody's thinking about it and aren't if they should, I say definately go for it! I'm getting my left done soon, followed by my tongue, and I'm really looking forward to it! I feel really special and sexy, it's already boosted my self esteem, and even though I only had it done today, it looks great, I'm really pleased with it and myself, it was a very rewarding experience. I can't wait to get out there and show it off!