I'd had my nipples pierced with 1.6mm/14mm steel barbells in early February, and I loved it. The healing was fast, I had no problems and no discomfort at all after the first few weeks. I have to say, I'd heard horror stories of people losing sensitivity, which was a real worry for me as my nipples are a very important part of my sexuality. I find it very difficult to become sexually excited without some form of nipple stimulation. Thankfully, this was not the case. I really enjoyed the extra stimulation the bars gave, and I know the husband liked feeling them in his mouth.
At A Glance Author Sunlight Contact Sunlight@bme.anon IAM Sunlight When A month ago Artist Rique Studio Rebel Rebel Location Cardiff, UK Much as I loved them, though, the bars just felt... little to me. I wanted something bigger. I had also heard that a larger gauge piercing would be more stable and less likely to cause problems during rough play. So, in order to avoid the "cheesewire effect" during hanky-panky, I decided to stretch them to 2.4mm, and here begins the tale.
A new piercing and tattooing place had opened up close to where I live just a few months ago. I thought I'd pop in and see what they had in stock by way of jewellery, so one Saturday afternoon (husband in tow) I wandered over there. As soon as I walked in, I got a slightly uncomfortable feeling about the place. The tattooing area was in the back of the shop, and the proprietor was working on a burly gentleman as I walked in. There was a curtain but it was open. He stopped briefly whilst I explained what I wanted, and he told me I'd have to come back in 10 minutes. Well, he was obviously busy! So, I wandered out and popped into a nearby shop for a soft drink.
When I came back in, he led me into another area where there was an examination couch. When I said I wanted to stretch and wear barbells, he told me that this wasn't possible, that he would have to order a stretching crescent for me and that I would initially have to wear rings. Warning bells were ringing -- after all, I knew that the need for rings was rubbish, and the place just didn't seem as clean and well-organised as I would have liked. I made my excuses, saying I would see if anyone else had what I needed already in stock, and left.
A quick bus ride into town then, to visit Rique, who'd pierced them in the first place. I love his professional attitude. Sometimes I think that in a body modification professional, attitude and manner is as important as piercing skill. When getting my nipple piercings, Rique had taken time to explain to me about sterile conditions, had shown me his autoclave and explained about the sealed bags, had talked me through the whole procedure and made it easy.
Unfortunately, Rique said on this occasion, he did not have the size of barbells I wanted in stock. He explaind that he had suitable ball closure rings, but very rarely had a call for this size of jewellery in barbells, and that he could not afford to keep it in stock given that it might be 8 or 9 months between customers requesting it. He suggested a couple of other piercing studios I could try.
All this was very good for my legs, because I trailed through the shops he mentioned and none of them gave me any joy either. In fact, in one shop the gentleman behind the counter was particularly unhelpful and dismissive.
So, I trudge back to Rebel Rebel for rings.
As before, Rique was friendly and professional. He was really patient with me. Firstly, he told me he'd need to clean the jewellery as it had been in a display case, so I went off for a little while for a wander. When I came back, I whipped off my top and bra and he slipped into a pair of rubber gloves. He unscrewed and removed one barbell, then took a steel insertion taper and lubed it up. Slowly, it was slipped into the piercing hole. I had to do this in little bits, as if too much went in at once, it felt sore. All the while, he was talking me through it, showing me the taper and saying that once it reaches a certain point it usually gets a lot easier. He encouraged me all the while, telling me I was doing really well, letting me pause when I wanted to.
I watched the taper, measuring its progress through my nipple. When it finally slipped 3/4 of the way through and began to slide easily, I felt triumphant! The first ring went in, the ball was popped into place (and he explained to me the knack of inserting balls) and it was done!
I felt I wanted a bit of a pause before the next one. Rique suggested that he could squirt a little topical anaesthetic on the nipple still to be stretched, which would be working in 10 minutes or so. (Truth be told I don't think it made a difference but I felt better mentally. The placebo effect, perhaps?) So, I slipped on my T-shirt and stepped outside for a cigarette. For nipple number two, the process was much the same. I knew what to expect by then, though I am not sure in hindsight whether that made things better or worse.
When I walked out with two rings on my chest, I felt great. Certainly, the boobs were a little tender, but I was high. Before I left,. Rique told me that I could buy barbells by mail order, and mentioned a couple of companies and web sites. He told me that if I wanted, he would be happy to insert them for me.
Off I go. A few weeks pass, and you know what? The piercings still haven't settled down properly. I think it's the rings. They keep getting caught on things. When I wear a bra, the bra puts pressure on the jewellery, and when I don't wear a bra I'm at risk of getting them knocked about. Sadly, in the last few weeks I suspect that the left nipple piercing may be starting to migrate out. Maybe it's the rings, maybe it's just that the piercings didn't have long enough to mature from the time of the initial piercing.
I've ordered some barbells from Coldsteel, whom I have been told make decent quality body jewellery. I'm going to take Rique up on that offer, and bung him a few quid for his trouble. If they don't settle with 2.4mm/14mm barbells, I'll go back to the old 1.6mm/14mm barbells, and if they don't settle after that I'm afraid I'll have to lose them, let them close up and start again from scratch.
You can't fail if you never try, but you can never succeed either I suppose. Mind you, the strongest thing I've taken from the whole experience is the bad attitude of the staff in two of the places I visited during my search for barbells. I wonder if it's because I am a woman, and they were both men, or because I don't look like an "alternative type." Who knows? I'll remember those attitudes -- and refrain from giving those shops my custom -- long after my current problems are sorted out.