I love piercings of all types. I have all my life. I love tattoos as well, but the perfect tattoo has not made itself known to me yet. I'm sure in time it will, it has been trying come to me. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to work in some symbolism with my boy's names as they have names that are uncommon and are related to mythology.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When Ten years ago or more Artist me Studio at my house Location dallas I've been interested in piercing since I was very young. I got my ears pierced (gun) in a mall when I was 3. I asked if it was going to hurt and they said "No." POP went the simultaneous unsterile guns, and then of course I cried.
"You lied to me." I said to the surprised minimum wage mall employee. Everyone laughed.
I went on to get 5 more gun piercings (all in my lower ear) throughout my teen years, and my last ear piercing was done in Psychology class, by yours truly, with a piercing stud. Crunch, crunch... and a screech from the cheerleader who sat beside me...
"Oh my god she just pierced her ear!" said the cheerleader.
"Did you just pierce your ear?" asked the teacher.
"Uh, yes." I replied.
"Did it hurt?" psych teacher enquires.
"Nope."
"Ok. Moving on. When we watched Sybil...."
(Can I mention that I adored that teacher, and still do? We are in contact with each other to this day.)
The idea that I could pierce myself was very interesting. I did it, it didn't really hurt, and I was just very excited about the whole idea. A few days later I pierced my own nipple at home. It was a spur of the moment decision, and looking back on it over ten years later I realize how lucky I am that I didn't get a severe infection or worse, permanent trauma to my nipple. Nipple torture is not my thing. I like all of my body parts the way they are... only perhaps with some additional metal to enhance them.
I got a lighter, a large safety pin, and rubbing alcohol. I swabbed my nipple and 'sterilized" the needle with the flame, then wiped off all of the black sediment that my flame had left behind with a new, clean alcohol swab. Then I started to pierce my nipple. I think it will show both my ignorance and determination to tell you that it took over an hour from the time the needle entered one side of my nipple until it broke through the skin on the other side. I remember the sensations of the needle as I had to force it through my nipple: there was not a quick, clean bite through the flesh like there would be had I gone to a professional piercing studio. It was really more of a long, drawn out tug of war between my nipple and my needle. Finally, the needle broke through on the other side. Of course, it was not straight. I had so many endorphins running through my body that I was shaky, but I didn't feel like I was going to go into shock or anything. I closed the safety pin. I drank a big glass of water, put on a snug bra so my 'jewelry' wouldn't get caught on anything. The next morning I went to my then boyfriend's house and showed off my handiwork. He was impressed (silly teenagers were we!) as he was also into homemade body modifications. I decided to take out the safety pin and replace it with a silver hoop earring. I washed my nipple with antibacterial soap, and when it was nice and slippery I slid it out and replaced it with my earring. It went through with little resistance. It was, however, very VERY tender and I babied it for a long time before I felt safe enough to play with it or (ohdeargod) let anybody else touch it. Soap, water, and that's it for care.
The placement of my self-done nipple ring was off. Not only was it crooked, but it was also placed too close to the tip of my nipple and not close enough to my areola. I'm very lucky that it didn't reject. I haven't worn any jewelry in it for a few years as I've been nursing my children but every time I check to see if it's closed, the jewelry goes right in. I think that my body is pretty piercing-friendly, it keeps the holes I've acquired even in cases when I've left jewelry out for years.
Of course, you know looking back on it I should have waited and gone to a professional. Here are some things I've learned:
1. Safety pins are not for piercing.
2. It shouldn't take over an hour for a needle to go through any piercing
3. Alcohol swabs do not a sterile instrument make
4. placement is very important
5. professionals tend to do the job right
I don't think I will ever pierce another part of my own body again. I still love all of my piercings and have gotten a few more over the years. I'm still planning on getting some genital work done and I suppose I'll be writing about those as well when I get the chance.