So apparently the day after you get your nipples pierced is THE MOST sexually frustrating day of your life. Whenever I sank down in my desk and my nipples rubbed across the wood, I immediate sat straight up because HOT DAMN you feel that.
At A Glance Author Becca Contact Becca@bme.anon When Three months ago Artist Will Studio his basement Location baltimore To back up, I made met a guy named Will, and we immediately hit it off. I mentioned how I wanted to get my nipples pierced, and he informed me that he used to be a piercer, and he still had all of his equipment, and that he would be incredibly happy to do it for me for free. So later that week, I went over to his house, chatted for a few minutes, and got to business.
After I took my shirt and bra off, he marked my nipples and the where the entrance/exit holes would be, and then pulled out his supplies. After properly sterilizing everything and whatnot, using bactine, alcohol swabs, and vaseline, he explained to me that he would be using 14 gauge piercing needles and immediately stretching up to a 12 gauge ring in order to reduce bleeding.
Will also explained to me that he wasn't using ordinary piercing needles, the ones that are hollow and you change jewelry with them. They were some weird kind of piercing needle that had a really really thin shield of plastic around them, so once the needle was through, you just pull it out and the plastic holds it open, like a little straw. Supposedly it makes changing jewelry a lot easier and less painful, but I don't really remember.
I remember being a bit worried about the fact that my left nipple was inverted, or, as I like to call it "Shy, and has stage fright." It really only comes out when really coaxed, which was mildly embarrassing. Apparently normally inverted nipples come out when brushed with alcohol swabs, but mine didn't, so Will grabbed some ice and that still didn't work. So eventually I just took a breath, Will said "May I?" and then started playing with it (it was okay because we were friends and had talked about having sex, I doubt he would do that to anyone else.)
We asked me to breathe in and out a few times, and then pushed the needle through. By the time the pain registered, he was already putting the jewelry in so I couldn't really bitch about it or anything.
Same thing happened with the second one, and I was all set.
I remember being really impressed with how professionally he handled it, and how at ease he made me feel. It's a shame he doesn't still do this professionally, I've encountered many a piercing parlor where the piercers are elitist and generally unlikeable. Not really a good enough reason to not go there, but not a good enough place to want to go, ya know?
I've had 2 issues with them so far...
a) When I told the guy I was sleeping with at the time (whom I met on BME, by the way, the guy is a whiz at tattoos, and extremely gifted and knowledgeable about piercings) how uncomfortable they were, he asked if I had rings or barbells in. When I said rings, he told me to switch because my breasts were too large for them, and the pressure was what made the rings so uncomfortable (I'm a 44D)
I immediately popped over to the mall and got 2-half inch barbells and changed them (probably something I shouldn't have done later on the same day but hey, it needed to happen) and they immediately felt better
b) the other issue is that I don't normally wear bras, so they have a tendency to swing around and not be so protected. After I closed the refrigerator door on my left breast the day after getting it pierced, I learned that I should wear a bra while they're healing, and a padded one at that. Now I don't have that issue anymore.
They're not really sore anymore, except for the problem of the morning after a rough night (wink) when they've been toyed with a lot. Other than that, I haven't had any problems, and I'm loving them.
one other issue that might be popping up soon is the fact that I've been really irresponsible of late about cleaning them, so I need to get my ass in gear over that. I still have a lot of crusties, and sometimes they leak a tiny bit when you squeeze them. It's a little bit gross, but nothing a bit of sea salt, water, and a shot glass won't cure. Originally when I had them pierced, I got a saline solution for eyes and used that, and that was perfect. It even came with a little tiny cup, and everything was tidy and neat.
while they're still a bit sore (nipples are one of the longest piercings to heal) they're doing pretty all right.