At A Glance Author Anne Contact Anne@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Andrea Studio Pangea Piercing Location Ann Arbor, MI I've had an interest in piercings since I was 16, starting with the "I don't know any better, so I'm going to the mall to get my ears done" and progressing to professional piercers and experiences motivated by what I've read on BME, which I've read since I was 17 or so. I currently have 5 ear piercings (two lobes, three cartilage) along with an "inadvertant conch" created by a fouled-up ear surgery (not bad, got my ears nipped back AND a "free piercing"!), a vertical navel piercing, and two tattoos on my back related to my favorite amusement park in the world. :) I've always felt strongly drawn to modifications; my tattoos are a constant, daily reminder of who I am, and I consider my piercings to be "signature" features that are part of my identity.
I had been eyeing up a hood piercing since I was 18, but the boyfriend I was with at the time was furiously against it. I did my pre-requisite hardcore research on BME and even ventured in a few piercing establishments to talk to piercers about getting it done, but never quite took the plunge. It always stood in the back of my mind as I went through several rounds of piercings and tattoos, though.
My relationship/engagement with my then-fiance recently came to a halt (I asked for the break, thank goodness...I needed it). He had been supportive of my idea of getting the piercing but part of the reason I asked for a break to feel the relationship out was I realized I was losing myself AND the guts it needed to be myself...continuing piercings and tattoos was part of that. After I put the brakes on I decided to reevaluate where I am and where I want to be, and I realized one of the things I needed to do was continue with my body mod love!
I had been walking around Ann Arbor with a friend who was looking for a very large gauge tongue barbell, and stumbled across Pangea Piercing on State St. I had had my other piercings done at Name Brand Tattoo in town, and this shop was new to me. Lo and behold, the piercer turned out to be a sweet woman named Andrea. As my friend roamed around looking at jewelry, it dawned on me that I had my chance- the motivation to do the hood piercing and a well-qualified woman piercer (I just didn't want it done by a dude...to each his own). I asked Andrea if she did hood piercings and when she said yes, I knew this was my chance. I vowed to come back in a couple days.
That turned out to be only a few days later. I woke up with fire under my ass to get it done, AND NOW. I called Andrea to ask if she was available and when she said her evening was free, I knew it was time. I put on a loose skirt and comfy undies as she had suggested, crammed some food and water down my gullet, and tore out the door.
The studio itself is dimly lit but welcoming and warm, and very unthreatening...no loud heavy music or glaring lights. Walking up the stairs to the studio I won't lie that my heart was in my throat and adrenaline had kicked way the hell in, but since I had survived all my other mods just fine I wasn't particularly worried about pain; besides, the large tattoo on my upper back that took a good 4 hours made everything else seem like a cakewalk. Andrea greeted me with a big smile, and after filling out the pre-req forms and going over care, we picked out my jewelry- a 12 ga. curved barbell with a pink gemstone ball on top and a larger rainbow-toned ball on the bottom. I'm most likely going to stretch it up in time.
I was very impressed by Andrea's manner, both in relating the sterility of the process and what was going on regardless of the fact that I had been through it before and also with her "bedside manner" you might say. She talked to me calmly through the prep and once I was spread eagle on the table I didn't feel as if she was looking at me oddly or felt uncomfortable...always nice when you are flashing your privates to a stranger! :-p She took her good time finding placement for the piercing and explained that since the folds involved aren't always symmetrical, she had to find the right way to place the piercing so it appeared straight and perfect, although the piercing itself might not be utterly straight. Once she was done with that process she asked me to look at the dots she had made and with my approval started to place the receiving tube. NOT fun, kids. It wasn't as much painful as annoying and weird-feeling, and it did a good job of knocking my heart rate up a few notches. I started up my breathing to get ready for what I knew was coming, and finally Andrea started to coach me a little. I knew it was coming any second, and finally she told me on my breath-out she was going to pierce.
YOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I yelled a muted "FUUUUUUUUUUCK!" as a searing pain hit my lower half, but to be honest as soon as I peeped out the last of that, it was done. Yes, more painful than I thought, but same as any other mod- worth the pain when it's over. Obviously my tattoos dealt me a hell of a lot more pain than any piercing. A MASSIVE wall of adrenaline hit me. I didn't feel a thing as Andrea put my jewelry in because my limbs went completely numb and I felt like I was flying; not the best feeling in the world and I was wishing I had had more protein to eat before I went in. She asked several times if I was okay, which I was, just dealing with my body saying "What the HELL did you just do to me?" After she did a bit of cleaning, the best part came- checking out the finished product. Beautiful! Andrea did a SUPERB job of placement. I felt so much more confident going to piercer that HAS the equipment I was looking to pierce! :) After all was said and done, I showed Andrea my tattoos and just chatted for a while to get to know her better. She is an extremely sweet and caring woman and I felt utterly well taken care of and in good hands with her work. I could tell she was excited by how excited *I* was. She even listened to some of my relationship blather with a sympathetic ear; major props to her!
Bottom line with Pangea and Andrea is two thumbs up. I discussed what I want to get next with her and gave her a big hug for her kindness and job well done. I've decided to FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY get my tongue done after years and years of coming up with excuses, and you better believe I will be back in Andrea's hands for that.
About a week later, my piercing is finally settling down. For the first few days I had a constant but VERY slow bleeding from the piercing; might want to use panty liners or just use crappy old underwear at first. Pain was extremely minimal afterwards. It was a little unhappy when I washed it with Provon but a few salt water soaks helped. Nothing you can't handle or nothing to alter your usual routine. I made a point to, well, not wipe it down with toilet paper after peeing to keep fibers away and because it was sore and a bit bruised. Again, nothing horrid- I kept checking it out in the mirror many times to watch its progress and healing and it continually got better. Day two was slightly more tender than day one, but today I'm actually doing really good. Very little soreness, the jewelry moves freely when I clean it, and the area looks almost back to normal. I do heal fast, but I already feel good that the piercing is on its way to being healed quickly and completely without any problems. As always, keep your hands away! Keep your boyfriend/girlfriend away! I read several stories where women jumped right into sex afterwards and the thought of that makes my crotch want to depart and go on vacation, but to each their own.
Everyone's big question with this is the pleasure factor. I feel there's a couple pleasurable factors for me. First, it's a confidence booster. I'm convinced it takes a certain amount of balls to spread them and let a piercer at your private parts, and I'm proud of myself for doing it. I also feel a boost in my sexual confidence because I know I have something that would turn a good majority of guys majorly on which is always a nice thing. ;) If you're eager to show it off, you're eager to do...other things. (I did this for myself though, first and foremost) Second, I haven't healed enough to really see the pleasure factor, but I've noticed a couple things. Sliding the bar up and down when I clean it is REALLY. REALLY. NICE. I'm amped to see what this is like once I'm healed. I didn't get an instant orgasm from walking or some such, but as it heals I find crossing my legs and squeezing is a nice treat. My gut tells me once this is healed, and even moreso when it's gauged up, I won't be magically multi-orgasmic, but I'm going to be very, very happy. O:) To each his own and you might have a very difference experience, but for what it's worth, that's mine so far.
If you have the urge for this piercing for whatever reason you have, go for it, but make sure you read up on experiences and take the aftercare seriously, as always. If you're skeeved about the "stranger down there" factor I urge you to find a female piercer and/or just honestly GO FOR IT. Get a skirt on, get yourself there, and plunk yourself in the chair; don't think about it that much. The more you think about it the more reasons you might find to slink out the door. Try not to pay attention to the process AND to the fact that you're open-legged in front of your piercer...keep conversation light and the process will be done before you know it. I love my piercing, feel great about its healing process, and am incredibly happy I had it done. Go for it! You'll be happy you did, believe me :)