I was turning 18 and I had a growing piercing itch. At the time I was working a receptionist job at a title company and I had to go for something non-facial. I had been interested in surface piercing for some time so I chose my nape.
At A Glance Author Audrey Contact Audrey@bme.anon IAM oddrey When Six months ago Artist Vern Studio Wingnut Location Anoka, Minnesota, USA I had a preferred parlor in St. Paul (Minnesota) where I had gotten my ears pierced when I was 16 years old. The people there were very friendly and it wasn't some crappy stop in the suburbs that only did tongues and belly buttons. I went out there a week before my birthday but when I asked about the procedure (cost, healing time, etcetera) I was astonished to find out that no one there was comfortable enough to do surface piercings. Was this more complicated than I had imagined?
I decided to get my nape done in Anoka where I had seen an acquaintance of mine get the same piercing.
It was quite a drive out there and on my way I got a little nervous, which can be expected. Despite the awful screaming music that was playing when I walked in, the parlor emitted a sterile but friendly glow. Vern (the same piercer I had seen do the procedure before) greeted me and all of the necessary papers were filled out. I was confronted when I came to the question "are you prone to bleeding?" because my other piercing experiences had been bloody messes. I warned him about this and we were off to the piercing room.
When in the room Vern looked through many little boxes only to find that he was out of surface bars. All at once my little hopes were shattered but a ray of hope came through when he said there might be some in the other room. To my luck there was one but it was rather long. He told me that it was a quarter of an inch longer than he would normally suggest. All I could think was: that means the needle will be in my longer. I pushed aside this thought and agreed. I hadn't come all this way for nothing. Next was the placement. I asked where the bar should go, and told him to consider that I wear the same necklace everyday. He told me I could either go above where the necklace laid, or below. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to make that decision but I chose below, therefore I could avoid any difficulties of it being seen at work. He marked me up with a little marker and it was time. Before lying down I noticed a small bottle of glucose tablets on a shelf and I asked if I could have one. This was my sweet placebo, and I promised myself I would not become nauseous or light headed. It was grape flavored and reminded me of children's cough medicine. I would have preferred cherry, but life moved on.
I was told to lay on my tummy with my chin at the end of the table. I thought I felt the metal bits of a clamp pinching my skin but was later told by a watcher that it was just the piercer pinching my skin hard and pulling it up. I was told to take a deep breath and after the long exhale the hard part was over. I don't want to sound like a moron, but it felt exactly like a needle had gone through my skin. At the time my only piercing comparisons were ears (piercing and stretching) and nipple piercings. This had been nowhere near the pain of a nipple and just slightly over the ear lobe. It was more of a 'stingy' feeling than a pain. Maybe it was just the fact that I had been lying on my face but this piercing produced the most intense adrenalin wave I have experienced. Before I knew it the jewelry was in and I could sit up. In fear of sickness I slowly rolled over on my side and brought myself vertical carefully. My face was red and warm but otherwise there was no discomfort. I was told to take a look and with two mirrors I got to see my newly decorated nape. To my surprise, not a drop of blood.
The first day I was scared of moving my arms incase this moved the skin on my back. There was only a minor soreness and the weirdness of getting used to a new piece of metal in you. Cleaning time was awkward. The best way I found was to use salt-water drenched cotton balls and lay on my belly while they soaked my wounds. After about a month I just started washing it with mild soap in the shower daily. There was never a discharge issue but the entry hole was red for about a week or so. I've been warned of random rejections, but I have yet to see any sign that mine will do that any time soon. The public can't see it unless I'm wearing a tank top or a shirt with a very low back. It's more of an upper back piercing than nape. I feel as though this makes it a bit more unique.
Since my nape I have also gotten an oral 'web' and my septum pierced (constantly wearing a retainer). It's difficult to live in a professional world and be modified. I feel that this is the best answer for anyone wanting a more personal body adornment. Its been 7 months now and my nape remains my favorite piercing.