At A Glance
Author	anonymous
When	A week ago
Artist	me

Let me start off by saying I'm grounded for a DIY tattoo on my hand so I'm no stranger to DIY body modification. I've tattooed several friends and pierced my ears and friends' ears. But I've never pierced myself or anyone else in any other location other than the ears. Not to mention, piercing my septum would get me into an ocean of hot water, no not hot water, burning acid water from hell with my mother if it were to be found, which is why i chose one of the easiest piercings to conceal.

I've been wanting a septum piercing for quite some time now. I've thought about it for a few months when I finally realized that rather than taking pictures with circular barbells up the nose and photoshopping in retainers and rings i should just give it a go. I know, i know, DIY piercings are risky and unsafe, but hey, I'm risky and probably unsafe as well. I went around looking for my 14G circulars with spikes and balls and even snuck into my little sister's room and took some of hers so I'd have a variety to choose from. I found about 5 and checked them all to see which one would most likely look the best. I settled on a tiny circular barbell with red and gray balls because the black and white balls weren't screwing in easily.

Prior to the fateful evening of my septum attempt, I did some research on BME about DIY septum piercing and I asked friends about their piercing after care. I thought I was ready to take on the task of piercing my septum.

After piercing my ear with a safety pin, I grabbed some ice cubes, a bigger safety pin, piercing cleaning stuff (yes, stuff, I can't remember what it was called), a lighter, some paper towels, and my cell phone to text my friend who pierced her septum herself about a year ago. I asked her for any tips she had. She just said "it's going to hurt but just keep going, if you're scared wait for me". I didn't wait, I thought about it for ten minutes and then set to work.

I "sterilized" my safety pin using fire, despite reading that it would just contaminate the needle. (I guess I just don't listen.) I sat down in front of a mirror and grabbed the ice cubes. I tried to numb my nose so that the piercing would possibly hurt less. After about seven minutes,I thought my nose was good and ready so I grabbed the safety-pin and got to poking.

It took alot of pushing to get the needle to penetrate the first layer of skin. I just kept pushing and pushing. As the tears ran down my face I made it to the middle of my nose. Snot was dripping out of my nostrils, most likely due to the ice cube numbing. I took a break to breathe and calm down then I kept going. The last layer took forever and believe me this was the most painful thing I've ever done to myself physically. When the safety pin finally poked through I realized it was slightly uneven. Although I was upset, I took it out slowly and tried to fit the 14G circular barbell through.

No luck there, the ring was way too big. The hole, after not bleeding at all through the piercing stage, began to bleed a little. I decided that my efforts were fruitless and that I had failed. I texted my trusted friend again saying that I failed and asking when I should try again, she replied "I'm going to bed, we'll talk about it tomorrow. ily". Frowning, I cleaned up, then washed away my tears and snot, and went to bed.

Its been a week or so now and the piercing isn't infected and I still want a septum piercing. I've done more research and am debating whether to buy clamps or not. I'm skeptical about whether they would get in the way of the needle. I'm also considering having a friend help me out next time. I'm really unsure if that would help or hinder me more though. I've decided to wait a few months to try again and to purchase some cleaning supplies, a 14G needle, maybe some clamps, and an 18g barbell, a short one, clear so its easier to conceal my forbidden piercing. Since last week my want for a septum piercing has grown to immense proportions. Not a day has gone by that I haven't looked in the mirror and pretended my septum was pierced or touched my nose looking at the mark of my last attempt. I've also bought a 14G retainer so that hiding the piercing from my family is easier. A friend has told me that I am paranoid of my mom finding out about my septum piercing and that perhaps I should just not tilt my head up ever again and bow my head down when at home just to make sure my dear septum isn't discovered and forced to be taken out from my nasal cavities.