i had my left nipple pierced about 2 years ago in austin, tx. at the time, i had decided that one was enough. it was totally exciting and arousing to be pierced, and really, i thought, unlike me. now i love it. it was great... the piercing, the healing, the pretty shiny ring, it was all worth the 30 seconds of pain, and week of discomfort.
At A Glance Author mm Contact mm@bme.anon Artist kitten Studio aware piercing Location santa fe, nm about a year ago, i went to a different studio, and had the other done. everything about that piercing was absolutely miserable. it was crooked, bled a lot, and was much more painful than the first. so after two weeks, i took it out. and again i decided that i was a one-ring kind of gal.
recently i decided to try again. i wanted the balance, symmetry i guess, because i really like the outline of the ring under my shirt, and love the increased sensation (damn!). not to mention the fact that just by looking at me, you never think i have not one, but a pair of matching shiny rings through my nipples. i love it.
i also found myself trying to explain more and more not so much why i got pierced, but why i have only one. what?! at first i thought it was an odd reaction, but then i started to wonder myself.
so i looked around here in santa fe and found a great shop named aware. kitten and jeff were the people behind the counter. they were really friendly, relaxed, and straightforward. i felt totally comfortable there. so i decided to give the right one a second try.
even though i'd been through it all before i was nervous. my stomach was turning over, and even the light lunch i'd had felt heavy. so i tried to relax on the plush leather sofa in the lobby, and resolved not to vomit on these good people, and looked through a couple of books on bodyart. and sure enough, when i came to a photo of a woman with both nipples pierced, it was definitely what i wanted.
after a few minutes, i'd actually relaxed. i heard my name. ok, here we go. kitten the piercer was great. she led me to the private room that was decorated with personal photos and candles and other homey-feeling stuff. it was nice, relaxing, made me think that these people really liked working here. everything we would need for the piercing was already ready. i asked a bunch of questions, and told her about the last piercing mishap, and she very patiently answered and explained all. she reassured me that nothing like that would happen this time. she took her time and was very gentle.
she cleaned my nipple, then took out a sharpie. it took about ten minutes to mark me. she kept marking and checking and comparing it to the other ring, standing, kneeling, up close, far away, the works. she asked me to check them too. the little marks looked perfect to me.
kitten asked if i preferred sitting up or laying down, and i chose to lay down, that way i'd be less likely to move and screw it up. we were chatting the whole time, but she was very careful to keep checking that everything was right. when the clamps were painful, she loosened them up a bit, then lined up the cork, clamps and needle.
we did the piercing in one breath. i breathed in, held on for a second, then actually thought about never exhaling. hahaha kitten must have read my mind because she actually looked up at me and smiled. but i did exhale, and halfway through i felt the white hot focused pain of the needle. when i opened my eyes, kitten asked again if i was okay, then quickly slipped the ring in. and that was it.
she said i could lay there for as long as i liked, but i was too excited to see my newly matching shiny nip rings. they were perfect!
5/8 inch 12 gauge rings with pretty little green-dyed onyx beads.
it wasn't until i left the shop that i realized how aroused i was. what a rush! i couldn't stop looking at it, and the whole 1/2 hour drive home, i kept pulling on my shirt to see. i am thrilled!
so to any woman wondering whether to pierce their nipples or not, mine is a definite vote of yes. in the hands of the right piercer, the pain is not so bad. its the pain of a needle, not your arms being ripped off of your body.
and to anyone looking for a great place to go in the santa fe area, i'd definitely recommend aware, and the services of kitten and jeff.