I worked myself up for nothing: My nipples

At A Glance Author Larkin Contact Larkin02@aol.com Artist Joel Studio Hellbound Location Allentown, PA

I have always had an affinity towards body modification. I got my first tattoo at sixteen and by the time I was 17 a row of 9 studs decorated my left ear, and three in my right. Shortly after I turned 18, I got my tongue pierced. I continued getting tattoos, and my

mom continued to freak out everytime she found a new one. None were very visible, everything could be covered up when my mom needed to parade me around at a dinner party or introduce me to her friends.

It wasn't until I turned 20 this spring and lived on my own this summer, 350 miles from home, that I was truly able to become myself rather than the sorority girl my mom wanted me to be.

I got a boring job, but my co-workers were fantastic. Most were college kids like me in need of a summer job. There was no restrictions regarding hair color or piercings since we had no contact with the public. I dyed my hair bright pink and something came alive in me, something that my secretive ink or discreet tongue had yet to tap. My outward appearance was finally matching what I felt inside, it was the ultimate liberation. I stretched my ears to an 8 gauge, and got my first facial piercing a month after school

started up again.

Two months later I began thinking of a new piercing. I considered getting a second lip ring, but I that idea got the back burner when I decided on nipple rings.

My main concern was the pain. I knew I wanted them, no, I NEEDED them! I poured over BME and did lots of research. I slowly began psyching myself up for the pain. I assumed it would be the most painful mod I would have to date. I made test pokes with a safety pin to get a feel of the pain. It was a sharp pain, so that's what I expected.

Today, 21 Nov 2000, just felt right. I got over the few seconds of pain I would have to endure and thought how wonderful they would look. I have small nipples compared to my 38DD breasts and felt that this piercing would balance my chest.

I called up my friend, Matt for moral support and called Hellbound to see if Joel had time to pierce me. He said to come down so my housemate,Jess, Matt and I headed over to the shop.

We got there and all was pretty quiet. We stepped into the piercing room. Joel readied his tools, cracking sterilized instruments from their packages. We made jokes. I gave a pep talk to my nipples. My adrenaline was on, I was ready to go. Joel was ready. I stripped from the waist up, and was surprisingly comfortable being topless in front of my friends.

Joel marked my nipples, I ok'ed them. He clamped me, I started breathing and waited for the most searing pain of my life. I closed my eyes and thought happy thoughts, then as I exhaled I realized the needle was through my nipple with no more intensity than my tongue piercing. I looked down just to make sure it was done and the needle was really through. Within seconds I felt a little pinch my ring was in and the next was clamped and ready to go. Eyes closed, breathing again, happy thoughts, push...yeah, the second one does sting more. Probably because I realized it wasn't going to hurt that much. And with another pinch my second right was through. Joel popped the sliver balls in, and that was it!

He cleaned the few drops of blood from my new piercing, and I was still waiting for the throbbing pain to set in, 6 hours later-I have yet to feel it.

I was amazed. The pain was just a step above my tongue piercing, and far less intense then I ever imagined. I took two Alieve about an hour before, and I am in very little discomfort. A slight discomfort occurs if I jiggle a bit. It kind of feels like when your nipples get really achey/sensative and they are touched too roughly. There is no jogging in my near future, just the satisfaction of my beautiful nipples.

Since I was friends with Joel it was only 60 bucks. I tipped him 10 and drove home, seatbelt on and all. I put on a tighter bra when I got home which felt much more comfortable. I have a feeling I will being wearing tight bras for a couple weeks.

The bottom line: nipple piercing are gorgeous. The pain is what you make of it. It is all mental. If you want this wonderful mod: find a studio and piercer you feel comfortable with and GO DO IT!!

"I used to be a lot like you, but now I'm only me..." Boy Sets Fire