I had just hit puberty when it became popular(and semi-acceptable) for men to get their ears pieced. It was at this time that I heard about people piercing their nipples...with earrings. When I became an awkward teenager I had a secret yearning for it, but I was haunted by stories of people getting them ripped out.
At A Glance Author Darius Contact Darius@bme.anon When Five years ago Studio 23rd Street Body Piercing Location Oklahoma City
It wasn't until my English teacher made us write a report about modern Rites-of-passage that I stumbled across that, in several cultures throughout time, it was not uncommon for people to have their nipples pierced during various ceremonies having to do with adulthood and tests of strength.
It was after that research that I decided I wanted get my nipples done as my own rite-of-passage, after moving out of my parents house. It would symbolize my freedom. I began researching body piercing methods, after-care methods, jewelry, and found a couple of shops that I could get it done at. I did not feel the need for a long drawn-out ceremony.
It finally came down to the awesome reputation and experience that 23rd St. Body Piercing had.
I went to the shop with confidence and determination. I walked in, signed the papers, put down my money, and we went straight back to the room. It was like being in a doctors office. My "doctor" had a face full of piercings and her arms covered in tattoos. I watched as she pulled out her needles, q-tips, gauze pads, clamps, rubber bands, and put on her gloves with a snap.
All of the research I had done had not..I repeat not..prepared me for the pain that I was about to endure. Everything was great! From the antiseptic to the clamps. "Take 2 deep breaths." she said. With the second breath, I felt the needle go in my left nipple. "Wow" I thought to myself as the ring went in. She clamped the right one and said "O.K. Take two deep breaths." On my first exhale, the needle went in. By my second exhale the second ring went in. The best part was when I felt this burning sensation shoot over to the opposite nipple as each one was pierced. A little blood from each one, and it was done. Two wonderful 12 gauge rings now hung from my chest.
I stepped out into the front of the shop with a satisfied grin on my face. I even tried not to scoff as some girls were asking about getting their belly-buttons pierced. After receiving my after-care sheet, I headed over to the local health-food store for sea salt...oh, feeling every bump in the road was fun. It was all I could do to keep from showing off my new piercings to the lady behind the counter.
The only disappointments I ever ran into were not feeling a burning sensation after a month of doing salt soaks and finding out that a particular set of rings that caught my attention only came in an 8 gauge.
After searching for a year, I gave up hope. I decide that, if I was going to spend that much time looking for those particular rings, I must want them pretty bad. I bought them and 2 tapered claws. Within a week, I was completely happy with my new 8 gauge rings. The salt soaks started burning again... Joy!
3 more years went by and I was growing a little apathetic about my chest. I felt I needed something more. I thought about getting another piercing. I looked at nipple shields. I thought about getting a vertical nipple piercing behind the existing ones.
Finally, one night cruising the local party favors store I noticed that the temporary tattoos they had that were obviously meant for belly buttons, would probably fit just right around a nipple. I picked out a couple that looked halfway decent and tried them out.
I decided on something a little bit more permanent. Since they still haven't legalized tattooing in Oklahoma (yeah,I know), I had to drive to Texas. I got to Fantasy Tattoos with enough time to decide on a design. A moon? A bat? Nope, I went for the tribal. My heart broke when he said that I had to take out my ring first. My rings hadn't been out since I put them in. I bet the look on my face was nothing compared to the look on his face when I told him that I wanted the design to go around my nipple.
It has been 3 years since all of that and while most of my friends weren't able to keep their tongue piercings (Oklahoma is the belt buckle of the bible belt),I still have my nipple rings. I wear a shirt and tie to work everyday. No one around the office knows about it.