It was a cold November morning, as my best friend Ana and I sat in the garage talking. We had been talking intensely lately about piercing and tattoos. Being that I was now 18, I was ready to test the waters. Yet I had always sworn up and down that I would NEVER, I repeat NEVER, pierce my nipples.
At A Glance Author Nippley Contact Nippley@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Tim Studio Zebra Piercing and Tattoo Location Berkeley,CA That morning that all changed. As we sat there chatting, she suddenly looked at me and said "If I pay will you get your nipple pierced?" I was shocked! I looked back at her and said "YEAH!" With that we were set. In the proceeding hour I was dressed and driving to Berkeley with my friend's Ana and Ashley. We were all so excited! Yet I was growing more and more apprehensive. Although I wanted it done so badly!! So we arrived and parked, and began the walk to Zebra's. I'd been here many times before. A trip to Berkeley was never complete without a stop here, if not the reason for the trip. I went inside and stood there nervously, thinking to myself "Can I really do this?" I heard the hot dude from behind the counter ask if I needed any help. Nervously I walked over to him and said "Yes,I wanna get my nipple pierced." He seemed as if he heard this all the time and went about the paperwork. I was so excited, and to be honest, Ashley was starting to freak out.
We paid the extra $4 for the numbing cream. Although it CLEARLY does not numb it enough. They took me to the back room and Tim lathered the cold liquid on my nipple, and covered it in blue tape. He told me that it needed time to work and to come back in 30 minutes.
I left the back room and wandered around telegraph for 30 minutes with Ana and Ashley, the entire time worrying what was I doing? When 3:15 finally rolled around, I went back. I met Tim at the front desk and he said to follow him.
We were off again, and we walked down the short hallway of tattoo choices on the walls, to the immaculately clean back piercing room.I saw all the needles and such and then my stomach dropped. I was actually going to do this. Damn! I thought, this is so cool! He took all the needles and clamps out of the packages, of course all use once items. I asked about pain and if I would still be able to breast feed. He reassured me that I would and that set my only other worry at ease. I was ready now, I wanted this done so badly!He had me take off my bra and stand before him so he could mark on my nipples where exactly he would pierce. I am quite open with my body so I was OK with this. He told me to sit back down on the seat and I did. My friends sat across the small room watched with wide eyes, nervous and scared. He put the clamps on my nipple and I said "oh that in itself hurts," to which Ashley and Ana were like oh my gosh, how painful!
Tim was extremely gentle, he told me that if I breathed when he told me to, it would be much better. I agreed and he said alright, tugging on the clamps. Silly me I thought it was over! But he hadn't even started. I looked down and he immediately told me not to watch, thinking he knew best I held onto the counter and blanked out. "Breath in," I heard him say, so I did. And then it hit me like a lightening bolt through my breast. "OH OH OH!" is all I yelled, and then it was over. Yet I totally missed him saying exhale. He laughed and said I didn't do to good on the breathing. Yeah right! I was exhaling, just at the wrong time and in scream form.
I looked down and saw the corked needle poking through my breast and was amazed. I did it! Ana and Ashley immediately just started saying over and over, "It's SOOO CUTE!" I was all smiles. He slid the shiny silver barbell through and went over cleaning and I was just so excited!
We left the place and I showed it everyone, including people I had just met! I was so excited and amazed that I did it! It doesn't hurt as bad as everyone makes it sound. They really are cute, and there's so much jewelry to go with them! My breasts are small so they needed a little "frosting." I'll be back next weekend for the other one. I'm really excited! I'm currently trying to convince my mother to do the same, we'll see how it goes!