I have always admired piercings and tattoos. And as soon as I was 16, I jumped right into piercings thanks to my understanding and loving parents. I had four before my 18th birthday, and I stood out at the catholic high school I attended. But, as I'm sure all of you can understand, it's addicting and they become a part of you.
At A Glance Author Mystify191 Contact Mystify191@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Kyle Brouillard Studio Penetrations Location Eau Claire,WI For as long as I can remember I wanted to pierce my nipples. My oldest sister had her's done, and the first time I saw them I was sold. But when I brought up the idea to my boyfriend at the time he wasn't exactly enthused. To be more precise, he said no way no how. And we argued about it all the time and I had it set in my mind I wanted to do this. Then, we broke up and those strong feelings kind of seemed to go away. Maybe it was because I didn't have that person telling me I couldn't do it. Actually, I know that's why.
Then about two years went by and my dream came true. The tattoo/piercing shop where I get all my mods done was losing one of their two counter employees. I was well known from being a customer, but my now fiancé also happened to do all the computer work for the shop and the owner. So, I got my dream job and was swept back up in all those warm fuzzy feelings.
As soon as I settled into the family of the shop Kyle, the piercer, started into me about what was I going to let him poke a hole in first. I casually mentioned how I once wanted to pierce my nipples more than anything, but that I wasn't so sure anymore and the pain did scare me (there was more than one occasion where I heard the screams while sitting in the lobby). So they were put on hold and we did an ear project instead.
Time past and my feeling began to grow again. I talked with Kyle a lot about all my concerns and fears and he was more than willing to answer all of them in great detail. We decided that it would probably be a good idea if I waited for someone to come in to get it done and ask politely if I could watch. He said I should say I was thinking about getting it done but I was a "big pussy." But too bad for me they always seemed to come in on the days I wasn't working.
Well, last week it was a slowing down as closing time approached. I was working with Kyle, one of our tattoo artists Jerome and our cleaning man Kris (who has been a long time friend of mine). Yup, I was working with three guys. So you can only imagine how long it took before the topic came up. I kept saying that I wanted to wait until I got to see someone else get it done, but Kris insisted that if I kept waiting I'd never do it. And I thought about it, and he was right. I decided I wasn't going to put it off any longer.
Nerves immediately set in and I went to the bathroom. I did my thing and stood in there by myself trying to calm myself down for a few minutes. I went back into the shop and went into the piercing room and closed the curtains in the windows. I asked Kris to come in with me to hold my hand, and he's also going to do an apprenticeship soon so I thought it would be a good learning experience. We closed the door and as Kyle got set up I took off my shirt and bra and stood in front of the mirror trying to decide if I wanted to do horizontal or slanted. Kyle and Kris looked closely and I said that my areolas were oval-shaped and slightly slanted. Collectively we came to the decision that going horizontal would be best.
I sat on the table and Kyle cleaned the area and let me tell you, it was cold. I don't think my nipples have ever been so hard in my life. He made his marks and I looked at them in the mirror. I'm pretty anal when it comes to my piercings, so we ended up re-marking them twice. And then it was go time and I laid down. We did my right nipple first. I was shaking a little and Kris did a great job of calming me and doing the cleansing breaths with me. "In through your nose... out through your mouth." I held onto his hand for dear life. Kyle asked if I was ready, I said yes, and he said, "Deep breath in... and out." Oh my freaking god, it was so painful. I'm not going to lie, it hurt. And when I get pierced I have a tendency to bring a leg up towards my chest. Well, I did that but this time I managed to knock Kyle's elbow with my knee. Immediately I go, "Oh sh*t, did I screw it up? I'm so sorry, crap Kyle..." He assured me he had gone all the way through before I hit it and it was all okay. I looked at Kris and he told me I did a great job. I looked down at the needle in my nipple and it looked good. He went to put the jewelry (12g straight barbell) in and warned me it would "feel a little funny." It did, but I wouldn't say painful. Okay, one down... one to go.
Kyle rolled his tray over to my left side and Kris come to my right and held my hand. We did the breathing again and Kyle asked if I was ready, I said yes, and I took my deep breath in... and out. Okay... I thought the first one was bad, this was 10 times worse. Kyle asked to me take ANOTHER breath and I tried to between my curse words and "ow ow ow." He said it was through and he was going to put the jewelry in. Kris told me I did awesome and that they looked really good and perfect. There was a little bleeding for my left one which Kyle cleaned and said I could look. I stood up and looked in the mirror and forgot about all the pain. I loved them, and was so happy I finally did it.
Overall, I would say I overestimated how much I thought it was going to hurt. But you expect the worse going into it, and then it's not that bad. It's been about four days and they are doing pretty well. Just a little dried blood at the end of the day which is normal. Pain hasn't been bad, I would say they are tender. But I bump into something or someone who doesn't know surprises me with a hug and then it hurts. But most definitely happy I went through with it and Kyle is my hero. I would recommend it to anyone who has been giving it thought but isn't quite sure.