The adrenaline of being pierced is different for everyone, but I'm sure that everybody here on BME has felt it. The sensations of pain, the rush as you feel the needle, the dull ache and the bleeding. It gives you a sense of life, of touch and emotions. It can make you feel like you're on top of the world, or it can remind you that you're still alive. The rush is different for everybody, but we can all relate in one form or another.
At A Glance Author Halo Contact ambascombe@email.wyw.ca When It just happened Artist Shawn Studio Bushido Tattoos and Piercing Location Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I had my nipples pierced just yesterday, on October the 29th at five o' clock in the evening. It had been a long couple of months of research, weighing the pros and cons of the piercing (i.e. mastitis, numb nipples, rejection etc.). I knew that many of the risks were exceptionally rare, but I was still afraid to go through with the whole experience. But for about three years, I've wanted to have my nipples pierced, and for me, it was a "do it now or regret not doing it at all" decision. So, I decided to go with my gut instinct, and take the plunge. I took a good look around Calgary to find a suitable studio to do this particular deed, since it couldn't be just anyone, but someone with experience in the field of piercing.
The research was long and tedious, and I went through probably a good five studios, rummaging through their portfolios, and talking to people who had been there before. I eventually chose Bushido, because I had been there before with a friend who had been tattooed by Stacie-Rae Weir, an incredibly talented tattoo artist. I called up and made an appointment with Shawn, the most experienced piercer in the shop. The journey there was not fun, through traffic jams and rude people; I was almost a half hour late for my appointment. I arrived there and it turned out that Shawn himself was going to be late, so I filled out the forms, chose the rings for the piercings, and checked out the artists' portfolios with my boyfriend.
Shawn finally arrived and introduced himself. He was very polite and a blast to talk to. We headed to the piercing room and established conversation while he took everything he needed out onto the tray. It was all sanitary, sterilized and wrapped in individual packages. He left the room while I took off my shirt and bra and lay down on the cold table. My boyfriend just kept asking me, "are you sure you want to go through with this? We could always leave, I don't know if I want to see you in pain." I have a fairly decent tolerance to pain, but I'm fallible. Shawn returned and washed his hands before slipping on a pair of rubber gloves. He swabbed both nipples and smiled. He removed the packages and took out a sterile marker. He marked the area to be pierced and I gave the final confirmation. It was time to take the plunge.
As Shawn got ready, he warned me that he would be controlling my breathing. I had been very relaxed and at ease until this moment, then I started to feel lightheaded. I nodded and breathed in, then exhaled. I breathed in again, and I felt a sharp, stinging sensation. I felt it slide all the way through and it remained there, before he slid the twelve gauge CBR through, then clamped it and inserted the bead. After the first piercing was done, I felt an incredible rush of relief and a heightened sensation of joy. He warned me that he was ready to do the next piercing, and I stood up to be marked again.
Shawn was ready for the next piercing. I lay back down and resumed my breathing exercise. I breathed in again, as he slid the needle through. My heightened senses rushed back to me and I felt like I was floating. The next piercing was done and all I could feel now was a slow, dull throb, reminding me that I was still alive. The whole experience was incredibly surreal. Shawn swabbed the area again with a sterile pad and used a Q-tip to clean the minimal amount of blood. Apparently, my blood is very thin, despite leading an incredibly straight edge life. I had not drank and I was not a user, so he was perplexed at why it was so thin, but continued swabbing the area. He handed me an aftercare sheet and warned me not to touch my piercing with dirty hands.
I was more than aware of aftercare, having had my ears pierced numerous times, but I listened very carefully to him, since it was the first time I'd ever had my nipples pierced. I put my bra back on and buttoned up my shirt. My boyfriend had passed out against the wall for a few seconds, before shakily handing me my jacket. He was incredibly pale; it seemed that the experience was worse for him than it was for me, despite the fact that I had had a damn needle through my nipples twice. I paid the $112.00 that it had cost, and tipped Shawn twenty bucks for his great work. He arranged for a follow up in a few weeks and recommended that I do salt soaks. I thank him with fervor and said that I would definitely drop by again.
The drive home was incredible, except with a few complaints from my boyfriend, and the occasional, "You're insane" comment. I felt feelings of euphoria that I have not felt for years, and a renewed sense of confidence. So I sit here now, typing this, and I feel better than I have ever felt, and I wonder to myself, why did I put it off so long? This was the confidence that I needed to feel throughout high school, but now, I can put this confidence to use in the working world. For all of you Calgarians who are looking to get pierced, I definitely recommend Shawn of Bushido Tattoo and Piercing!