I've wanted to get a nipple piercing for a long time. I was never interested in getting my earlobes done, I'm still not and I don't think I will, but after a while of thinking about it, I realized (probably in high school) that I wanted to get my left nipple pierced. My family, of course, didn't get it, and were kind of weirded out. I just always knew that that was what I wanted.
At A Glance Author CT Contact jmspengler@hotmail.com When It just happened Artist Emily Studio Straight to the Point 1 Location downtown Portland, Oregon I got it both as decoration, and as a sort of reclaiming thing. I've never been very comfortable with my breasts, and for several years I had an eating disorder and was hugely uncomfortable with my body and my breasts. Now that I'm finally more ok with my body and the fact that I have fat ok it and that's ok, I'm planning to get a few piercings to mark and remind me of that (this one and a belly-button). It's also an affirmation of my sexuality, and reminds me that it's ok to like sex and my body as a sexy thing.
So I've been thinking seriously about getting this done for months, but only just got the money. More or less on impulse, I decided to go and get it done today, and I kind of did it too fast to chicken out or think about how much it would hurt. I went with my roommate to Straight to the Point 1 in downtown Portland, about twenty minutes from where I live. A lot of my friends have gotten pierced there (Reedies all, I hear they get a lot of business from us), I've driven some of them, and I've heard pretty much only good things. They're open all week, luckily, so the fact it was Sunday didn't matter. It was very quiet, and only Emily and the chick working the counter were there.
When I got there, they had me sign the form, checked my ID, and then had me sit and wait for a bit while they sprayed down the back room. I was really impressed with the cleanliness through the whole thing. They also drew a curtain around the piercing area, which is mostly glass and looks out through the store windows to the street. Phew. Once they were done with that, I headed back there with the piercer so she could look at my nipples and make sure of the jewelry to use. Then she had me pick out the size balls I wanted on the barbells. I want to eventually get a captive bead ring put in, but they do all nipple piercings with barbells there, I assume because it heals better. I'm stuck with the barbell for the two or three months it takes to heal...I can't wait. I'm hoping to get the bead in rose quartz, which is symbolic of love, as an extra reminder to not be so harsh on my body and myself. Also it should look good against my pale skintone.
Emily then sterilized the jewelry and had me come into the back again. She marked my nipple while I was standing up, then had me lie back in the chair. She put some kind of clear goop, I assume an antiseptic, on my nipple, and then clamped it. She told me what she was doing at every step, which was good, since I had never had anything pierced before and I can't stand looking at needles.
It hurt! It was possibly the worst short, sharp pain I've ever felt. I think I may have arched up a bit, I'm not sure, but if I did Emily compensated for it. I know I got all tense. It hurt down into my stomach, which I think must be something to do with the nerves there. As the day has gone on, my whole breast, not just my nipple, has hurt off and on, which may be the same thing. It hurt again when she swapped the needle out for the barbell, but not as bad. Around that point she started distracting me with conversation. She gave me some tips on how to take care of it, how to make sure it doesn't get caught on things too much, things like that. After a little bit of lightheadedness, I got dressed and headed back out to get my aftercare brochure and sea salt, and I paid. It was a lot cheaper than I had thought, only $56 for the piercing and the jewelry. I'll be paying $10 to get it shortened in a couple of weeks, and another $10 to change it to a CBR, but that's still not too bad.
It's still sore, and I've been kinda out of it all day, but it was a great experience. I'm really glad I finally got it done, and I'm really, really glad Emily was the one who did it. She really put me at ease, and I was impressed with the cleanliness and professionalism of the place. I definitely recommend STTP to folks in the Portland area.