At A Glance
Author	sleepyhead
When	A month ago
Artist	Taylor
Studio	Tribosei
Location	Red Deer, Alberta (Canada)

I had been itching for a new piercing for quite some time, and finally decided to get my nipples pierced.

After hearing nothing but wonderful things about Taylor @ Tribosei, I went in to ask some questions. We spent the better part of twenty minutes talking about the piercing... I had a million questions, and he happily answered every single one of them. Because I had gone in close to closing, I asked if he had room for me to have my nipples pierced the following day - he did.

I got up the next day VERY nervous, but really excited that I was going to have not just one new piercing, but two. I've always loved the way little barbells look in nipples, and I was thrilled to be getting my own. I found a loose shirt and a clean, comfy bra. I made sure to eat (although all I had was some toast - I didn't know if eating a big meal was a good idea considering how nervous I was), and off I went.

I ended up having to wait a looooong time in the waiting room at the shop – the girl ahead of me was getting a cleavage bar – and there were a few moments when I considered getting up and leaving. But I knew I would love the end result, so I stayed in all my shaky nervousness. (It helped to have my boyfriend there with me)

When it was my turn Taylor called me in. We talked briefly about what color jewelery I wanted put in (just plain steel), and I asked him how often people chickened out after the first nipple was pierced. (Haha) He told me that usually the person puts so much pressure on him/herself to go through with all of it that people rarely change their mind about getting both done at once. That made me feel slightly better.

He had me take my shirt off. While he put on a clean pair of gloves I went to the mirror and said goodbye to my undecorated nipples. He laughed, and I laughed, and it made me feel a little less nervous.

He cleaned each of my nipples with some sort of cream. He very carefully marked both nipples – he used henna, I think - making one dot on either side of each nipple, and then drawing a line across each nipple, connecting the dots. It was actually kind of a lengthy process, but I didn't mind – it just meant that my piercings were almost guaranteed to be "perfect".

When he was finished marking, he had me lie down on the table. He changed his gloves, got the needles ready and talked to me about the importance of relaxed breathing through the process. (Keep your shoulders down, let your limbs be loose, take slow, deep breaths, keep breathing through the piercing – don't hold your breath!)

I tried my best to relax, closed my eyes, and he started on the right nipple. At first I actually thought he was piercing through it very slowly, but it turns out that he was just lining up the needle to exit in the right place... It seemed to take quite a long time, but when he actually pierced through my nipple, I knew it. It was a weird kind of pain... Very intense, but very quick. He told me that I would feel a bit of a pinch as he put the jewelery through, and I did, and then it was over. There was a bit of a burning sensation, but I didn't have a lot of time to dwell on it, because I still had the left nipple to go.

He moved around to the other side of the table, and asked me if I still wanted the other one done. I said yes. I closed my eyes again and tried to keep my breathing steady. He lined the needle up, and through it went. Another pinch with the jewelery, a slight burning sensation, and that was it!

I didn't get up right away, and he talked to me about aftercare and healing. When he was finished, I got up and looked in the mirror... A little red and little swollen but absolutely beautiful. :) I knew the minor amount of discomfort had been worth it.

Taylor told me that wearing a bra would be fine – even more comfortable for the piercings than not – so I (carefully!) put my bra and shirt back on, and went on my way.

It's been almost a month now, and everything is going well. My cleaning routine, as instructed by Taylor, consists of nothing but a daily hot shower (too easy!).

I have a little bit of the normal fluid coming out of both piercings, and the slight itch it causes is easily fixed by a warm sea salt water soak, followed by a salt-free warm water rinse. I have been religious about keeping everything away from my new piercings, including my fingers.

I am incredibly happy with my newly pierced nipples, and would highly recommend going for it, if it's something you want.