I actually ended up getting my nipples (my twenty piercing milestone) pierced because of a CBR ball. I had bought some 14ga needles and CBRs to pierce my nipples, then chickened out because everyone said how painful they were, and I didn't want to get halfway through and think the pain was too much (don't laugh, it has happened before). So I decided to use the needles and CBR to pierce my outer labia. The ball of one CBR went on fine, but I couldn't, try as I might, get the second one on. I figured I would have to go ask someone else to do it for me, which meant a trip to the piercing studio.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon IAM Oopps When A week ago Like any piercing addict, I couldn't just go and not get something new pierced. Plus, it seemed weird to make the 45-min journey to the studio just to get the ball put back in. Ok, maybe if I was in the area, or if they had done the piercing, but neither was the case. I figured I had planned on piercing my nipples at some point, why not now.
I got to the studio just as they opened, figuring they were least likely to have appointments at that time (also not wanting the CBR to fall out, I wanted it closed sooner rather than later). There were a couple of military-looking guys waiting to get tattoos done, and I sat next to them as I waited for the piercer. He came downstairs, and I said I wanted my nipples pierced. I had to ask right in front of all the guys, which was possibly the most embarrassing part. I'm rather shy about my girly piercings, and nipples definitely came in that category. You could see the interested looks they all suddenly gave me.
Anyway, I went upstairs, to the piercing room, and explained about the CBR. He told me to pull down my pants and popped the ball in for me, and also checked my VCH, which I had pierced there about a month and a half earlier. I must admit, it did make me a little happier when even the piercer had a bit of trouble getting the ball in, at least I didn't feel quite so incompetent.
He then had me take off my shirt (after putting my pants back on) and stand so that he could mark and measure my nipples, while making sure I remembered the aftercare. I never really check where the marks go, I figure they do this far more often, and so will know far better than me what looks good. After measuring, it was decided that 1/2in bars would be too short, so he would have to autoclave some longer ones, while I went outside for a smoke.
This being Japan, socialising revolves around smoking, so I was soon joined by one of the tattooists and some of the guys waiting for tattoos (who turned out to be navy on shore leave).We had a nice chat about skiing and snowboarding, made a little difficult by the fact that the tattooist didn't speak much English, the navy guys much Japanese and I can't talk without switching between the two, even when I want to. Then the navy guys went in to get tattooed, and I to get pierced. There was also brief discussion of my scrumper (which, to my surprise, was a piercing the tattooist had never seen).
I took off my shirt again, and we checked the marks were still there and still even, then I lay down to get pierced. Starting with my right nipple, he told me to breathe in, then exhale while he slid the needle through, which I forgot to do, holding my breath and feeling like I was going to pass out from oxygen starvation. I'm sure it wasn't long enough to actually pass out, but it sure felt it. The piercing hurt no-where near what I was expecting. Clamps were not used, which might have been part of the reason, I also had exaggerated the expect pain way out of proportion in my mind. All in all it hurt less than my tongue piercing (which may be because the piercer – a different shop – wasn't the best, and also because I pierced my tongue at 6ga).
He went around to do the other side, and it was much the same until the needle lost contact with the jewellery (at least I think that's what happened). He got out a taper and that part HURT. I felt like my nipple was being torn off. I may have made some sound, because he glanced at me and asked if that part hurt. I nodded and laughed, while he screwed the jewellery on and cleaned both nipples. I got dressed and headed downstairs to pay.
As I came down the stairs, one of the navy guys called out "Did it hurt?", to which I responded "Not as much as I expected", still mortified that all these guys knew what I had just gotten pierced. I paid my money and left, but I'm sure I'll be back soon enough.