At A Glance Author Josh Contact Josh@bme.anon When It just happened Studio Marlowe Ink Location Fairfax, Virginia For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated with things that were a bit estranged from the mainstream. The idea of body modification came to the front line as a younger teenager, where I just temporarily pierced my ears. However, after turning 18, I began to desire to diversify, and eventually focused on my nipples; an inclination that was reinforced at the positive feedback of a few friends, who many positive things to say about theirs with very few caveats.
I asked a friend to recommend to me a place to get them done. She recommended the listed studio, and agreed to go with me, as it was the first time I'd ever let anyone else pierce my body, and I was a little but more than anxious about it. Unfortunately, my schedule got incredibly chaotic, so I had to wait much longer than I would have wanted, but I finally found myself with free time last Saturday, and so I off I went!
The ride there was long, but I felt oddly calm. My friend drove me, and it proved a chance for me to catch up with her, which is what I believe helped me keep from over-thinking and becoming nervous.
We eventually pull into the parking lot, and head into the building, which was recessed behind the other storefronts. My friend, who knew the people well, was greeted eagerly by them, as was I. I filled out the standard disclaimer forms, and handed over $80. The artists then headed back to prepare everything and I shortly followed after him. He asked me to take off my shirt, remain standing while he marked the entry and exit points, and then to lie down. By this point, the tension was starting to build up, but it wasn't anything serious. I laid down on the table, and he started off with the left nipple, and then moved to the right.
The sensation was a lot less painful than I thought it was going to be—nearly everyone who knew that I was planning on getting the piercing done reacted with something along the lines of "oh, god, that's going to hurt so bad! I couldn't do it, if I was you," so I guess I was expecting some horrible, crippling, or debilitating pain that would leave me curled up in some corner in the fetal position. Instead, though, I felt a split-second, sharp sensation for each nipple, though the right nipple hurt a bit more than the left one did. Furthermore, when the actual rings were put in (captured ball rings), I didn't feel a thing. I stood back up, buttoned my shirt, and the artist handed me an aftercare sheet, which mainly consisted of to do's and not to do's, and how to correctly soak the piercings in sea salt solution. The actual time required for all this struck me as surprisingly short; in about 5 minutes, I had my new piercings, and my friend and I left the studio. I guess my experience with DIY piercings, where I used needles not specifically made for piercing skin, slanted my view of the total time required for such a task.
After they were pierced, I experienced even less pain. I was cautioned that they would probably hurt more when I went outside into the freezing temperature, but even outside, I felt very little. The only negative repercussion that I experience was, on the ride to the supermarket to pick up sea salt, I discovered that my right piercing bled to a significant degree, and made the inside of my shirt look like I'd suffered some strange wound. Fortunately, the blood didn't soak all the way through my shirt.
I've had the piercings for just a day, so I can't really talk about long-term outcomes of the piercings, but right after I got pierced, I had put on the closing night of a show for my theatre. Before the show opened, I eagerly showed everyone my crusty, bloody additions to my body. After I got home, I spent a good while looking at them in the mirror; I'm completely fascinated. Before, I viewed my nipples as just some strange, vestigial structure. Now, they're like a newly discovered part of me. I like how sexy they feel, and how they, in turn, make me feel sexy. It's very taboo, as we can see by the reaction to Janet Jackson's piercing, and, though I'm not a teenager looking for some quick and easy way to rebel, I can't say that the fact that they're somewhat taboo doesn't add to their allure.
Another great thing about them that I love is the aftercare. I love the sea salt soaks! I was told to soak both my piercings 2-3 times per day, that I had to do the sea salt soaks right after I showered, and that each soak should be about 5 minutes long. I created an smart playlist in my iTunes called "Soaking Music," where all the songs are about 5 minutes in duration, and I play it while I lay down on my back in my bed, with the cups over both my piercings. I've done this three times now (one last night after I showered, one right when I woke up, and one today, after I showered), and I've never felt so relaxed before; it's five minutes to myself, where I have no other goals than to keep the seal between my skin and the cups airtight. It's a great form of mediation for me.
In just 24 hours, my piercings look great! The only place where it's a bit scabby and crusty is the right exit point on my left nipple. Neither of my nipples are sensitive nor tender, though going out into the cold for extended periods of time aggravates them somewhat. There's no swelling, no redness, no nothing. I had braced myself for a bit of a hassle, or some discomfort while sleeping, or another form of inconvenience, but I have yet to experience anything that I would even begin to call a problem. My only complaint was that my left nipple ring seemed to naturally want to stick straight out, but after I soaked it (and after washing my hands!), I adjusted it downward, so it was at the angle I desired; no pain or discomfort doing that, either!
Overall, I would recommend this piercing to anyone; I am in love with it! I'd been pretty stressed recently, and this modification has put me in an excellent mood, and has given me the courage to continue to realize my desire for the modification of my body!