It didn't take me long to decide that getting my nipple pierced was what I wanted. I remember seeing a photo of Gail Porter years ago, and you could just about see a piercing in her nipple, with a gold bar with little stars on each end. Ever since that moment, I would often think about maybe getting it done, until I was so keen to have one, I couldn't wait. I think that I put those thoughts into action within a week of realising how much I wanted it, getting sweaty hands every time I did, thinking it would be incredibly painful, but at the same time I knew I really really wanted it done. I knew id regret it so much if I didn't get it.
At A Glance Author LaLaLibby Contact LaLaLibby@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Victoria Studio Avinit Tattoo and Peircing I already had my tongue, navel and helix pierced, plus 3 piercings in each ear lobe, so once I got it into my mind that I wanted this, I Knew Id carry through. All my piercings carried varying degrees of pain and healing times, so I felt prepared for the responsibility of taking proper care of my piercing, and being aware of what it might involve.
I firstly spoke to my sister in law, who had both her nipples pierced. She told me that initially she wanted to get them both pierced on the same visit as most studios offer some sort of discount if you get two of the same piercings done at the same time. Anyways, she said that the first piercing was so painful she had a funny turn, and had to come back the next day for the next one to be done. She said it was horribly painful but worth it. That story stayed with me every moment until I bit the bullet, so to speak.
And a lot of accounts online said nipple piercing was incredibly painful, although there were a few who said it was fine, but all of them said it was definitely worth it and they'd do it again if they had to.
I kind of thought in my own head that those who said it wasn't painful at all, were only saying that because they liked the pain or something. I knew everybody's response to pain is different and we all react differently, but I was so worried about it, I found it hard to believe people could get themselves pierced with big scary needles and it would be completely fine! All of my previous piercings hurt quite a lot, so I prepared myself for that this time.
So I went along to the studio with a good friend of mine for moral support (and to stop me from bolting), and met with their piercer, Victoria, who was so nice and friendly. She explained everything clearly and answered my many questions, and also added her own personal advice, seen as she had her nipple pierced recently also. She said the piercing itself is over very quickly, so even if it is very painful, it wont last for long.
So in I went, I sat up while she measured my nipple and marked me up on either side. I lay down flat while she cleaned me, and at this point I would like to add she put on clean gloves and changed them every time she touched something new, and explained everything she was doing. On went the clamps either side, and feeling that cold metal on either side of my nipple sent my heart racing, this was really it! She said to me "We're ready to go now girl, are you ready?", and I dutifully replied yes, even though I felt like running out I was so scared! I looked up and tried to relax, listening to the pumping house music, breathing in and out....
And that's when I felt it, it felt like a pulling sensation, and yes I could feel pain, but it wasn't a sharp pain, just a small pain felt in the general area. It lasted about 2 seconds and stopped, while she got the barbell to thread through. I pulled a little face, but didn't make a noise. She quickly got the barbell ready and moved it through. She then screwed on the barbell ball, and afterwards I looked down and said "is that it"? I couldn't quite believe it was over. I was expecting a hot sharp pain, exactly what you would expect from having a hollow needle core through your nipple, but I didn't feel that at all. Before I knew it, Victoria had a mirror out to show me and had a pad of gauze ready to tape over my piercing. I was stunned that it was over so quickly and without the pain!
it was at that point that my piercer said that she thought I did really well, and that usually if someone is nervous and has a lot of adrenaline in their blood stream at the time of the piercing, it can make the piercing more likely to bleed, but I hadn't bled a single drop.
I got myself dressed and got up to greet my friend, who had virtually gone white with the worry. She was so scared for me, as she said the thought of it made her feel weak!
I had a huge smile on my face, on a high from what I had just done, and my friend looked at me as if I was an alien. She has probably expected me to look pale and shaky with such an experience.
She asked me if it had hurt or not, and I told her no, it was completely fine. I was standing there, with my piercing of 5 minutes old, and I couldn't even feel it once it was pierced. The pain stopped instantly, and it stayed that way mostly.
We went out for a coffee and some lunch, and afterwards, we went straight home, just in case I had a delayed reaction to my piercing, and became giddy or faint at all.
I proudly showed her my piercing when I got home, and it had bled a little, but still was ok and I couldn't feel a thing. I could feel some tingling during cleaning that evening, and it did continue to bleed a tiny bit for the first two days.
I will say at this point, both my tongue and my navel piercing hurt much more than my nipple. With my tongue piercing, I had to take ibuprofen regularly for the first week to help with the soreness. But I didn't touch a single painkiller with my new metal nipple. Of course if it got bumped, id feel something, but it's been such a good piercing to look after so far (over a week at the time of writing this). Sleeping is a bit iffy as I tend to like sleeping on my left side a lot, and that's the nipple I chose to have pierced. but if I cover myself up well with a bra and my duvet, it's ok.
I wanted to write this for all the people wanting to get their nipple pierced and are looking for peoples accounts of their experiences, but who think that those who say it doesn't hurt are crackpots! I am such a wuss with needles, I panicked with all my piercings, and am quite a wimp, and yes, I do naturally have extremely sensitive nipples too! So im not saying this because I have nipples like boot leather.
My piercing looks so great, and was so worth it, the best £35 I spent in a very long time! And I really would get my nipple pierced again, any day of the week over my other piercings. I can't say that you piercing will be relatively pain free, but it really wasn't as bad as some people had made it out to be. Don't get put off this piercing because of the pain, you could easily be one of us who found it completely fine, and if you're not, then it's over in a few seconds, and you'll be so glad you did it.