For a long time I had been considering a "downtown" piercing, and I knew that I wanted a hood piercing. Originally, before I educated myself, I thought that I wanted an HCH because I thought it was more attractive. After thorough research I realized that not only would I be unsuited to this piercing, but I also just plain don't like it! I don't think it would be very comfortable, whereas the vch sits nicely between the labia and doesn't get twisted around.
At A Glance Author catsy Contact catsy@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Tania Studio Anatomic Location Vancouver, BC
I prepared myself for the VCH, and for asking my partner what his opinion is. I always think that he's going to be extremely conservative, but he's so open and accepting that he was fully in support of anything I wanted to do.
So, I made my appointment at Anatomic, specifically with the marvelous Tania (iam:tantan), piercing goddess. I went down with my two of my roommates and wearing a skirt got geared up to get decorated!
A couple things to note:
1) wear a skirt. Not only will it probably be more comfortable walking home, but it's also less embarrassing to hike up a skirt than it is to drop your drawers.
2) Go to a piercer you trust 100%. Tania has done other piercings for me and there's no one else I would have gone to for this one.
3) If you're unfamiliar with piercings, or this one is a first, go 'round first and check out the studio. Look for the autoclave (for sterilization), a portfolio if you're curious, and ask questions about their health and safety standards. It's not a very well-regulated profession, so you have to make sure you get the A+++ professionals.
4) Barbells in the piercing are known to give more sensation because they sit right on the clit and provide direct contact. This piercing isn't known to be one to cause any permanent desensitisation, ever, but it can wear down the nerves. You can switch to a cbr once it's healed and give your poor girl a rest.
5) Go with 12g at the absolute minimum. 10g would be great too. You may think that smaller gauges look more dainty, but they don't. They look like cheap wire jabbed through precious parts, and those small gauges are extremely uncomfortable. You do NOT want the jewelry slicing through and out of that body part like a wire. ICK!
At Anatomic they use sterile gloves that they autoclave themselves, and of course single use sterile needles and sterile jewelry, 316LVM surgical stainless steel, barbells internally threaded, of course. I realize that the vast majority of people get barbells, but I was not getting this piercing for feeling, but rather for aesthetics and my own personal enjoyment.
So, on with the piercing!
I dropped my underdrawers and hiked up my skirt and got up on the table. Anatomic is like a trendy office: neutral colours, soft lighting, relaxing music.
Tania proceeded with the preparations: skin prep with TechniCare, going through about ten million pairs of sterile gloves, and finally getting ready. I tend to be absolutely 100% calm before piercings. Not even giddy, just CALM. Until the needle goes up to my skin at which point I start to hyperventillate! Don't worry, they've seen it all before, don't be embarrassed! She put the receiving tube under my hood to catch the needle going through; this part was not pleasant, but wasn't exactly miserable either. It just felt quite intrusive. Then BAM, needle goes through and I gasp [GASP!!!] and I was shaking violently, but that was it! I don't know that I could even describe it as pain; rather, a feeling so intense that my brain just stopped working for a split second. When it started working again I was still shaking violently (but in ZERO pain) and I looked up and Tania was grinning down at my crotch, and said "well that sure is pretty!" I got a 3/8", 12g cbr with a turquoise blue cat's eye bead.
That was it! Almost anti-climactic! Other than that second of near-blacking out, I have had not a single second of pain or discomfort and it has been nearly four weeks. I was fine to work the next day (on my feet 100% at work...ick) and it was comfortable. This piercing is fast healing and quite comfortable. I never feel it unless I want to!
It is definitely a good starter genital piercing. It's painful, but nothing unbearable, it's really fast healing, and it's easy to take care of.
It makes me feel strong, sexy, powerful, and beautiful. I also have my nipples (12g, of course) and navel (14g, sadly) pierced, and the vch was a great addition. As Tania said to me, "you're conservative on the outside, but a FREAK on the inside!"
But the great thing about this piercing is, nobody will ever know that!