I have been reading up on outer labia piercings for a while here at BMezine. They always frightened me, and when I first heard of them, they even disgusted me. Since the first time I heard of them, I've had over 20 body piercings. I began considering them as a non-threatening piercing.
At A Glance Author Anarashka Contact Anarashka@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Derrick Studio Crown Studio Location Charlotte, NC A few weeks ago I came across a picture that completely captivated me. It was of a series of labia piercings that is far and wide the sexiest and hottest thing I have ever seen. Her body was perfectly shaped, skin clear and flawless. She had 3 outer labia piercings on each side, in a zipper fashion. Each of the balls in her capture bead rings was lined up perfectly in the center, petite, gentle, nothing extravagant or screaming "look at me!" It was her little secret, dainty and perfect. That sealed my decision.
A little back story: I use piercings as a "break" to a cycle. I tend to self-destruct when I get trapped in a downward spiral. If I have had an absolutely horrible week of hell, I get a piercing. It not only takes my mind off of the things I've done through, but it allows me to purge the feelings that I bottle up every day. They are each a spiritual experience, sometimes tearful or frightening, sometimes in a wave of cleansing pain. I probably sound crazy, but it's an emotional release that I have never experienced outside of a piercing studio, and it's very much spiritual.
I typically have insane problems with anxiety, but due to a series of changes in my life, I was completely calm when I made my decision. I had plateued out in my every day life, and I didn't want to start the downward spiral that I could see just ahead. I needed this.
I had taken the day off that day, but I had gone in to visit my piercer the night before to check on a pair of titanium barbells that I had ordered. We sat around and chatted as we usually do. I swear I have never gone to see him and left in less than 2 hours time. He is the definition of eccentric, a very unique personality, and I love being around him even if keeping up with him is difficult at times. I just happened to randomly (and yes it surprised me that it came out of my mouth) ask him about outer labia piercings. He immediately told me they hurt. A lot. I thought about it and wondered if it was for me. I told him I'd more than likely be back soon.
I went home that night and really thought about it. I tried to find that picture again with no luck. I remembered how perfect it looked, simple and yet amazing all at once. It has been a long while since I had had my hood pierced, and I remembered feeling like it was my little secret. Every time I felt it move of brush against me, I smiled because I had something special that was all mine. I wanted that feeling again, and I decided I would go for it.
I took the day off the following day and I once more considered my decision. My feelings had not changed, so I cleaned the house to pass the time until the shop opened. I showered and made sure I was clean-shaven and fresh (cause you have to be fresh). I then called Derrick to make sure that I hadn't missed anything. He ran through the things he expected to make this easier, and I'd taken care of everything that I needed. My fiancé and I headed down to see him.
I brought a few sets of jewelry that I needed autoclaved and his assistant set those sets and the sets that he would use for me up all at once. I watched Derrick finish a man's tattoo, it was breathtaking and we sat around and chatted, joked, and just relaxed. All this time I am normally freaking out, trying not to get sick, my stomach turning and hot and cold flashes. Today, it was nothing at all. I had the slightest nervous flutter every now and again, but I breathed through it all and everything was as it should be. I was amazed at how perfectly right it felt.
When he was finished and had taken a short break, we went into the back room. He collected the sets of autoclaved rings and laid them out for easy comparison. He taped a few layers of that thin hospital paper to the table and asked me to disrobe my lower half and to hop onto the table. He turned his back and I had to laugh. After this piercing, he would have seen all of me at one point or another. He explained to me it was common courtesy and that many women were very uncomfortable when someone was watching undress. I finished stripping myself down and I hopped onto the table, scooting down so he could put my feet on the stirrups.
Let me take a moment to explain my anatomy to you. When I stand with my legs together, I am virtually androgynous (disregard the breasts). Everything is very petite, small and well contained down there. I have no inner labia and very little hood. My outer labia are slim and relatively short as well. There will be no inner labia piercings in the future, as I don't have the necessary pieces and such. I will eventually get my hood done again.
Anyway, after taking a few moments to study me and decide the best course of action, he held the sets of jewelry up to compare them and decide which was the best for me. He drew a grid with those little toothpick dipped in purple ink, and then marked me accordingly. He is VERY particular with getting things straight according to his clients' anatomy. He spent 20 minutes measuring and remeasuring me when I had my nipples pierced, and he even wrote small notes to himself on my skin. He's a little obsessed with that, which isn't bad at all!
He finally got me marked to his satisfaction after a few moments, and changed out all his gloves and such, doing the final set up. He sprayed and wiped me down with alcohol and told me to tell him if I had any unusual burning (nope, none except it was very cold!). He got his clamp and lined it up very carefully, making sure the tension was correct, and warned me that it was going to "light me up." Exact quotes. I swear. Through all of this, I wasn't nervous at all, just waiting patiently.
When he was ready, I asked him to let me breathe a little. I took a few deep breaths, counting to 4 on each breath, and sinking into the table. I was able to achieve that absolute peace, nothing in the world go wrong in those few moments. I asked him for a count down, and we counted together. At 1, he pushed and I let out my air quickly, a brief "ow!" and it was over. Not 2 seconds of pain. It was white hot, I had a moment of white stars behind my eyes, and it was done. My breasts were MUCH harder to bear through; this was simple and perfect. He pushed the ring through and I softly said "pinch" a few times, and then it was over again. The bead was put in before I noticed.
He clamped my other side and warned me that it was going to hurt a little more. I nodded and asked for a few moments to breathe. It was so easy to sink into that peaceful place that second time. The warmth and adrenalin from the first time helped, I'm sure. I asked for the countdown and so it went. And yes, the left side (second side) hurt a bit more, but again a few moments of fiery pain and it was all over. The pinching of the bead going in was the only thing that broke my even breathing. He rinsed me with sterile water because the left side had bled a bit more than the right. It was soothing cool water where my skin burned. I asked him to clean the area again as I could actually feel myself bleeding, and he obliged. He gave me a paper towel to fold against myself so as not to bleed too much on the way home. Well I bled through the folded paper towel but that's ok.
I went home and sat half bare on the floor to let the air cool it down. It didn't start throbbing till the following day. I bled a respectable bit for the first 3 days and I made sure to clean it completely 2 times a day (hard to clean it that 3rd time when I work at an office job). After 48 hours I started using emu oil after each thorough cleaning which made rotating the ring painless. I had my fiancé help those first few days because he could get a much better view than I could. He has been an absolute doll through all of this, encouraging and helping me when walking or moving around hurt.
I will admit it is easily the sorest piercing I have ever had. It freaking hurts if I move the wrong way, sit down too quickly, etc. I walk up the stairs at home bow-legged my fiancé calls me hop-a-long. At about a week old, it has started to ITCH like all get out. The swelling has gone down to a soft bit where the ring curves into my skin. The bruising was rather impressive, as I turned black and blue in 3 days and I'm STILL bruised. I did housework the day after I got them done and it was a BIG mistake. By the time I went to bed, the swelling on each side was the size of a large marble and just as hard. My fiancé scolded me a bit and cleaned me really well, adding emu oil again. I went to bed and over 2 days it went down to normal. I'm still sore a little, but it's going away slowly. The soreness is not abnormal, it's more of a pinching when I sit down or get up.
Getting my outer labia pierced was easily the best piercing experience I've ever had. Derrick did not disappoint me one bit, and I was so better prepared for it. I'm planning 2 more on each side as a long-term project; I think it will look pretty good with my anatomy. Good luck and the best wishes!