About a month ago I was walking through a store and saw a guy with his nape pierced. Instantly I thought it was adorable and sexy and decided I wanted it done on myself.
At A Glance Author Bri Contact lxxbriannaxxl@hotmail.com When A month ago Artist Brent Studio Avant Garde Location Milwaukee I went home and researched it as I always do before getting random metal shoved through my skin and decided it wouldn't be that bad, or cause a problem in getting a job as previous facial piercings had been. Those were gone though thanks to a lovely surgeon who removed my tonsels, but I won't get into that because it makes me mad to no end. Then I talked to my boyfriend about it, he told me I was crazy. I tried to tell him that he would like it because he thinks necks are sexy, but he just told me I was weird. I didn't really care though, because I wanted it.
So I told my dad, because I'm not 18 and need parental consent for piercings. And he proceeded to tell me I was crazy also, but it was my neck and I could do what I wanted to it. I told him that I wanted to have Brent from Avant Garde do it, because he is an amazing piercer and has done all my other piercings except my tongue. The person who did that screwed it up terribly, so I made the two hour trip to Milwaukee, because I live in Green Bay. I get really nervous for no real reason when I go to get piercings, and the trip, which I made by myself, made it even worse because I am directionally retarded and thought I was going to get lost the entire time. But I survived, thankfully.
When I finally got to the shop my stomach started turning as it always does when I go to get things pierced. I sat down and waited for my dad to pay (because I somehow talked him into it, which made my day). I told Brent I wanted my nape and my navel, on the bottom side, done. I went for the navel then because I wanted it and I got scared about my nape. I figured if I got the navel done first it would trick me into thinking the nape wouldn't hurt very badly. I walked into the back part of the shop and Brent measured my neck, took out the permanent marker and drew the lines on my tummy and nape. Then I laid down and got on with the navel, nothing special. As I lay there with him finishing that up, my hands started to shake because I was utterly convinced my nape would hurt a lot, a lot.
I then turned over and he checked the markings, cleaned my neck for the second time and proceeded to make fun of me and distract me because I was so nervous. Then one deep breath in and out, and wa la... it was done (Brent works very fast, which makes it a far more pleasant experiance). I was so suprised because it really barely hurt at all. It was like getting pinched and then all over. And even that night sleeping wasn't a problem at all. It was much easier than I thought. My neck felt a little tight, but not painful for a few days, and there was no bleeding and only minor amounts of goo, for lack of the correct term, coming out. It got a small bruise on one side, but it didn't hurt. It was the first time a piercing of mine had bruised though and I thought it was interesting. It was a nice piercing, except for cleaning it, which involves me sitting on a counter with a hand held mirror and q-tips, looking like a moron. I stopped using the more powerful cleansers because they dried out the skin, and started using ear piercing antiseptic. I figured it would work well because the ears and the neck are in the same general area with the same things irritating them (like hair, and pulling clothes over your head). It has proved so far to be a good thing.
It's been almost a month now, and really doesn't hurt, although one side is still a little red. At first I was hesitant about getting hugs from people who didn't know about, or wearing sweat shirts. But it's alright now, though the first week of having people who didn't know, with their dirty hands, accidentally touching it and making a sharp jolt of pain hit me for about 2 seconds wasn't a blast. I really do like it though, and my boyfriend does think it is extremely sexy. I love being right. I have to answer a lot of questions about it though, because lots of people have never seen one before. My principle even stopped me in the hall the other day to tell me that it made him cringe (thanks for that) because it looks like it hurts really badly. It doesn't though, and I'm sure it won't get infected because if it hasn't yet I think I'm alright. I'm nervous about it migrating though, but so far so good. All in all it was a very nice piercing, that really isn't nearly as painful or tedious as you might believe. I love it, and I recommend it to anyone who is thinking about it.