It all started about three years ago.... I was incredibly intrigued by any and all modifications, but especially piercings. I had mused over what I would want for myself. First I thought a tongue piercing, but I was too scared to do that. The next thing that came to mind was my eyebrow, as it was ever so popular and seemed so simple, but my parents just wouldn't have it. I stewed over it for nearly a year, just waiting until I turned 18 and I could have the right to do what I wanted with my body. All the while surfing BME and gazing in amazement at the beautifully large array of possibilities.
At A Glance Author sarah Contact at348am@yahoo.com When Two years ago Artist R-something Studio Anubis Location Ashland, Or Fast-forward to my 18th birthday. This was the day I was definitely going to get my eyebrow pierced, but after much contemplation I decided against it, reasoning that nearly everyone I bumped into had one. I wanted to be original. Sadly, I put the notion to the back of my mind until one day my good friend and I were surfing BME and she exclaimed that she was getting her nipples pierced. I was excited for her, and jealous at the same time, seeing as how I still hadn't decided what I would pierce. She invited me to come with her, but she said she would only have me there if I was going to get something done too. I agreed and the pressure to decide was on. After much ado, I decided that I would get my nape pierced since I had never seen anyone with that particular mod. As for the pain factor, sure I was scared, but that's half of the fun, right?
The moment of truth crept up ever so fast and before I knew it I had signed all the necessary papers and sat down in the chair. I can't tell you much about the procedures, mostly because I paid no attention to them. In hind-sight, that was the worst thing I could have done, but I was a first timer and I just wanted to get through it alive. I accepted the first placement that he marked and within minutes I had a lovely new set of balls on the back of my neck. It didn't hurt half as bad as I had expected, but I did have a bit of a hard time checking my blind spots on the drive home.
My piercer didn't give me all too much information on aftercare before I left. All he said was to wash it in the shower with dial antibacterial soap OR do sea salt soaks. I opted for the salt soaks since I had heard that certain soaps can dry out a piercing. I had a hard time with those though, since I really couldn't seem to find an appropriate way to get the water to stay on the piercing. Later down the line I started to realize how easy it was to get the balls caught on clothes, hair and blankets. It seemed like every time I moved I was stuck on something else and my poor neck became very red and irritated.
I returned to Anubis about 2 weeks after the initial piercing and asked him if there was anything to do to help save my beautiful surface bar. He suggested that we try a "u" shaped bar as opposed to a staple shaped one. I agreed and took a seat in the chair again, waiting for him to bend a bar for me. I was a little skeptical since it only took him about two minutes to bend a straight barbell into the correct shape, but I figured he knew what he was doing. In it went. The pressure was better immediately and I was happy. Unfortunately in less than 24 hours the irritation was worse than it was to begin with. I fussed over it for about another week before deciding that it was too far rejected to save. I cried when I took it out because I loved it so much and because I wanted to prove to my parents that it wasn't "impossible to keep a piercing on your neck".
It has now been nearly two years and I still have a little vampire bite on the back of my neck where those beautiful balls once hung. I contemplate getting re-pierced almost everyday and hopefully I will have a new job in the near future that will allow that to happen. Even though the piercing didn't stay put I learned a very valuable lesson: always check and double check your piercer's qualifications, equipment and procedures and if you feel uneasy at any time, leave. I would suggest this piercing to anyone who wants it. It was my very first (I didn't even have my ears pierced yet) and it was very easy to handle, plus it looks gorgeous. Just make sure you are comfortable and informed about your studio first!