The summer in between high school and college was a very eventful time of my life. I decided to move out of the house and for the first time in my life I supported myself on my own. The feeling was very liberating and I gained a lot of trust in myself and found strength that I didn't know I had.
At A Glance Author 897 When Three months ago Artist Jimmy Buddha Studio Diablo Rojo Location Austin, Tx So when the summer came winding down I wanted something to remember it by. Up until my nape, piercings have been kept to my ear with both lobes double pierced and a small rook on my right ear that I got for my 18th birthday. The next piercing I got I wanted to be special. Something that could represent my new found confidence but at the same time could still be hideable. Being and Anthropology major I know I'm going to be working odd jobs until graduation and don't want to be denied because of a simple piercing.
Looking through BME I discovered the nape piercing and fell in love with it at once. I also found a shop in Austin where several nape piercings were from. After doing a bit more browsing and looking up the rejection rates (that was my one worry) I decided to bite the bullet and get it done.
The day after quitting work for a few days rest before school I gave the shop a call. I talked to Jimmy for a minute and told him what I wanted and asked which method he used. He assured me that he used the punch and taper method and that I could come in right now and he would take a look at my neck. There were many stories about jewlery having to be fitted before piercing so I didn't think I was going to get it done that day.
I showed up at the shop alone. (none of my roommates are very into piercings) After a quick look Jimmy approved my neck for the piercing and asked me if I wanted to get it done right then. The nervous exicited adrenaline started flowing and I called my roommates to tell them I was getting it done. You could almost hear them shaking their heads over the phone but this was my piercing and I wouldn't be put off.
Jimmy was very thorough at explaining the procedure and his sterilization and professionalism were flawless.
For the punch and taper method he procceded to put two holes a little over an inch apart on my nape. I could hear the skin pop as the needle made it through the first layer and after each punch hole he asked how I was.
Then the difficult part came. I have to say that it didn't hurt when he was easing the taper between the two holes. The worst part was hearing the skin pop as it separated and trying to keep my mind off what was happening to my neck. He paused several times to ask how I was holding up and reminding me to keep taking deep breaths.
By the end of the procedure I really loved oxygen.
The jewelery went in easily thought it took a while to get the small flat disks put on the end.
The piercing came out beautifully. I was a little shakey from the adrenaline and Jimmy told me to take my time. I still think he was wierded out by the fact that I was getting a piercing like that without friends in tow.
When I showed the piercing to my roommates they couldn't believe that I had actually gotten it.
For a few days afterward my neck was sore and a few days later the ends of the surface bar were sticking out a little more showing that the swelling had gone down.
A word of advice, this piercing has a high rejection rate and needs to be pierced with the proper procedures and requires a good deal of aftercare.
I still am using Provon soap on it everyday and did sea salt soaks with a cotton ball for three weeks.
There was one scare. My second week of college the piercing started to itch really badly and both ends were sticking out more than ever. Terrified of losing it I went to Dandyland in San Antonio and the piercer there reassured me that the jewelery was just settling while it healed. After a few days of salt soaks it went back to normal and I haven't had any problems with it to this day.
So far the reactions to my piercing have all been positive. Most people are really interested in it, asking what exactly it is and why I got it. It's been a good conversation starter : ) but I like it for it's symbolic value. Knowing now that I can provide for myself and can handle someone shoving a inch long bar through the back of my neck is nicely empowering. Also that it is in a place where I can choose whether to flaunt it or not is an added bonus.
I reccomend this piercing to anyone that can keep their mind off of pain and will not slack on the aftercare. It seems that most rejections occur from a poor piercing procedure and/or aftercare.