First, James cleans Nick's nostril area to make sure it’s sterile and ready to be pierced. Cleaning is a very important part of any piercing experience, and should happen at every appointment! Next, the hole for Nick's piercing is mapped out. James explains that he’ll be drawing a dot to line up the piercing - in this case, it's in the crease of Nick's nostril. This dot helps professional piercers like James ensure accuracy, and gives the client a chance to see exactly where their jewelry will go. James then inserts a receiving tube into Nick's nose for protection. After being instructed to take a deep inhale and exhale, James inserts the needle into his nose. From there, James places a cork on the end of the needle to prevent any accidental pokes, and then slides Nick’s new nose ring into place. James makes one final adjustment to hide the seam of the nose ring inside of Nick's nostril.

Nick's nose piercing is good to go!

Initial Jewelry: 16 gauge 3/8" Titanium Seamless Ring

Healing Time: 6-8 weeks

Body Candy: Hi Nick! What piercing did you get today and what made you want to get it?

Nick: I got my nose pierced today. I've always wanted a nose piercing, but I used to feel self-conscious. I was afraid of the effect a new piercing would have on being perceived as a "professional" concerning my job. I decided earlier this year on a pretty significant career change, and one of the first things I did was schedule a piercing appointment. Feels good to cross it off the bucket list!

BC: Can you describe your experience at the shop today?

Nick: It was a cold, snowy day in Buffalo, but the shop itself was very clean and cozy. James was an absolute professional - he explained every step of the experience, no matter how small the action. I was initially expecting to walk away with a smaller gauge nose ring, but James explained to me the importance of having a larger ring during the initial healing process. I left the shop with a big smile on my face 

BC: What made you want body mods or what do you love about being a modified individual?

Nick: I've been obsessed with music and being a musician since I was a teenager. A lot of my favorite musicians were (and still are) modified individuals. I have a very vivid memory of watching the band Taking Back Sunday play live on TV and noticing that the front man had a nose ring. I've wanted one ever since.

BC: On a scale of 1-10, how painful was your piercing?

Nick: Probably a 2 or a 3. I expected to have to sneeze or something afterward, but it really wasn't bad at all. It was certainly a pinch-y sensation, but I do think that James' calm and informative approach helped take the edge off. 

BC: What kind of jewelry are you planning to wear in the future?

Nick: I'm proud of being a modified individual, but aesthetically, I'm a low-key kind of guy. I have tattoos that I can keep hidden if necessary, but a nose ring is always on display. My plan is to have a smaller-gauge, low-profile nose ring in several colors, preferably black or silver. I might even splurge on a white gold or rose gold piece. I know that Body Candy offers a lot of variety packs and I will certainly be investing in some of those.