Nape Piercing - funky and unusual! (Body Piercing)

Member Name: famouslastwords

Product:	Body Piercing
Date:	18/11/08 (633 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very cool and a great conversation starter

Disadvantages: It is becoming a little more common and requires alot of care

Well, i have several piercings. I went through a 'piercing stage' when i was around 16 and just got a hole shoved through anything which stayed still long enough!

I understand many people have their belly buttons or tounges done, but i thought id give a little information about one of my more interesting piercings.. the nape.

A nape piercing is placed on the back on your neck between the hairline and shoulders, normally centrally. the length of the piercing can vary according to taste, but most I have ever seen are around 3/4 of an inch long.

This type of piercing belongs to the 'surface piercing' group. A surface piercing is one which doesn't go through a piece of skin, but is made just underneath the surface of the skin, going along rather than through. Piercings of this kind are much less common (and take a more skillful piercer) than standard ones. The predominant reason for this is that they tend to not last as long as many other piercings. Due to the placement, the skin tends to push out the bar through the skin, otherwise know as 'rejecting' the piercing. Rather than just sticking a needle through your nose and washing it twice a day and viola! these require extra TLC and looking after to make them last.

Some people will tell you its impossible to make a piercing of this kind stick, however i have had my nape piercing nearly six years now.

The piercing!
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I walked in to the studio (Bloodline in Conniburrow, Central Milton Keynes) and booked myself in for the nape. The type of bar used here was why i chose this studio. Many experts will use a flat, long bar, but here they used a 'staple' bar. I think this is what has made the real difference with the longevity of my piercing. A staple is how it sounds, shaped like a staple with a ball on either point! I picked a lovely purple one :)

The area was disinfected and marked out. Then you need to take a deep breath and as you breath out the needle will be half way through. Another deep breath and bam. your nearly there! A small retainer will be placed in the fresh piercing, then the staple will be fed through. This is a tiny bit uncomfortable but its all done so quickly its really not bad!

Then, the balls are on and your ready to go. This is where the hard part begins. As i said before, this piercing needs a good deal of TLC to stay. Your piercer will give you cleaning advice and its important to follow these to the letter! Keep the area clean, mind out with t-shirts and clothing and people with long hair, tie it up! Getting things caught in the nape can be the most painful.

Expect a little bruise for a few days but this will start to go. Dont panic if it takes a while to heal. It was probably 6 months before mine was completely free to move and touch (dont worry, it wont hurt all this time, it will just stay a little red!)

However, it really is worth it in the end. This piercing is eye-catching, unusual and looks great with some tattoo work around it ;) Although, if your mum is anything like mine, you will end up with the nickname 'Frankenstein' for sometime!!

My top tips for nape piercings
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- Relax, and listen to what the piercer is telling you to minimise pain during the piercing
- Follow your cleaning instructions and remember - too much cleaning is as bad as too little!
- If something is bothering you, go and see your piercer and explain your concerns. Its what they are there for!
- Look when the pre-piercing marks are made - if you dont like where it is dont be afraid to said, you want it where you want it!
- If you want something unusual and interesting and your prepared to care for it then i would say 100% go for it! If you want a more hideaway piercing with very little care needed, go for ears or belly button.
- Be careful not to catch it. Ideally, get the piercing done in summer so you can wear vest tops, no top!
- After the piercing has healed check every now and again for hair trapped around the bar as this can cause an infection

hope this helps, if you have any questions please feel free to email me!

Summary: Great for those who want something a little different and are prepared to work for it!