Now if I had a dollar for every time I have been asked that question I would be rich, rich, rich!
My answer is always the same "not as much as you think it will" - and 99% of the time it's true. We often tend to imagine the worst when it comes to getting pierced, tattooed, waxed, and the list goes on. It's normal to be a bit nervous before getting a piercing done - I'd be a little worried if you weren't - but there are some things you can do to help calm the nerves and reduce the sensation of the piercing.
If you are pierced by a good piercer, the piercing will take less than half a second to do and be over before you know it! I'm serious - it really is that fast :)
Here are some suggestions to help you along:
- try not to build yourself up too much before your appointment - we can talk ourselves into almost anything!
- choose who you talk to about getting the piercing done - everyone has a horror story and that will not help your nerves.
- only invite those who will be a calming, supportive influence on you if you choose to have someone to hold your hand - hysterical friends do not help anyone - remember that you may not be the only client waiting and others do not need any extra reasons to be tense.
- always allow enough time for your appointment - it will help you to relax if you are not time pressed - 30-45 minutes is usually a safe time frame.
- remember that your body has systems to cope with stress and releases natural chemicals under duress. Interfering with additional drugs or alcohol is not a good idea and may even have the opposite effect!
- be nice to your Piercer :) A Piercer in a bad mood is not going to help.....
- eat a snack or meal within two hours of your appointment to ensure you have enough energy available for the process.
- remember to BREATHE. Oxygen is the best natural relaxant. Deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth during the actual piercing make a BIG difference.
With many piercings, they often only hurt afterward if you knock, pull, or put a lot of pressure on them. So after a fresh piercing try and move a little more slowly whilst you get used to it. Towels, face washers, seat-belts, doors, eating (with oral piercings), lacy clothing, and many other everyday activities can cause pain if your new piercing gets in the way unexpectedly - so S-L-O-W down. It doesn't take long before you learn how to move freely without getting into trouble - we just get used to the adjustments and don't even have to think about them anymore :)
I hope these tips help you to have a calmer piercing experience :) Try to focus on how fantastic your new piercing is going to look once it is done....and have fun.
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