(Part 3) Top products from r/piercing

I'm writing this as a main comment so I know you'll see this, rather than down in response to /u/hambonedinosaur. I also see that you already say you're going to go for it, but I thought I'd toss in my two cents anyway.

EDIT: If you read one thing I have to say, be it this - check out this reading about the PA here. It's from The Piercing Bible, a fantastic source about anything piercing. It's extremely helpful, and it's what convinced me to get my PA. Seriously. It's really helpful.

I got my PA last summer, about 9 months ago, and I have no regret about it. I was pierced with 12g, which I recommend. 8g is unnecessarily large for initial piercing, and will lead to A LOT of bleeding. I'd say go for 10g at most. With 12g, there wasn't too much bleeding. It healed very quickly, my gf and I had sex three or four days after.

Don't worry one bit about your size. Your piercer doesn't care, and they'll understand about it being small. I'm average sized, and when I got pierced it was the smallest I've ever seen it. I think it knew the needle was coming, and was trying to hide. /u/hambonedinosaur said the receiving tube (goes down your urethra to receive the needle) was the worst part. I disagree with this. The tube wasn't painful, just awkward feeling. I'd never felt anything stretch/put pressure on my urethra like that before, it was definitely interesting. If your piercer starts to use foreceps instead of a tube, ask them to stop and use a tube instead. And don't worry about the pain of the needle, it's instantaneous and gets better as soon as it's through. The euphoria that comes after outweighs the pain 10:1 and makes the pain seem like nothing. You will be walking awkwardly after and the next day or two as you figure things out haha.

I wore thin pads for the first couple of days, and it was plenty to catch the dribbles of blood that came out with movement. At night, I slept with a rubber latex glove and paper towel gently rubber banded on. That helped a lot not spreading mess in bed. The first night was by far the most bleeding of all nights, but it wasn't much at all (a teaspoon maybe?). I was scared as shit to get a boner and tried my best not to. You really don't have to worry, you will get a boner in your first few days, but it's not going to be as catastrophic as you may believe (at least I did, I thought it would make me start bleeding).

It's important to keep it clean. When you shower, take a minute to lather your hand, gently rub the soap around. Put soap on the ring, and turn the ring so it rotates as much as possible through piercing hole and urethra. The first week or two you will get dead cell build-up and (while you're still bleeding) dried blood on the ring. It's very important to thoroughly get this off, it is uncomfortable as fuck for shit stuck on your ring to go through the hole. If you happen to not take a shower every day, make sure you clean the ring at least once a day. I recommend soaking it (I put soapy water in a shot glass and let it soak for a few minutes, while I brushed my teeth), then using a q-tip and saline solution to gently rub/scrub any build-up off. You'll noticed after a week, two, three, that your ring stops getting as much build-up as it did, and then you can stop cleaning it as religiously. Still give a minute to clean it whenever you shower.

If your piercer only gives you the jewelry they put in you and no extras (that's what mine did), MAKE SURE YOU GET EXTRAS! Doesn't matter where, whether you buy them there or at a mall or whatever, just have a few extras lying around. You never know when you'll need one, and don't want to be caught without one. I've lost the ball in my compression ring a few times - thankfully not the ring, but could've easily happened. Just last week I lost my horseshoe ring at work when I was going to the bathroom and noticed as I was shaking off one of the balls had come unscrewed, and as I noticed that, it went flying and went down the drain of the toilet. RIP horseshoe ring. And (you may be different from me) when I got home 9 hrs later and put my compressing ring in, it took a bit of convincing to go in. So don't leave your ring out for an extended period for a long while, it could shrink.

Going back to gauging, I recommend NOT starting at 8g, start at 10 or 12. It's easy to go up. I'm at a 10 now and am planning on going to an 8g in a few months. I'm taking this slowly. One of my friends who has a PA said that (if you don't want to gauge to a 0 or 00 or whatever) 6g is a good stopping place - just the right size, good weight, etc.

Anyway. That was a lot longer than I had planned making this. It's going to be awesome, and I'm confident you're going to love it. Don't let your douchebag brain get you all worked up and worried about how much it's going to hurt or how terrible it's going to be. Tell that little voice to stfu and go sit in the corner. It won't be nearly as bad as anything that little voice in your head will make you think it'll be. You're going to love it as soon as your pierced.

Cheers, and good luck! (Sorry for the essay....)

How long have you had your piercings? This will make a difference. For the nostril, I wouldn't risk it...it might close. I didn't start leaving my nostril out until I hit the two year mark. However, if you're gonna leave it out, do yourself a favor and buy a taper (are you at 18g?). It'll make your life much easier...the hole PROBABLY won't close, but it'll probably shrink, so shoving a nostril screw in there once it's shrunk won't feel good. A taper will help tremendously. Something like this http://www.bodyartforms.com/productdetails.asp?jewelry=tapers&ProductID=11090&index=11

If you need to wear the 14g in your tongue, you should be fine. If you want to really be safe, just buy a 12g taper to help you insert your jewelry again once you wake up.

Here's a nostril retainer for 20g and 18g http://www.bodyartforms.com/productdetails.asp?Retainer=Y&pagenumber=2&ProductID=8341&index=1

Here's an 18g, I've actually owned this one. Ugly as sin but it'll get the job done http://www.bodyartforms.com/productdetails.asp?Retainer=Y&pagenumber=2&ProductID=3248&index=9

(I highly recommend bodyartforms, if that wasn't apparent lol)

I did a quick Google search and found this 12g retainer on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Soft-Acrylic-Tongue-Retainer-Clear/dp/B004FNDYFQ

I'd be willing to bet if you investigated Google some more, you'd find some options. Ebay seems to have just about everything, just watch to see where your jewelry is coming from...if it's located overseas, it could take weeks to get to you (not sure when your surgery is). Good luck!

These are the best I could find for you. Hope it helps!

white with black paw print:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005OYCD9S/ref=mp_s_a_1?pi=SL75&qid=1347383746&sr=8-1

Black with white paw print:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005OYCCU8/ref=mp_s_a_2?pi=SL75&qid=1347383746&sr=8-2

Teddy bear ring:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004I60AOI/ref=mp_s_a_5?pi=SL75&qid=1347383855&sr=8-5

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008LUQ4RO/ref=mp_s_a_8?pi=SL75&qid=1347383855&sr=8-8

DON'T USE ALCOHOL. Can you get a clear retainer that won't be visible? Something like this? http://www.amazon.com/Septum-Retainer-Gauge-Clear-Borosilicate/dp/B004L5BT3M Amazon prime shipping is a miracle

Just amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07X8X7W55?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
It also came with a free horseshoe style ring for some reason lol

This was my lifesaver for healing triple forwards and double cinches

Total Pillow, Microbead Pillow, Adjustable Pillow for Neck and Lumbar Support https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BX039Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_IxhqDb7HHKRSE

> Organic alcohol is the primary ingredient in our Organic Hand Sanitizing Spray.

I was suggesting the liquid soap, like this one

This is all I've been able to find, unfortunately.

You could probably find other interesting nipple rings on etsy. This place also has an incredibly large selection to choose from and great prices. I've never used this website before, so I wouldn't be able to tell you how reliable they are. There are also a few links to places to buy jewelery from on the right side bar.

If it's gonna be that frequent, I would wait. In a pinch, you can use the big ass waterproof bandaids kinda like these if you're really careful and don't submerge yourself much. The adhesive shouldn't touch your piercing/nipple at all. But on a weekly basis, you're probably best off just waiting until summer is over.

I absolutely adore these. They're reusable and I never see them through clothing.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001PU9A9Q/

I bought this kit (http://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Tunnel-Stretching-14G-0G-Stretcher/dp/B0040ZDSHI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1346369153&sr=8-4&keywords=taper) last week, and it's excellent

I have a Christina piercing, but I use one of those eyebrow razor things and it works really well!
like these

I put them in little dime bags and then in a compartment like this http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Bead-Organizer-Compartments-inches/dp/B000WWGABE

I have worn these (https://www.amazon.com/Nippies-Reusable-Silicone-Pasties-NON-ADHESIVE/dp/B001O482W4) every day for about two years and love them. They are silicone and manage to stick to your skin without any adhesive. I am not sure if a ring would interfere with this sticking process at all, but I would think they would still work. Let me know if you end up trying them because I've considered getting this piercing.

This is the one you want. There is one that has copper in and there used to be a hypertonic one but this one is just salt and water. There is nitrogen but that's only the propellant and it's inert.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003LPTAYI/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_8O51wbPKGYHQJ

This is 1.5 fluid ounce

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FP1D12/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_F0UKBbB4CENH6

They gave me this stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Medisept-Ear-Piercing-Care-Gel/dp/B00712W66G
Very mixed reviews, although the negative ones are minor things like "the bottle dried inside."

I got mine a year ago, and had the same problem, also about 2-3 months after getting it. My biggest problem was how I cared for it: I started using [Spectro jel] (https://www.amazon.ca/Spectro-facial-cleanser-fragrance-200ml/dp/B0007RQH1M/ref=sr_1_6?hvadid=208394357491&hvdev=t&hvlocphy=9001019&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=9221058852205370237&hvtargid=kwd-309238601436&keywords=spectro+jel&qid=1550519295&s=gateway&sr=8-6&tag=googcana-20). The bump and pain went away after about a week of using it. I usually rub it on the area, leave it on for 30 seconds, and wash it off. I do the same with my nose screw. Now, I have no bump, discolouration whatsoever.

For me, a nose ring retainer made my hole look less noticeable from a few metres away, but I always thought it looked a bit odd up close. Just because it was transparent but still visible, I was always worried people would think it’s a pimple or something. But that’s just my personal opinion; I know other people who think retainers are barely noticeable. Apparently you can also get flat kind like this: http://www.amazon.com/Gauge-Clear-Flat-Bioplast-Retainer/dp/B003T1TWYM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342747389&sr=8-1& And from what I gather, loads of workplaces are totally fine with nose piercings. I work as a waitress, and most of my supervisors have told me that I can wear my stud unless I get complaints from customers.

When I got my rook done, the piercer used a barbell. I eventually replaced it with a curved barbell for a while because the straight one got in the way when I was wearing earbuds. After a while I just got frustrated with it and took the jewelry out. But I am only one person and I don’t want to put you off it just because of my own bad experience! Different people heal differently.