Without fail, the first thing people say when they notice my septum piercing is, "Did it hurt?" Regardless of if they are planning to get it done themselves, their curiosity typically preceeds compliments on how well the piercing suits me and my choice of a rose-gold hoop. So, does it hurt? Yes. That's my short answer. If you really want to know the truth, though, it really f*cking hurts — but only for two seconds.
Before making my way over to 108 BK in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I mistakenly told myself getting my septum pierced wouldn't hurt at all. Piercing the thin membrane just below the cartilage that separates one's right and left nostrils would, essentially, feel like nothing. Getting lip injections or tattoos historically have hardly made me flinch. Why would a piercing?
Even when piercer Adrian Castillo repeatedly asked me if I was nervous, I insisted that I wasn't. "Not at all," I said with confidence, adding, "It's not going to hurt." He didn't correct me. Instead, he joked that he was nervous and that it was his "first time" ever piercing someone's septum. (In reality, he's been piercing people's ears, noses, and nipples for about 11 years.) Still, like any reasonable person does when a sharp object is close to their face, I shut my eyes as Castillo passed his needle through my septum. It took about half a second or two longer than you would think.
For those who don't already know, the septum is a lot thicker and more rigid than it feels. (Don't lie! If you've ever thought about getting your septum pierced, you've probably pinched yours before.) All the while, the pain felt incredibly intense for those couple of seconds. On a pain scale of 1 to 10, having my septum pierced earns a hard four.
Fortunately, as soon as Castillo removed the needle, the pain dissipated and was replaced by a dull ache. A single tear fell from my right eye.
Devon Abelman/Allure
