This article was co-authored by Roger Rodriguez and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Roger Rodriguez, also known as Roger Rabb!t, is the Owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the Los Angeles, California area. With over 25 years of piercing experience, Roger has become the co-owner of several piercing studios such as ENVY Body Piercing and Rebel Rebel Ear Piercing and teaches the craft of body piercing at Ancient Adornments. He is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP).
There are 18 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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Nipple piercings are a great way to express your personality and feel great about your body. Still, getting a nipple piercing is a big decision—so, it’s important to make sure that you know exactly what to expect through the process, from choosing a piercer to caring for your new piercing. We’ll walk you through every step you need to know, so you can confidently clean (and eventually show off) your new piercing.
Things You Should Know
- Choose a reputable piercing parlor with good customer reviews, and visit before making an appointment to verify its reputation.
- Choose from a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal placement. The piercer will insert a needle through your nipple, followed by your jewelry.
- Wait at least 6 weeks for the piercing to heal completely and clean the area twice a day with saline solution.
Steps
How to Pierce Your Nipples
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Let your piercer if you’d like one or both nipples pierced. If you want both nipples pierced, you can choose to do them at the same time. In fact, some nipple piercing veterans recommend this, given the potential pain factor of the piercing. If the experience ends up being painful, you might not want to go back to get your other nipple pierced.[4]
- It might be cheaper to pierce both nipples at the same time than to do them separately. Talk to your piercer to find out if they’ll charge you a lower fee to do both piercings in the same appointment.
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Tell the piercer if you want a horizontal or vertical piercing. Horizontal piercings are popular, and they go sideways in your nipple. However, you might prefer a vertical piercing that goes up and down, or a diagonal piercing that goes through the nipple at an angle. Whatever you decide, let your piercer know before the procedure.[5]
- If you’re not sure which you prefer, ask your piercer for advice or look at pictures of other nipple piercings.
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The piercer inserts a needle, followed by the jewelry. Beforehand, the piercer may use a sterile marker to mark off where the hollow needle will go. Using a set of clamps, they’ll hold up the area as the piercer asks you to inhale deeply. At this point, the piercer will insert the needle through your nipple, followed immediately by a piece of jewelry.[8]
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Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if you’re in pain. It’s normal to feel discomfort during the piercing, but it should subside quickly. If you’re still feeling uncomfortable, take an over-the-counter pain reliever like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Use the pain reliever as directed on the label.[9]
- Keep in mind that over-the-counter NSAIDs can make you bleed a little more.
Community Q&A
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QuestionIsn't it pointless for a teenage girl to get nipple piercings since no one will see them?Community AnswerShe'll see them. Not everything a girl/woman does is for the attention of someone else.
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QuestionI got my nipples pierced yesterday and even though I thought I would like it, I hate them and want to take them out. How long should I wait?Community AnswerGo see the piercer and discuss it with him. You may have to wait a few weeks or a few months. You might also try a different type of nipple piercing, such as a barbell instead of ring or vice-versa.
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QuestionMy breast are extremely large and my nipples are really sensitive. I still want a nipple piercing, will it affect my breast size and sensitivity?Community AnswerIt will not affect your breast size but they could make your nipples more sensitive, a lot of people get piercings to increase nipple sensation.
Video
Tips
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Some people opt to get nipple piercings as a way to help with inverted nipples.[28]Thanks
Tips from our Readers
- Nipple piercings take up to 6 months to heal, so do not try to change your jewelry. Your piercing will close. Also, when cleaning, don't move the piercing around. That will irritate it and potentially get soap stuck inside.
- When getting pierced, make sure it is not pierced through the areola and is pierced through the nipple itself. Otherwise, this could cause abscess and infection if not pierced properly.
- Do not remove the piercing until it is fully healed. Doing so runs the risk of infection, irritation, and improper healing.
- You get what you pay for. When it comes to your body, you want to make sure you're giving it what it deserves.
Warnings
- Never try to pierce your nipples at home, as this is very dangerous and can lead to an infection. Always visit a reputable piercing parlor to get your nipples pierced.[29]Thanks
- Go to the doctor immediately if your piercing shows signs of infection, like swelling, bleeding, or visible pus.[30]Thanks
- Nipple piercings take a long time to heal. It’ll likely heal within 3-6 months, but it may take a whole year to heal.[31]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/piercings
- ↑ https://safepiercing.org/picking-your-piercer/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/8330-breast-anatomy
- ↑ https://thetab.com/uk/2016/08/17/everything-i-wish-id-known-before-getting-my-nipple-pierced-123278
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5yRXRPFaEE&t=1m1s
- ↑ https://safepiercing.org/picking-your-piercer/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7hBzuIXmQQ&t=0m10s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7hBzuIXmQQ&t=0m33s
- ↑ https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/body-piercing/
- ↑ https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/body-piercing/
- ↑ https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/body-piercing/
- ↑ https://uhs.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/piercingcare.pdf
- ↑ https://uhs.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/piercingcare.pdf
- ↑ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
- ↑ https://www.bodycreation.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/nipple.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bodycreation.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/nipple.pdf
- ↑ https://uhs.berkeley.edu/health-topics/body-piercings
- ↑ https://www.safepiercing.org/aftercare
- ↑ https://www.safepiercing.org/aftercare
- ↑ https://uhs.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/piercingcare.pdf
- ↑ https://www.safepiercing.org/aftercare
- ↑ https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/body-piercing/
- ↑ https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/body-piercing/
- ↑ https://safepiercing.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/APP_Procedures_2013_A_Web.pdf
- ↑ https://safepiercing.org/picking-your-piercer/
- ↑ https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/body-piercing/
- ↑ https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/nipple-piercings/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25118-flat-and-inverted-nipples
- ↑ https://safepiercing.org/piercing-faq/#1603412688100-7f9cb889-1594
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/infected-piercings/
- ↑ https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/body-piercing/
About This Article
To get your nipple pierced, first research several parlors online by reading customer reviews and checking their websites to find one that’s professional. You should also try to visit the parlor before booking an appointment to make sure it’s clean and safe. After you’ve made an appointment, decide whether you want a ring or barbell piercing. Additionally, prepare yourself to experience some pain during the piercing, which feels like being pinched or bitten. Once the piercing is done, wash your nipple by soaking it in water to remove any dried blood. During the first 4 weeks of healing, wash your piercing once a day using an antibacterial cleanser to avoid infection. If you want to encourage your piercing to heal, soak it in a solution of 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt and 1 cup of water for a few minutes once a day. For tips on how to protect your piercing at night, read on!
Reader Success Stories
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"I'm considering getting my nipples pierced and, as always, I do my research on any piercing I think to get. The info that I got here was super helpful and it really is helping me to be more prepared and confident in getting my nipple pierced and taking care of it."..." more