To some, getting your nipples pierced may sound like a scene plucked straight out of a horror movie, with words like “pain,” “awkwardness,” and “discomfort” coming to mind. But nipple piercings can actually function as empowering body modifications with the ability to increase body confidence and self-esteem.
The nipple piercing, once popular in the ’90s, has recently gotten trendy again by way of celebrities like Noah Cyrus and Kendall Jenner. If you’re considering getting one (or two) of your own, it should be a positive experience, not an intimidating one. That’s not always an easy mindset to take on, especially when you’re facing the thought of a needle going through your nipple, but there are many things you can do to make the process easier.
Whether you’re still on the fence or already preparing to book your appointment, we talked to four different piercers about everything you should know before getting your nipples pierced. Read their advice for safer, healthier piercings you won’t be able to resist showing off.
Do Nipple Piercings Hurt?
Although there are lots of things to consider before getting a nipple piercing, the most common questions piercers get asked are typically about pain. Lisa Marie Mytych, the owner and lead piercer for Straight to the Point in Tucson, AZ, says her go-to phrase is, “Nobody knows what it’s like to be you for a fraction of a second.”
John Joyce, the owner of Scarab Body Arts in Syracuse, NY, agrees, adding that, although pain differs for everyone, it’s often overexaggerated. “Most women will find that – when it’s done properly – the piercing is quite a bit easier than they expected it to be,” he says.
What Nipple Piercing Jewelry Is Best?
Across the board, piercers agreed that clients should choose safe, implant-grade jewelry for their piercings. According to Anna Beall, a body piercer at CowPök in Buffalo, NY, “If you have a heavier breast tissue, you definitely want to go for something that’s a little bit thicker so that it kind of stabilises the piercing channel and it doesn’t tear as much on the sides.”
Tom Gottschalk, a piercer at Dorje Adornments in Rochester, NY, adds that barbells typically work better than hoops because they help the piercing remain as straight as possible. “In order to make it straight with the hoop, the hoop would have to be gigantic, which is not most people’s aesthetic,” he says.
How Much Do Nipple Piercings Cost?
The price of a nipple piercing will vary greatly depending on your location and the shop itself, but you can usually expect to pay a piercing service fee (which can range from $20 to $50 for the first hole) plus the cost of jewelry. The material of the piercing jewelry is really what’s going to determine the price: for instance, solid-gold barbells can be significantly more expensive than surgical steel or other metals. With that in mind, the cost of nipple piercing jewelry can start at anywhere from $50 and cost upward of $300.
