Tap forward for all you Need to know, courtesy of celebrity piercer Brian Keith Thompson.
“More women are doing both right now," says Thompson. There’s been a huge uptick in women getting their nipples pierced thanks to Kendall Jenner and Rihanna.
"Barbells are way more popular. they’re more subtle under clothes and they heal faster because they don’t move around as much,” says Thompson.
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Thompson calls it “totally tolerable,” but some consider it one of the most painful piercings. However, Thompson says, “It’s short-lived pain.”
6 months - 1 Year Some nipples can't tolerate the piercing and never heal. A red streak across your nipple means you should get the jewelry out ASAP.
“I’ve never met a nipple I couldn’t pierce,” Thompson says. Piercing an inverted nipple can actually cause it to become pushed out, and flat nipples will become slightly more raised
Keeping it clean! Limit touching and avoid swimming or showering in any water you wouldn’t drink
1. Find a reputable studio 2. Pick jewelry and sign forms 3. The jewelry is sterilized 4. The nipple is cleaned and marked with a marker 5. You lay down (just in case you pass out) 6. The nipple is clamped 7. The needle goes in 8. The jewelry goes in 9. Pressure is applied to stop any bleeding 10. A bandage is placed over the piercing
“That they’re swollen more than we foresaw and they need to come in and put a longer post in their barbell,” Thompson says. Luckily, it’s easy to swap the posts.
-Don't touch it! -Gentle soap and warm water applied very gently once per day in the shower. -Avoid rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, ointment, or anything else you may use to treat a wound.
Symptoms would be a slight fever, swollen lymph nodes, or a piercing that's red, inflamed, and painful. Call your piercer as soon as you suspect an issue, and never be shy about calling your doctor for advice.
"Yes, once it’s healed and you feel confident, it’s totally fine to switch out your jewelry yourself," Thompson says.
"At least go three or four weeks and try to keep it to a minimum,” Thompson says. And obviously, wash your hands first.
Yes and no. The nervous system is what makes your nipples sensitive, so it doesn’t really make them more sensitive, but it does make you more aware of them. For some, this is more than enough to make a noticeable difference.
Any piercing is going to leave a mark, but you can minimize it with proper care, especially if you don't have any reaction to the metal.
Thompson suggests a soft, cotton, dark-colored sports bra. You won't risk staining a light fabric with a little blood or tugging on your piercing.
"It depends on your comfort level and your piercer," Thompson says. "If you don’t want to remove your shirt, you don’t have to — you could pull it up or pull it down. I’ve had clients do a little bit of everything. It really doesn’t matter, so wear what you feel comfortable in."
“No, the nipple will not stay erect, but it will be more pronounced."
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