Nipple Piercing Guide: What To Expect From Cost To Pain

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We asked a pro piercer about nipple piercings — and he told us every NSFW detail.
Is there anything you have to avoid after you get pierced?
Keeping it clean and free of foreign bacteria is of paramount importance for the first few months. That means you (and your partner) should limit touching, and avoid pools, spas, hot tubs, bodies of water, and even showers in countries with water sanitation limitations. Translation: If you wouldn’t feel comfortable drinking the water, don’t let it touch your nipple until it’s healed.

What’s the actual piercing process like?
Obviously, all places work a little differently and it's very important to make sure you go to a reputable piercing studio with clean conditions, good reviews (check Yelp and Google the shit out of your piercer), and an experienced staff — but you already knew that. Having said that, know your experience shouldn’t be too far off from how it works at Body Electric. Here’s how it goes down.

After you pick your jewelry and sign the proper forms, the piercing room will be closed for privacy. First, the jewelry is sterilized with a machine. The nipple is cleaned with alcohol and a surgical scrub, then it’s dotted with a marker before you are asked to lie down on the piercing table — just in case you pass out. Nine times out of ten, the client wants a horizontal piercing, Thompson says.

Then, the nipple is clamped. “Some piercers don’t use clamps on the nipple, but I do because it makes the whole process a little faster,” Thompson says. A few deep breathes and in goes the needle. (If they pull out a piercing gun, put on your top and run!) Your piercer will then put your jewelry in, apply pressure to stop any bleeding, and place a bandage over the piercing.

Is bleeding normal?
Yes, bleeding is totally normal and common both at the time of the piercing and during the first week, Thompson says — but it doesn’t happen to everyone. If you're bleeding after a week, or more than you would from a small cut, call your piercer and explain what's going on.

What should you expect for a few days after?
Your nipples may bleed for the first week and you can expect them to be incredibly sore. You’ll quickly realize how often your nipple lightly brushes random things — because it’s going to hurt. It will get crusty and require daily cleaning.
What is the best and most comfortable bra to wear after getting them done?Thompson suggests a soft, cotton, dark-colored sports bra. You won't risk staining a light fabric with a little blood (hey, it happens) or tugging on your piercing with details or delicate fabric, like lace. However, at the end of the day, it's all about trial and error, but definitely start with something you know is comfortable and won't catch on your jewelry.

Should you start with one nipple and then wait until that's healed until you get the other one done?
“It’s about personal preference — whatever works for you should be the way you get pierced,” Thompson says. “If you want to wait and heal one and then do the next, then by all means go ahead and do that. If you want to sit down and knock it out in one shot, then that’s great, too.”

When can you start working out?
Thirty minutes after you get it pierced. Working out has no impact on the piercing itself unless you’re putting tension on it. If you feel pain in the area, that’s your body telling you it doesn’t like what’s going on — so stop doing it. Keeping your piercing clean is also something to consider, because it's like an open wound, so cleanliness at the gym and how thick your clothing is is something to consider.

What should I wear to the appointment? Do I have to remove my shirt?
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.