

You'll definitely feel some level of pain or discomfort, but it should be fleeting. The biggest question probably on your mind: Will it hurt? In short, how much a nipple piercing hurts will depend on your personal threshold for pain. The barbell that we use to pierce is slightly longer to accommodate for initial swelling." "Rings can put pressure on the healing wound and dig into the breast tissue at the bottom if the client wears bras or binders. "We just use straight barbells for initial nipple piercings regardless of the size of the nipple," she says. Vicki Rose at Studio 28 Tattoos in New York explained that the type of jewelry-be it a barbell or half-circle ring-can also play a role. "Don't fall victim to misleading terms like 'surgical steel' or 'stainless.' These are nonsensical terms given to low-quality, unregulated mystery metals."Īccording to Pearce, acceptable materials that are most commonly used for nipple piercing jewelry include Implant Grade Titanium (ASTM-F136), 14k to 18k solid gold (never plated or filled), and Implant Grade Steel (ASTM-F128).īut the metal that makes up your jewelry isn't the only factor. "Jewelry quality is a big determining factor in how easily and quickly your new piercing heals," Pearce says. Your choice of jewelry can affect the price of the procedure, but it can also affect the way your new holes heal. "Sometimes I recommend consultations just to meet the staff and view the space before booking the actual piercing appointment." "At any time during an appointment, if you aren't feeling 100% ready or comfortable, it is totally acceptable to reschedule or opt out," Ellis says. Do you feel comfortable with the staff and space? You should feel like you're in good hands and safe throughout your appointment."You can't make everyone happy, but I find it so insightful to see how owners and managers respond," she says. Do they have good reviews? Ellis recommends checking not only for a good number of good reviews but also looking at how the studio responds to negative reviews.Do they have a good portfolio? "This will be the studio's best selection of piercings, so if it seems off or just not great, check out a different place," she says.If your preferred studio isn't disposable, then Ellis says you'll want to ask about how they sterilize their tools and if they conduct spore testing, which is "the most accepted means of monitoring sterilization because they assess the sterilization process 1 directly by killing known highly resistant microorganisms," according to the CDC. Are they a disposable studio? That simply means the studio or shop doesn't reuse any of their piercing tools, needles, or jewelry, which is the cleanest and safest route.
