Nipple Piercings (Rings and Things)

Nipple Piercings (Rings and Things)

If there's one thing that the recent US Transportation Safety Administration/passenger conflict in Texas showed, it's that even 20 years after nipple piercing started to move into the mainstream, many people still don't know anything about them. In fact, the most the average person knows about nipple piercings is probably just a vague memory of something sparkling on Janet Jackson's breast during her unfortunate "wardrobe malfunction" during the Super Bowl a few years back. These are not a casual body modification, like having ears pierced. Pierced nipples take months to heal and removing the jewelry often requires the use of specialized pliers made for opening and closing the thick rings.


This hub describes the process of how nipples get pierced and answers some frequently asked questions about nipple piercings. There's also some discussion about flying, being scanned or put through a metal detector and piercings. If you have more questions, you can ask them in the comment capsule at the bottom of the hub.

Nipple piercing and sexuality

Nipple piercing and sexuality



Sexual arousal created by nipple and areola stimulation is reported to be enhanced by piercing of the nipple. Most women claim an increase in sensitivity and arousal after having their nipples pierced. As a result of a surge of information exposing the sexual enhancement aspect of a pierced nipple, there has been a reported increase of men and women requesting this procedure.


"For a long time I could not understand why I should consent to such a painful operation without sufficient reason. I soon, however came to the conclusion that many ladies are ready to bear the passing pain for the sake of love. I found that the breasts of those who wore rings were incomparably rounder and fuller developed than those who did not. My doubts were now at an end...so I had my nipples pierced, and when the wounds were healed, I had rings inserted...with regard to the experience of wearing these rings, I can only say that they are not in the least uncomfortable or painful. On the contrary, the slight rubbing and slipping of the rings causes in me an extremely titillating feeling, and all my colleagues I have spoken to on this subject have confirmed my opinion." London socialite writing in Vogue 1890.

Nipple Piercing History

Nipple Piercing History



A nipple piercing is a piercing, centered usually at the base of the nipple. Nipple piercing can be pierced at any angle but is usually done horizontally or, less often, vertically. Nipple piercing is also possible to place multiple piercings on top of one another. A nipple piercing typically takes 2-4 months to fully heal. Some people have noted that they can take up to a year and a half to fully heal. Nipple piercing's recommended that if stretching a nipple piercing, the piercee waits at least the healing time of their piercings between stretches.
The perforation of the nipple to apply jewelry has been practiced by various people throughout history. Male nipple piercing was reported to be done by the Karankawa Indians, female nipple piercing is practiced by the Kabyle people in Algeria.

Nipple-piercing was a fashion statement dating back to the 14th Century and having a short-lived revival among society women during the Victorian period around 1890. However, the historian Lesley Hall has commented that these claims might be traced back to a few letters published in the magazine Society during 1899, which can be judged as erotic fantasies rather than descriptions of actual activity.


In the late 1970s the practice was revived again by Jim Ward, proprietor of the Gauntlet in West Hollywood. The mainstream popularity of the practice is partly due to celebrities who publicly displayed their piercings or confessed to have one in the 1990s, such as Tommy Lee, Corey Taylor and Lenny Kravitz. Nipple piercing has gained much popularity in recent years with many celebrities and fashion models having this type of piercing.

Below middle, Jayson, "The Pilch" (background) and Tim with his new nipple piercing

One got her first nipple piercing the day before her 23rd birthday. She had spent most of the summer of 1989 reading Re/Search's Modern Primitives volume obsessively, and somewhere along the path, his revulsion towards nipple piercing shifted to curiosity and then to outright desire to experience it. So, there it is.... The first picture of the actual first nipple piercings is shown in the small photo to the right.

It was actually a group ritual, with other piercees and witnesses (see below) and the whole thing was videoed, but she never saw it because the guy who shot it lost the tape in his "divorce.She decided to only get one nipple pierced because 1) she was not sure how painful it would be and 2) she is in a relationship and didn't want both her nipples "out of commission" as it were...

Nipple piercing

Nipple piercing

Nipple:    piercing

Location: Nipple

Jewelry:  Barbell, captive bead ring

Healing:    2 to 4 months

A nipple piercing is a piercing, centered usually at the base of the nipple. Nipple piercing can be pierced at any angle but is usually done horizontally or, less often, vertically. Nipple piercing is also possible to place multiple piercings on top of one another. A nipple piercing typically takes 2-4 months to fully heal. Some people have noted that they can take up to a year and a half to fully heal. Nipple piercing's recommended that if stretching a nipple piercing, the piercee waits at least the healing time of their piercings between stretches.
For those who choose to have their nipples pierced, healing times run between three and six months for most men, and six to twelve months for most women. This is a major piercing, considered a deep tissue wound technically. The piercing heals from the outer edges back towards the center and can often take a long time to become comfortably established. Women experience longer healing times as their piercings are often through more body tissue and their breast tissue changes with hormonal fluctuations.

Once the piercings are healed, their are many jewelry choices available for nipple piercings. Barbells can be straight or curved with many decorative end balls. Bead rings can be fixed or captured, again with many bead options and dangles available. All nipple jewelry should be at least 14 gauge thick to avoid slicing into the tissues. Breast tis êsue responds well to slow stretching and nipple jewelry gauge can easily be increased by enlarging with professional tapered stretching. Consult a professional piercer for recommendations for increasing jewelry diameter and thickness.

Nipple piercings are through erectile tissue. They get better blood supply than a navel piercing but are subject to more body movement and rubbing with clothing than an ear piercing. Nipple piercings can initially be tender for a few days or a few weeks depending on the individual. Increasing redness, swelling and tenderness usually signal some form of infection. Don’t be afraid to contact your piercer if you think you are having a healing issue.

New jewelry should be surgical stainless steel or 14k or 18k gold. See what your piercer recommends as far as starting diameter. You cannot wear sterling silver in nipple piercings, and it is recommend to save niobiu êm and titanium for established piercings. For washing, use a natural soap without dyes, perfumes or heavy anti-bacterials. These can all irritate the new piercing, as can over-cleaning the piercing. Some people find that soaking the fresh piercing with hot salt water is suitable. Clean any dried lymph fluids from the edges of the healing piercings for comfort.

Piercings heal from the outside in, so what your nipples are doing is growing a tunnel from the two sides of the nipple to surround the new jewelry. The surfaces can look healed whereas the inside areas might not be healed totally together, so don’t rush to change into new jewelry for the first year. You will also want to avoid hot tubs or pools as the chemicals in the water can irritate and inflame healing piercings. Use laundry products without dyes or scent additives while the nipple piercings are still healing to avoid reactions.

Men's Pierced Nipples

Here is a picture of a freshly pierced male nipple. It's about a minute old here, this picture having been taken on Nov. 2, 2002 when he got both his nipples pierced. Like all newly pierced rings, this one exhibits the tendency to stick straight out instead of laying down along the body. They do lower as they heal.

You can see actual step-by-step nipple piercing.

There are two parts:

Nipple Piercing Prep: Set-up, Marking and Clamping

Nipple Piercing Procedure: Piercing, Ring Insertion and Ring Closure