When I turned 18, I got a nostril piercing. It was just a simple stud. About three weeks ago, I decided, on a whim, to get both my nipples and my navel pierced. Yeah crazy, right? Trust me, I didn’t originally plan on getting all three done all at once. I called the tattoo shop to inquire about pricing for all three and they gave me a deal! I was extremely nervous for all, which is to be expected, but it was successful! I want to share my experience with you, so you’re not as clueless as I was when I went into it!
https://pixabay.com/en/body-piercing-skin-belly-button-371961/
Pricing
I have heard a range of prices. Some shops charge anywhere from $30 to $60 per nipple and about the same range for the navel. Nostril piercings range from $30 to $80. When I got my nostril pierced, it cost around $65. The shop I went to charged $40 for navel and $60 per nipple but charged me $120 to get all three done at once. That saved me $40! A good thing to do is to call for pricing beforehand and work out all your options! I will say that looking at reviews is also a good thing! You definitely want to go somewhere with a good reputation for being clean and informative!
What to Wear
When getting your nipples pierced, it’s a good idea to avoid any tight fitting or lacey bras. The tight bras press hard on your new piercings and lacey bras could catch on the jewelry and rip or tear it out. It is also preferable to wear a bra rather than go without. When wearing a bra, it supports your breasts, helping to keep the piercings still rather than having the piercing moving and making your nipples sore. A looser fitting shirt is ideal for the navel piercing as well as low-rise jeans or sweatpants. AVOID high-waisted jeans! When it comes to the nostril piercing, since it is a facial piercing, it doesn’t really matter what you wear. I would, however, suggest wearing a shirt with a loose neck so that when you are ready to change clothes, you don’t bump or snag the jewelry.
The Process
You’re sure to be nervous. I mean, you are about to get a needle through particular parts of your body. But there is really nothing to be nervous about if you are at a good shop. When getting my nostril pierced, my piercer was quick and comforting. It didn’t really hurt but it did sting and made my eyes water. For my torso piercings, however, I’m not gonna lie. Standing in front of a man with my breasts and torso exposed was kinda awkward. Especially when he observed those parts very closely to find and mark the spot he was going to pierce. But he and his assistant were very professional and didn’t do or say anything to make me uncomfortable. When getting my nipples pierced, it definitely hurt. But it was more of a dull pain rather than a sharp pain. It gradually got painful, though, not suddenly out of the blue, which I prefer so that I’m not so shocked. When getting my navel pierced, however, it was the opposite. It was more of a sharp pain than a dull one.
Cleaning
So cleaning your nose piercing will be a bit frustrating. That’s mostly because its harder to rinse than, say, nipple or navel piercings. It’s important to clean the external and internal part of the nostril that is pierced. For the nipple and navel piercings, I would suggest using foaming antibacterial soap because it’s easier to foam up and clean the piercings. It’s also easier to rinse off. I would use a different cotton swab for each nipple and if there are little crusties, try to get them off as well. My piercer told me to use a saline solution two to three times a day to clean it and clean with soap only twice a day. For the navel piercing, do the same thing. Out of all three, I would say cleaning the nipple piercings is the easiest.
Healing
I’m not far enough along in my torso piercing journey to be able to tell you which one healed the best; however, so far, the nipple piercings are healing better than the navel. I think one of my big problems is the irritation my navel piercing receives. It’s frustrating because when I bend over to put shoes or pants on or roll over in bed, it can bump the jewelry and upset it. When I had gotten my nostril pierced, it didn’t take too long to heal; however, it did get infected and when it got infected, it was extremely painful.
Other things you should know
When you get your nose pierced, you have to wear the jewelry for a while after it heals and you SHOULD NOT take and keep the jewelry out for at least a year. It’s also super easy to change the nostril jewelry after it heals. I love my nostril piercing and have had it for almost 4 years now. Also, when it comes to nipple piercings, there’s always the question of sensitivity. I have heard different things for different women, but I can definitely tell you that it has made mine more sensitive. Overall, all three of my piercings have really heightened my self-confidence, and I absolutely love having them.
If you have any questions about my personal experience with piercings, you can always dm me on Twitter or Instagram, and I will definitely get back to you!