Q: Can I get my nose pierced with a hoop, or do I need to start with a post? -Jennifer P

A: CAN you get your nose pierced with circular jewelry? Yes. SHOULD you get your nose pierced with circular jewelry? No. Nostril piercings should be performed with a flatback labret stud. These not only allow room for swelling but they don’t move around within the piercing itself. Circular jewelry, such as a captive bead ring, moves a lot within a piercing and the constant motion can not only irritate the piercing but even slow down the healing process. This is a recipe for irritation bumps. If a piercer tries to offer you circular jewelry for a nostril piercing, you should leave and go somewhere else. That said, nostril piercings are fairly fast when it comes to healing and you can replace your initial jewelry with a hoop after that. Happy piercing!

 Q: I've had my tongue piercing for a few weeks, but I'm having trouble speaking and eating. Is this normal, and how long will it last? -Danni 

A: If you’ve had the piercing for several weeks, the swelling should be gone by now. Therefore, the two most likely culprits are the jewelry or the piercing. When you get a new piercing, usually longer than standard jewelry is used to accommodate the swelling. Once the swelling recedes, you may find that the jewelry is suddenly too long for comfort. Since tongue piercings heal relatively quickly, you may be ready to downsize the jewelry. The other possibility is that there is an actual issue with the piercing, such as it being crooked. Either way, you should consult with a piercer, who will be happy to make sure your tongue piercing is straight and change out that jewelry for you. Best of luck!

Disclaimer: Body Candy is only here to give you fun and helpful advice and information when it comes to getting pierced. Always consult a professional piercer to make sure a new piercing is right for you!