Q: I just got my nipples pierced and I’m totally in love with them! I know I can’t change the jewelry until they’re totally healed but, in the meantime, I want to start shopping!! What kind of jewelry can I wear in them? -Ruby
A: Nipple piercings are one of the greatest piercings if you like to change your jewelry because you can rock virtually ANY style of jewelry. So long as you make sure that it’s the right gauge and the correct length/diameter, there is almost nothing that you can’t wear. Straight barbells are always a classic and you can always go with dangle jewelry that is supported by a straight barbell. You can also do circular jewelry with captive bead rings being the classic look or hinged segment rings for a look that’s a bit simpler to change on your own. (Of course, you can always get a captive ring opener and make those a whole lot easier to change!) Both of those also come in dangle versions and there’s even the captive charm ring instead of a captive bead ring. And let’s not forget horseshoes, for a look that splits the difference between dangle and not-dangle. Finally, there’s nipple shields which may not work for everyday wear but holy cow, do they make an impact! When you come down to it, the only jewelry you can NOT wear in nipple piercings would be curved barbells, spiral barbells, seamless closure rings (more of a comfort issue in nipple piercings), and certain styles of clicker, also for comfort’s sake. Happy shopping!
Q: I've been wanting a piercing for years, but I have an awful pain tolerance. Every time I think I'm ready to do it I chicken out because I know it's going to hurt. Is it possible for a piercer to apply a local anesthetic to the area I'm getting pierced or is there a way I can numb the area myself before going in? -Sarah P.
A: The short answer to your question is “no”. There are a few reasons why numbing cream isn’t used in piercing studios. For one thing, they only work on the top layers of the skin. Your skin may be numb but the tissue underneath will not be numb because a topical cream doesn’t work like when you go to the dentist and they inject you with something to numb you. So even if you used it, you’re still going to feel the piercing. Secondly, the active ingredients in numbing creams are usually things like lidocaine. Lidocaine, and substances like it, cause your blood vessels to constrict which makes your skin shift. That means that you could go get a piercing that looks fantastic and, when the numbing cream wears off, find that it is no longer positioned in the same place. Your perfect piercing can wind up wonky and off-center, possibly to the point where you would want to have it removed and re-pierced. The good news here is that piercing is an extremely fast process. Those needles are incredibly sharp and go through tissue like it’s nothing. The entire piercing part of the process is over in seconds. It may be somewhat painful but only for the briefest amount of time. And not only is the piercing quick, but our bodies also very rapidly respond to piercings by secreting endorphins, the brain’s own painkillers. (This is part of why people say that piercings are addictive. It causes an actual chemical response in the brain!) So, while you can’t be numbed beforehand, you shouldn’t feel much pain and only for the briefest amount of time. It’s really not as bad as you are afraid it is. Promise. Happy piercing!
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!
