Nipple piercing
Nipple jewellery — barbells, rings and horseshoes in 316L steel and titanium. 32 models in stock.
Types of nipple piercing
Anatomy decides here, not style: the direction of the channel follows the shape of the nipple.
Horizontalacross the base
Verticalalong the nipple
Diagonalangled to the shape
Doubletwo parallel barbells
Crosshorizontal and vertical
Xtwo diagonals
Triplethree parallel, rareHorizontal (classic)
Across the base of the nipple. Takes a straight 1.6 mm barbell, nipple width plus 2 mm.
Vertical
The same piercing rotated 90°, chosen when the nipple is taller than it is wide.
Double (cross)
Two channels at right angles — done at least six months apart.
Rings
Only after six months of healing. See nipple rings.
Real healing time
6–12 months. Always 1.6 mm — a thinner bar cuts through the tissue.
Barbell or ring
A fresh piercing takes a straight barbell only.
Which shape fits for nipples
Each name opens exactly those.
Circular barbell15 models in stock · horseshoe for a healed piercing — easier to remove
Clicker9 models in stock · click-lock ring — no tiny balls to lose
Straight barbell7 models in stock · a fresh piercing takes a straight barbell, sized long for swelling
Ring2 models in stock · a ring with no lock — twist the halves apart, never bend them openTitanium or steel for nipples
The material decides how the piercing heals.
Ready-made selections
Already filtered by one parameter.
Healing takes time
Nipple piercings commonly take 6–12 months to settle, and they stay sensitive to friction the whole way. Anything that catches on fabric delays that, so smooth ends and the right length matter more than looks in the first year.
Gauge and length
1.6 mm is standard — thinner jewellery cheese-wires the tissue over time. Length is measured across the piercing, not around it, and it changes as swelling goes down: the first bar is deliberately longer.
Material
Titanium contains no nickel at all, which is why it is the default for a fresh piercing and for skin that reacts. Steel is a reasonable choice once the channel has healed.
Size and material
| Material | 316L steel — 20 models. Cheaper, corrosion-resistant, suitable for a healed piercing. For the first jewellery titanium is the better choice. Titanium — 12 models. Contains no nickel, so it causes no reaction even in a fresh piercing. Lighter than steel — less load on the tissue. The material of first choice. |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 1.2 mm — 23 models, 1 mm — 7 models, 0.8 mm — 4 models, 1.6 mm — 2 models. The thickness must match the one the piercing was made with. |
| Bar length | 8 mm — 23 models, 10 mm — 22 models, 6 mm — 22 models, 12 mm — 9 models. A longer bar is needed while the swelling lasts, a shorter one — for a healed piercing. |
| Ring diameter | 8 mm — 19 models, 10 mm — 18 models, 12 mm — 14 models, 6 mm — 8 models. A smaller diameter sits tighter, a bigger one — looser and more visible. |
| Thread | External — 16 models, Threadless — 11 models, Internal — 2 models. An internal thread is hidden inside the bar — it does not scratch the channel when changing. |
| Insert | None — 14 models, Cubic zirconia — 4 models. |
FAQ
Which size should I choose?
The typical size for this zone is 1.6 mm thick, 10–12 mm long. Jewellery smaller than needed presses on the channel, bigger — catches on clothes and hair. The exact size of each model is given on its page.
How long does a nipple piercing take to heal?
Nipples take a long time to heal — from 6 months to a year. Tight clothes and sports tops in the first months slow healing down more than anything else.
Why is titanium better than steel?
Titanium is about half the weight and contains no nickel. 316L steel is also fit for wearing, but there is nickel in it, and people sensitive to nickel feel it. For a fresh piercing titanium is the safer choice.
Can titanium be worn all the time?
Yes. Titanium does not oxidise in contact with lymph and does not change colour, so it is not taken off at night or in the shower. The jewellery is worth removing only for cleaning — and only from a healed piercing: a fresh channel is not left empty.
