Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Nape Piercing

If you’re interested in getting a unique and edgy piercing, a nape piercing is an excellent choice. This is a type of surface piercing that’s placed on the back of your neck, just below your hairline. Curious about getting this piercing? Read on! In this article, we spoke with professional body piercers to learn what a nape piercing is, how to get one, how long it takes to heal, how much it costs, how much it hurts, how to take care of it, and any issues you should be aware of.

Nape Piercing Information & Aftercare

A nape piercing is a surface piercing located on the back of your neck and below your hairline. To care for it, wash it 2x per day with saline wound wash, avoid touching or snagging it, and watch for signs of migration. It typically takes 4 to 6 months to fully heal.

Section 1 of 7:

What is a nape piercing?

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A nape piercing is a surface piercing located on the back of the neck. The nape piercing is located on the back of the neck and just below your hairline, which is called the nape of the neck. It’s a type of surface piercing, which means that the jewelry enters and exits through a flat stretch of skin rather than a distinct ridge or piece of tissue with a front and back (like an earlobe or nostril).^{[1]
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- Jewelry type: Surface bar with flat disk, ball, or crystal jewelry. Surface piercing jewelry needs to be flat and straight, like a staple, rather than curved.
- Jewelry material: Implant-grade titanium (nickel-free), niobium (nickel-free), platinum (nickel-free), 14k+ gold (can contain nickel), and surgical steel (contains nickel).^{[2]
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- Placement: Typically pierced horizontally and centered on the neck, though they can be placed vertically, too.
- Anatomy dependent? Yes, nape piercings are anatomy-dependent, meaning that your neck has to have certain features for the piercing to be done safely. This usually requires a flat stretch of skin that doesn’t move much when you bend and twist your neck.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Natalie Rose Pokes is a professional piercer and co-owner of Gunns and Roses Tattoo and Piercing Parlor.

David Wilkins is a professional body piercer and owner of The Axiom Body Piercing Studio with over 30 years of experience. He also runs an educational YouTube channel about body piercings.

Karissa Sanford is a body piercing specialist and co-owner of Make Me Holey Body Piercing with over 10 years of experience.

Sasha Blue is a professional body piercer and owner of 13 Bats Tattoo and Piercing Studio with over 20 years of experience.

Roger Rodriguez is a piercing specialist and owner of Ancient Adornments Body Piercing with over 25 years of experience.

Section 2 of 7:

How to Get a Nape Piercing

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Find a reputable and experienced piercing studio. Piercing specialist Stephanie Anders says it’s super important that you go to a high-quality studio when getting any type of piercing. Research different studios around you to ensure they follow proper piercing techniques and cleanliness regulations. Then, look for a piercer who has experience doing nape or surface piercings.^{[3]
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Stephanie Anders
Piercing Specialist

Expert Interview}
- Make sure to read reviews of the studio to see what people say about it and if they’re happy with their piercings.
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Book a consultation to see if you’re a good fit for a nape piercing. Because nape piercings are anatomy-dependent, your piercer will want to inspect the back of your neck to see if there’s enough flat skin for the piercing. They’ll likely have you bend and twist your neck to see how it moves so they can locate a good area for the piercing. Then, they’ll work with you to determine the exact piercing spot, orientation, and jewelry.^{[4]
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- If you wear necklaces, scarves, or high-necked tops, your piercer might adjust the piercing placement to help keep it from getting irritated. Surface piercings like nape piercings can be prone to migration and rejection, which irritation can worsen.
- A quick test to check if a nape piercing is possible is to place a piece of clear tape on the back of your neck where you want the piercing. Then, move your head around. If the tape doesn’t budge, that’s likely a good spot (though your piercer will still have to confirm this at your appointment).
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Ask your piercer about the piercing process. For most nape piercings, your piercer will sanitize the back of your neck and mark the spots for the needle entry and exit points. They’ll clamp or press your skin together and pierce the marked spots with a hollow needle. Then, they’ll insert the surface barbell through the needle and attach the other end of the jewelry.^{[5]
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- Nape piercings are typically done with longer jewelry to account for swelling as you heal. Once you’re healed, you can change out the jewelry to a better-fitting surface barbell. We’ll discuss how in the section about aftercare, below.
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Rest, eat, and hydrate before your appointment. Get a good night’s sleep to help prepare your body for the piercing so it can heal better, says body piercing specialist Karissa Sanford.^{[6]
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Karissa Sanford
Body Piercing Specialist

Expert Interview} Professional body piercer Sasha Blue also says to “make sure you eat before and drink plenty of water so you're properly hydrated.”^{[7]
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Sasha Blue
Professional Body Piercer

Expert Interview}
- Blue also suggests arriving at your appointment on time or a few minutes early so you can “look at all the jewelry options and ask any questions you may have” without feeling rushed.^{[8]
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  Sasha Blue
  Professional Body Piercer
  
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- According to Sanford, “If you're treating your body really poorly right before you get a piercing, there's a chance that your healing could be compromised,” which is why it’s important you take it easy.^{[9]
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Section 3 of 7:

Nape Piercing Healing Time

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Nape piercings typically take 4 to 6 months to heal. Nape piercings can take a long time to heal due to how often you move your neck and stretch the skin. It can also be prone to irritation from your hair, clothes, and accessories like necklaces. In some cases, they can take up to 1 year to fully heal.^{[10]
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- Keep cleaning your piercing and following your aftercare instructions for the duration of the healing time your piercer quotes you, says professional piercer Natalie Rose Pokes.^{[11]
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  Natalie Rose Pokes
  Professional Piercer
  
  Expert Interview} Stopping your care early can lead to prolonged healing.

Section 4 of 7:

Nape Piercing Cost

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Nape piercings cost around $50 to $100 (not including jewelry). How much you pay for a nape piercing largely depends on the studio you go to and where you’re located. However, you can generally expect to pay $50 to $100 for just the piercing. The jewelry itself typically costs an additional $50 to $100. So, your total cost may be around $100 to $200.
- Professional body piercer David Wilkins recommends tipping your piercer at least 20% for their service. So, the total price may be closer to $120 or $240.^{[12]
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Section 5 of 7:

Nape Piercing Pain Level

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Nape piercings are moderately painful. Lots of people who’ve gotten a nape piercing say it's about a 6/10 to 8/10 on the pain scale. However, because the piercing goes through soft skin rather than cartilage, many people find it pretty mild. Ultimately, pain is subjective and different for everyone.
- The process for getting a nape piercing is quick, so any pain or discomfort you feel doesn’t last very long.

Section 6 of 7:

Nape Piercing Aftercare

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Clean your piercing twice per day with a saline wound wash. According to Pokes, the best way to clean your piercing is with a sterile saline wound wash. Most washes come in a spray bottle, making it easy to apply the solution on the back of your neck once in the morning and once in the evening. Simply wash your hands and then spray the piercing to remove bacteria, crusty buildup, and dirt.^{[13]
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Natalie Rose Pokes
Professional Piercer

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- Pokes says you can also coat a cotton swab or piece of gauze with the saline wound wash and gently wipe it around the piercing.^{[14]
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  Natalie Rose Pokes
  Professional Piercer
  
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- If you’re having trouble reaching your piercing, ask a friend or family member to help you clean it.
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Avoid touching, turning, or twisting your piercing. Keep your hands away from your piercing as much as possible to ensure it heals well. Pokes explains that a piercing is essentially a wound that needs to scab over to heal. She says, “Every time you twist and turn your jewelry, it's reopening the scab, which can cause a longer healing time.”^{[15]
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Natalie Rose Pokes
Professional Piercer

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- Additionally, touching or turning your jewelry can expose the piercing to bacteria, which can prolong healing or even cause an infection.
- Excessively touching your piercing can also irritate it and cause it to develop irritation bumps, says Pokes.^{[16]
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  Professional Piercer
  
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Be extra careful with your piercing when sleeping or showering. Anything that tugs or pulls on your piercing can irritate it and potentially lead to rejection, so keep it protected as much as possible. When you go to bed, aim to sleep on your side or stomach. Carefully wash your hair and neck to avoid pulling on your piercing as you shower, and simply pat around the area when you dry off.^{[17]
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- If you prefer lying on your back, use a U-shaped pillow. This leaves the back of your neck exposed, keeping your piercing from rubbing against anything.
- Aim to wear jewelry, accessories, and clothing that don’t rub against your piercing to keep it from getting snagged, too.
- If you have long hair, wear it up as much as possible to prevent your hair from getting tangled around the jewelry.
- Be very gentle with your piercing when hugging your friends or getting intimate with your partner to avoid touching it as much as possible, too.
According to Wilkins, “you shouldn't swim at all” while your nape piercing is healing, whether you’re taking a dip in a treated pool or the ocean. He says all bodies of water “contain a level of microorganisms,” and “if they get into an open wound, [they] are going to cause an infection.”^{[18]
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David Wilkins
Professional Body Piercer

Expert Interview}
Taking care of your body helps your piercing heal well, says piercing specialist Roger Rodriguez. Make sure you’re eating a balanced and nutritious diet, drinking plenty of water, and getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.^{[19]
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Roger Rodriguez
Piercing Specialist

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Nape piercings are purposely pierced with long jewelry to account for swelling as the wound heals. It’s important to change out the jewelry to a snugger fit once the piercing is healed to prevent irritation and snagging. As this is a difficult spot for you to reach, visit the piercing studio to have your piercer insert the new jewelry.^{[20]
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Visit your piercer if you notice signs of migration or rejection. Surface piercings like nape piercings are especially prone to migration and rejection since the jewelry only goes through the soft surface of the skin. This means that your body might shift the placement of the jewelry or try to push it out of your skin altogether. If you notice that the jewelry is in a different location or appears closer to the surface of your skin, visit your piercer. They’ll let you know if you can keep the piercing in, or if it’s best to take it out.^{[21]
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- To help prevent migration or rejection, make sure you go to a reputable and qualified piercer and take proper care of your piercing. Migration and rejection are often due to poor piercing practices, low-quality jewelry, and irritation from touching or snagging the jewelry.
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Go to a doctor if you believe your piercing is infected. As your nape piercing heals, watch it for signs of infection. Pokes says this includes a hot or burning sensation, pain, green or yellow pus, extreme swelling, and redness.^{[22]
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Natalie Rose Pokes
Professional Piercer

Expert Interview} Visit your healthcare provider immediately, who will diagnose and treat the issue (typically with antibiotics).^{[23]
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National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK

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- Note: Some swelling and redness are normal as your piercing heals. However, if these symptoms don’t go away or get worse, the piercing may be infected.^{[24]
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Section 7 of 7:

Common Issues with Nape Piercing

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They’re prone to migration and rejection. As mentioned, nape piercings are more likely to shift from their original placement due to how often you move your neck, as well as how easy it is to snag the jewelry. This can eventually lead to rejection, where your body pushes the jewelry out of your skin.^{[25]
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They don’t stay in permanently. Due to the issues of irritation, migration, and rejection, nape piercings are not considered permanent piercings. Most piercers classify surface piercings as temporary piercings, with many piercings coming out within 1 to 5 years.^{[26]
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- However, there are lots of people who do manage to keep their piercings in for 10+ years. This just takes proper care and going to a piercer who’s experienced in doing nape piercings.
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They can scar easily. If your nape piercing migrates or ultimately rejects, it can leave behind a noticeable scar. Simply taking out your jewelry and allowing the wound to heal over can cause scarring, too. This can be a flat scar, or a raised keloid scar.^{[27]
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- It’s important to visit your piercer as soon as you notice migration, as treating the issue or removing the jewelry can prevent more severe scarring from forming.

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Warnings

It’s a myth that nape piercings are more susceptible to nerve damage, numbness, or paralysis than other piercings. Since a nape piercing is a type of surface piercing that just goes through the surface of the skin, there’s very little risk that the jewelry will affect the nerves or spine. However, it is very important that you go to a reputable and experienced piercer to reduce the risk of any potential damage. It’s also important to take proper care of your piercing. While very rare, severe infection can lead to nerve damage or paralysis.^{[28]
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