Edgy ‘rhino’ piercing is a bizarre, new body-art trend — and it’s painful

Sniffing out some unconventional body art? This nontraditional nose piercing might just be for you.

The rhino piercing — a vertical piercing placed through the tip of the nose — is emerging as a hot, new body modification with hundreds of videos racking up millions of views on TikTok as users flaunt the unusual adornments on their schnoz.

While the belly button rings of the ’90s and early aughts have made an unlikely resurgence in the era of Y2K trends, this nose piercing is appealing to those who want more alternative body art.

New York City piercer Johnny Pearce, who works at Nine Moons, told Allure that the rhino piercing — which may also be referred to as a “vertical nasal tip piercing, vertical nose tip or a vertical tip piercing” — is attractive “to those seeking to deviate from more conventional piercing options like nostril or septum piercings, to enhance their personal sense of style and identity.”

While its name and appearance seem to be a nod to the horned mammals, the rhino piercing’s moniker is actually derived from the Greek word for nose, “rino,” Pearce claimed.

“Since body piercings come from many cultures across the history of mankind, we [piercers] often defer to language for the origins of many modern names,” he explained.

“It’s the same reason that we call cosmetic nose surgery a rhinoplasty — from the Ancient Greek derivative rino (nose) and plastia (shape/mold).”

The actual placement of the body jewelry, however, likely originated in indigenous cultures, he added.

“It is because of them that we still have this wonderful tradition and ceremony for ourselves today,” he said.

One look at the piercing begs the question: How badly does that hurt?

Of course, any piercing certainly comes with a bit of discomfort — beauty is pain, as they say — but the rhino seems as if it would be much more agonizing.

“Compared to other nose piercings, the location and nature of the rhino piercing can result in heightened discomfort during and after the procedure,” Pearce said.

It also requires careful consideration before getting pierced, as those with allergies or who wear masks for work may not be eligible candidates for this piercing.

“Depending on the size and placement of the jewelry, this piercing may affect simple baseline activities like blowing the nose or overall nasal breathing,” Pearce added.

All body art comes with risks, and the rhino piercing is no exception.

While the placement doesn’t increase the risk of infection, Pearce explained that there could be a higher likelihood of piercing rejection or migration due to the sensitive area, thus a “skilled and experienced” professional to perform the piercing “is paramount.”

Improper piercing techniques, jewelry or even aftercare could yield unwanted results, such as “granulated tissue, keloid scarring, or hypertrophic scar tissue may form, affecting the aesthetic outcome” and even damage the nose.

“To mitigate these risks, it’s essential to choose a reputable piercer who tailors the piercing process to individual anatomy and ensures proper jewelry fit to enhance comfort and minimize complication,” Pearce advised.

As far as aftercare goes, it isn’t much different than any other piercing. Pearce recommends avoiding touching, pulling, etc. the jewelry, which could result in infection, and to be mindful not to catch the piercing on clothing.

“If an action or activity is causing any pain or discomfort, find a way to do it differently,” he said.

“If your T-shirts or towels get caught on your jewelry, be more mindful of how you are changing or drying off.”

Harsh cleansers and essential oils are no-nos when it comes to piercing aftercare. Pearce recommends online a saline wash and letting the new adornment be, following up with appointments a few weeks after piercing to assess the healing process and potentially swap the jewelry.

“If the jewelry is not downsized, it can delay the healing process and cause some problems,” he added.

If all goes according to plan, the rhino piercing should result in “two cute points of adornment: one slightly above the nasal tip and the lower on the underside of the columella.”