Mantis piercings are a symmetrical pair on the front of the nose, one either side of the tip, angled so the jewelry faces forward rather than sideways. They are also sold as forward-facing nostril piercings, which describes them more usefully than the insect does.
The name is unreliable
Nose piercing names outside the standard nostril and septum are informal and inconsistent between studios.
“Mantis” most commonly means the symmetrical forward-facing pair described here. A rhino is a different thing: a single vertical piercing through the tip of the nose. Some studios use other names again for both.
As with the lip family, describe the placement or show a photograph rather than trusting that your studio uses the same vocabulary you do. Any piercer worth booking prefers a picture to a guess.
What makes them different from nostrils
A standard nostril piercing sits in the crease, where the nostril wall is thinnest, and faces sideways. That is why it is quick and comparatively easy.
Mantis piercings sit on the front of the nose near the tip, where the tissue is thicker and firmer, and face forward. That changes three things: they hurt more, they heal more slowly, and they are considerably more exposed to being knocked.
Your nose has to suit them
The tip of the nose varies enormously in shape. Some are broad and rounded with obvious room for a pair either side. Others are narrow or sharply defined, and simply do not offer two symmetrical spots with enough tissue behind them.
Your piercer should assess from the front and from below, since that is the angle these are seen from and the angle that decides whether a pair will look even. Being told your nose is not suited is anatomy rather than reluctance.
Symmetry is the hard part, as with any paired facial piercing, and it is why both should be marked and pierced in one appointment.
Pain
About 5 out of 10 each, above a standard nostril because the tissue is thicker.
Both eyes will water heavily. This is a reflex triggered by any nose piercing and it is not a measure of pain.
Swelling at the tip of the nose in the first week is more noticeable than most people expect, and it makes the studs feel tight. That is what the long starting posts are for.
Healing
Three to six months, healing in parallel.
- Weeks 1-2: swelling at the tip, tenderness, crusting on both.
- Weeks 2-10: gradual settling on the outside.
- Months 3-6: the channels finish maturing.
Downsize both at six to ten weeks. Two long posts on the tip of your nose catch on tissues, towels and pillows constantly, and every catch restarts the irritation clock.
The practical problem
The tip of your nose is the part of your face that touches things.
- Tissues and handkerchiefs catch both studs, and you will use them. A cold during the healing period is genuinely miserable with these.
- Sleeping face-down presses directly on both.
- Towels catch them. Pat dry, never rub.
- Glasses are less of an issue here than with a high nostril, since the tip sits below the frame on most faces.
Aftercare is the standard nose routine: saline spray twice a day on both the outside and the inside of each nostril, patted dry with clean paper towel. The nose cleaning guide covers it.
Jewelry
Two flat-back labret studs, 18 or 16 gauge, implant-grade titanium, on long posts to start and downsized once the swelling drops. The flat backs sit inside the nostrils. Threadless or internally threaded only. See the materials guide.
Not nose screws or L-bends. Those are shaped for the crease of a standard nostril and will not sit correctly in a forward-facing placement.
Rings do not work here either. There is no rim for a hoop to curve around, so mantis piercings are a stud placement.
Keep the ends small and matched. Large ends on the tip of the nose catch constantly and unbalance the pair.
Problems
Irritation bumps are common and are nearly always mechanical: a post that needed downsizing, or repeated knocking. Find the cause first. See piercing bumps.
Uneven healing, where one settles and the other does not, usually means a placement difference rather than an aftercare failure. Ask your piercer to look rather than treating harder.
Infection needs prompt attention on the face. Heat, spreading redness, thick coloured discharge or fever means a doctor the same day, jewelry left in. See infected nose piercing.
Related placements
- Nostril: the standard placement in the crease, much easier.
- High nostril: above the crease, studs only, very slow.
- Septum: between the nostrils, quick to heal and easy to hide.
Cost
$60 to $140 for the pair in a US studio, plus jewelry for each. Studios generally discount the second in the same session. Tip 15 to 20 percent.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mantis piercing?
A symmetrical pair of piercings on the front of the nose, one either side of the tip, angled so the jewelry faces forward. They are also called forward-facing nostril piercings, and the resemblance to a mantis's antennae is where the name comes from.
Are mantis piercings the same as nostril piercings?
No. A standard nostril sits in the crease at the side of the nose and faces sideways. A mantis sits on the front of the nose near the tip and faces forward. The tissue is different and so is the healing.
Do mantis piercings hurt?
About 5 out of 10 each, above a standard nostril. The tissue at the tip of the nose is thicker and firmer, and there are two of them. Both eyes will water, which is a reflex rather than a sign of anything.
How long do mantis piercings take to heal?
Three to six months, healing in parallel. Longer than a standard nostril because the tissue is thicker and the tip of the nose gets knocked and wiped constantly.
Can everyone get mantis piercings?
No. They need enough tissue at the tip of the nose on both sides for a stud to seat, and a nose shape that lets a pair sit evenly. Narrow or sharply defined nose tips often cannot take them.
Is mantis the same as a rhino piercing?
No, and the names get mixed up. A rhino is a single vertical piercing through the tip of the nose, front to top. Mantis piercings are a symmetrical pair either side of the tip. Describe the placement rather than trusting the name.
Sources
- Association of Professional Piercers - Suggested aftercare for body piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
- Association of Professional Piercers - Jewelry for initial piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/jewelry-for-initial-piercings/
- American Academy of Dermatology - Caring for pierced earshttps://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears
Placeholder author profile. Replace with a real, named APP piercer before launch.
Placeholder medical reviewer. Replace with a licensed RN, NP, PA or physician before publishing any health content.
This article is for education only and is not medical advice. If a piercing is hot, swollen, spreading redness, oozing yellow or green discharge, or you have a fever, see a doctor today.