WTF Is The Rhino Piercing? The Latest TikTok Beauty Trend To Grace Our FYP

I have three piercings in my nose alone, so I get why people want to find new ways to get their nose pierced. But there’s one TikTok beauty trend I can’t get behind — it’s the rhino piercing. And no, it’s not because it’s a fun play on words or an acronym for something cute. It comes from the word “rhinoplasty,” and if you go deeper, the Greek word “rino” which means nose. But if your instinct was to imagine a rhinoceros, you’re actually not far off. And if your first thought (like me) was: “Who wants to do this to their nose?” Well, #rhinopiercing has over 140 million views on TikTok, so I’d say quite a few people. Before I can judge too harshly, I gathered everything to know about the rhino piercing trend and more importantly… does it hurt?

What Is A Rhino Piercing?

The rhino piercing is also called a “vertical nasal tip piercing,” so you can see why it has a fun name. Basically, it’s a piercing that goes vertically through the very tip of your nose. Yeah, think Rudolph. Or you know… a rhino. Once healed, you’ll have two points of adornment: one slightly above the nasal tip and the other on the underside of the columella — the tissue that connects the nostrils and the bottom of the nose. So think of a “button nose” but like, more literally.

It has its roots in Indigenous cultures, where the rhino piercing would be considered a symbol of strength and adulthood. Sooo this isn’t anything new, despite being all the rage on TikTok right now.

Rhino Piercing Pain: Does It Hurt?

As with all piercings, getting the rhino piercing isn’t exactly a pleasant experience. But hey, we decide to poke holes in our body anyway. To pierce it, you’re basically having someone sticking a needle through the tip of your nose. And even though all piercings basically hurt, the word on the street (aka TikTok) is that this piercing is a little more painful than your typical nose piercing. I mean, we all know that the nose is super sensitive and the tip of the nose even more so.

But it heals pretty similarly to other piercings, so long as you follow your tattoo artist’s instructions on how to clean and take care of it. Plus, because it’s right on your face, it’s always a best idea to avoid putting makeup around it. If you’re one of those girlies that loves to pat blush on the tip of your nose, I’d take a break post-rhino piercing.

So, while I personally will be skipping this trend (plus, three piercings in my nose is already pushing it), if you’ve been wanting a new piercing it might be the best time to try the rhino piercing.