​Temporary nipple tattoos bring ‘the girls’ back

An Auckland mum is helping breast cancer survivors reclaim their bodies through temporary nipple tattoos.

Emma Conyngham is the driving force behind the recently launched Nice Nips, a temporary nipple tattoo business.

Ms Conyngham launched the venture in July following a double mastectomy at the start of this year.

“Your chest has just been butchered and you’re just so medically divorced from it,” said the former TEAR Fund worker.

“You’re really separated from it and then you put these nipples back on and you’re like ‘There they are! The girls are back’.”

Ms Conyngham was inspired to create temporary nipple tattoos after purchasing a similar product from the United States.

“They were just made with a blob of paint. They’re not even real nipples, just pink paint.”

Nice Nips has different varieties of nipples, from ‘Nice and Natural’ to ‘Professional Precision’. The temporary tattoos cost $19.99 for three pairs, and feature names such as ‘Chocolate Button’ and ‘Turkish Delight’.

Before her breast cancer experience, Emma Conyngham says "you could not have paid [her] a million dollars to take a picture of [her] boobs and put them on the internet". Photo: Supplied / Nice Nips

Customers can also purchase custom-made nipple tattoos made from a photo of their own breast, ideal for breast cancer victims who have only lost one nipple.

Customers range from post-mastectomy patients waiting for further nipple reconstruction, to those who simply do not plan to go under the knife again.

Despite only being new to the market, Nice Nips has already run into some controversy – facing issues about its name.

“I had no idea that ‘nice nips’ was a porn term,” said Ms Conyngham.

This issue has resulted in multiple social media bans, and the Nice Nips page on Facebook is now titled ‘Post-Mastectomy Temporary Tattoos’.

“If I knew then what I know now would I have chosen Nice Nips? Maybe not, even though I think it’s cute.”

The business has already found demand internationally, with two Melbourne hospitals stocking its products. Ms Conyngham said it is now focused on entering both the public health system.

Facebook issues aside, Nice Nips is proving successful with its new customers.

Lauren Sleeman had a double mastectomy in 2013 and said the emotion attached to losing her breasts was “pure grief”.

“They weren’t splendid looking affairs but they were mine.”

Ms Sleeman said she finds Nice Nips’ temporary nipple tattoos emotionally uplifting, and plans to use them long-term.

“I’m going to stick with these now that I’ve found them.”

While the temporary tattoos are benefitting many, some breast cancer survivors do not find them necessary.

Gwendoline Smith, author of Breast Support: If You or Someone You Love Has Breast Cancer – You Need This Book, is among a number of women affected by breast cancer who posed for Damien Nikora’s ‘Portraits of Strength’ exhibition.

Ms Smith said there was a failed attempt at reconstruction during her surgery.

“Because of the age that I am, I really didn’t care.”

She had adjusted to the loss of her nipples and did not plan on having a nipple reconstruction or using temporary nipple tattoos.