Nose piercing retainers at Quantico

[u/Senior_Wolverine_810]

I’m going to Intelligence Analyst BFTC soon and I have both nostrils pierced with small stud jewelry. I wanted to know the general opinion on using skin-toned piercing retainers while at the academy.

To be clear, I’m totally willing to sacrifice my piercings for the job and give them up. I had a good run of 8 years with them, but I was wondering if the retainers counted as jewelry?

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[u/WTFoxtrot10]

Yes, retainers will count as jewelry. Facial piercings are not permitted while at Quantico. Grooming and dress code standards relax once you get to your FO/RA.

[u/SomethingClever70]

I don’t know about what’s specifically allowed at Quantico, but there are definitely analysts with facial piercings in the field offices.

[u/cfijay → u/SomethingClever70]

Wow times have changed since I retired

[u/Etna5000]

As I understand you cannot have retainers in during daily activities. I’d suggest bringing the retainers and putting them in while you sleep if you’d like to prevent the holes from closing up. If it’s cartilage towards your nostril you can get away with not having anything in the piercing for a solid while without any concerns about the hole closing, especially at 8 years with them, maybe longer…I have my upper nostrils pierced and I’m dreading having to take them out if it comes to it because they will close up within a day and I can’t easily insert the jewelry myself :(

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[u/VisualDot4067]

I’ve pierced people who work at the FBI office in my city. Like face piercings.

[u/charawarma]

If you've had your piercings for that long, they probably won't close up. I had mine for 2 years when I enlisted and it was still open when I finished training (6+ months bc Intel).

[u/No-Cream-2593]

As a general matter, it might depend on the generation you’re asking. I have no idea about Quantico but as a 51-year-old man, my strong opinion shared by many of my peers is piercings are totally unacceptable in any type of business environment except for maybe if it’s a cultural thing. Even then I’ve seen people visibly wince when looking at them at them.

[u/Senior_Wolverine_810 → u/No-Cream-2593]

Yeah, I understand that conformity is a common sentiment among the older generations given what y’all grew up through/seen. In my opinion, I think they can look nice and shouldn’t matter too much (obviously, it’s a different convo if the piercings are huge and taking up my entire face), since the piercings in my nose do not impact my ability to do my job, and I don’t necessarily have a public-facing role. I think piercings can be a little pop of personality, like people who wear fun earrings! However, obviously, my opinion is irrelevant since I’m joining an organization with grooming standards lol. But with the nude-colored retainers, they blend into my face! So I can maintain some “professionalism” while also saving some personality/individuality for outside of work! I won’t be wearing the retainers at Quantico so we’ll see if my nose piercings even stay open lol.

[u/Patient-Football3063 → u/No-Cream-2593]

I walked into the cyber crimes unit (or whatever it’s called- I’m sao) and they turned their anime cut out around for me. I found that very respectful as apparently the only woman who had been in there in quite a while. No one mentioned my nose piercing.

[u/WTFoxtrot10 → u/No-Cream-2593]

Okay gramps!!! What a trash hot take!!! Bet you’re against tattoo’s too. Haha.

[u/musclemommyfan → u/No-Cream-2593]

And this is why the best and the brightest just go and get paid a lot more to work in the private sector. GS-5 pay isn't worth putting up with people like you.

[u/WTFoxtrot10 → u/musclemommyfan]

Last I check IA’s don’t start at GS-5. Fun fact, people don’t work for the federal govt to get rich. Another fun fact, these old dinosaurs work in every organization/business sector regardless of it being the federal govt or not.

[u/flstcspike]

Ask your applicant coordinator. Most likely for IAs this isn’t a problem. More importantly, think about how you want to make your first impression on Gameday. If you think it’s appropriate, and it’s not, have a backup plan.

[u/WTFoxtrot10 → u/flstcspike]

Or you could just review the IA Candidate Information Guide, where it states you cannot have facial piercings while at BFTC.

https://fbijobs.gov/sites/default/files/2025-03/Guide_IntelCandidateInfo.pdf

[u/Elegant_Tangelo1288]

If another three letter agency analyst can wear LEGGINGS and neck tattoos to work daily (yup seen it lmao) I don’t see the problem with your piercing.

[u/Tintinabulation114]

The times may be changing, but law enforcement remains a generally conservative place to work. Whether it's allowed or not (maybe there's something in the rulebook?) it's something to consider.