Many of us long to embrace the feeling of rebellion and individuality with a body piercing, but we’re afraid of going too over the top. Maybe we think that ear piercings are too popular to fulfill our rebellious need, but we’re not quite ready for the alternative style of an eyebrow or lip piercing.
A nostril piercing can be the perfect solution.
Appearing in the crease of the nose where the nostril meets the bridge, a nostril piercing can be subtle with a tiny gemstone stud, or it can be bold with bedazzled hoops and double piercings. And, unlike other facial piercings, it’s widely accepted, even in conservative and professional environments, so you can show off a bit of your inner rebel without ruffling too many feathers.
Despite the popularity of this piercing, it’s still important to do your research before you make an appointment with a piercer. Here’s what you need to know about the super cute nostril piercing.
Nostril piercings have grown in popularity over the past few years, primarily because they offer a great compromise between creativity and the constraints of society. These piercings are fashionable, yet discreet, and can often go unnoticed in professional work environments where body piercings may be frowned upon.
While you can get a little creative with the placement of your nostril piercing—the high nostril piercing is quickly becoming a fashionable alternative—the most popular placement is in the crease where the flared edge of your nostril meets the straight bridge of your nose. This is because it provides the perfect placement to either nestle a cute stud or decorate it with a small hoop.
Perhaps the most confusing part of the nostril piercing is the jewelry. While hoops are fairly straightforward, nose studs look a little different than other body jewelry studs. Nose studs are characterized by the prongs that keep the jewelry in place. After you get a nostril piercing, you’ll likely discover your preferred style based on fit and comfort.
Twist:
This type of nose ring consists of a spiral prong that is twisted through the piercing. It stays securely in the nose, while providing a flush fit against the skin. For these reasons, it’s one of the most common types of nose ring.
Bone:
Nose bones are a post with adornment on one side and a small ball that is a slightly larger diameter than the post on the other side. When worn, it doesn’t fall out because of the small ball. Since the post needs to be pushed through a slightly smaller piercing hole, it should only be worn in fully healed piercings. While not for everybody, they do have a loyal fanbase that swears by their comfort.
L-shape:
As the name implies, the post on L-shape nose studs is shaped like an L. It’s similar to the twist prong, except instead of twisting the jewelry into the piercing, you insert it at a 90-degree angle, then push it securely into place.
Pin:
The pin post is perfect for those who require a custom fit. When you receive a pin nose stud, the jewelry is not ready to wear. Instead, you’ll take it to a piercer to bend the post into the perfect shape and size for your anatomy.
Besides studs, popular nose jewelry options are seamless hoops, captive bead rings, and clicker rings. CBRs and clicker rings tend to be the easiest to change on your own. If you opt for seamless, you might need the help of tools or a piercing professional.
The typical gauge (piercing hole size) of a nostril piercing is 18G or 20G. When you get pierced, asked your piercer about the size specifications of your piercing. This will allow you to easily find the correct jewelry size in the future. Keep in mind that your starter jewelry will be a little larger to accommodate any swelling.
The process for nostril piercings is quick and simple. Your piercer will clean and disinfect the area, then use a marker to show you where the nostril ring will be located. He or she will then have you approve the location. Don’t be afraid to look long and hard before approving, and you can ask them to change the location. Once you’ve been pierced, they won’t be able to make any changes.
When you’ve approved of the location, the piercer will puncture the marked area with a hollow needle and slip the jewelry inside the new piercing hole.
The pain level of this piercing will depend on your individual pain tolerance. However, an experienced piercer will guide you through the process, tell you when to breathe, and use confident motions to make the procedure as easy as possible.
Here’s a video to help you envision the process.
The risk of infection, especially during the recovery time, is always there, so be sure to follow your piercer’s instructions, keep the area clean, and be delicate with it during the initial healing process. Initial healing takes 6 to 8 weeks, and it usually takes 4 to 6 months for the piercing to be completely healed. Before stopping aftercare practices, consult your piercer to make sure that it’s safe to do so.
Clean your nose piercing three times a day with a saline solution or homemade sea salt solution. It’s a good idea to conduct a full soak or compress to fully flush out the piercing. Either fill a shot glass or small cup with the saline solution, dip your piercing inside, and let it sit for 3 – 5 minutes. If you find this difficult, you can soak a clean paper towel in saline solution and hold it to your new piercing for 3 – 5 minutes.
Always clean your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap before you touch your piercing. Avoid playing with the jewelry; moving it around destroys the delicate tissue. Keep any non-piercing products, including face wash and makeup, away from the piercing as it heals.
Once your nostril piercing has fully healed, you can change your jewelry! Here are some fabulous nose jewelry items for inspiration.
There’s a reason why nostril piercings are so popular: they’re cute, they’re commonly accepted, and there are tons of jewelry styles to choose from so that you can easily individualize your style. There’s nothing to be afraid of; get inspired by some super cute nostril jewelry styles, and make that piercing appointment!
2 Replies to “Nostril Piercings: Everything You Need to Know, Proper Jewelry, and Aftercare”
Deborah Cannady, 25 Mar 2019
How can i pierce my nose myself
Jessica Karam, 31 Mar 2019
Hi Deborah,
Please don’t attempt to pierce yourself. Go to a licensed piercer for this. A google search will help you find local piercing shops. You’ll want a clean, sanitized environment, as well as someone who is knowledgeable.