Nose Piercing 101: Types, Styles & Aftercare

Today, nose piercings can hold cultural significance and express your individuality.

However, nose piercings go back thousands of years, with prevalence in Eastern cultures.

If you’re thinking of getting your nose pierced, we’re here to answer all your questions, including:

• Types of nose piercing locations and jewelry

• What to know before getting pierced

• Piercing aftercare

Let’s dive in!

Types of Nose Piercings

The first decision when considering a nose piercing is the location, here are your options:

Nostril Piercing

A nostril piercing is timeless and a great location for your first nose piercing. This classic piercing goes through the center of the nostril, or higher on the bridge (called a “high nostril piercing”).

Jewelry ranges from understated studs to fashionable nose rings.

You can even get a double nose piercing, with one piercing on either nostril or two stacked on the same nostril, like a snakebite piercing.

Types of Jewelry: Rings, studs, and more

Septum Piercing

A septum nose piercing, or “bull ring,” goes through the “septal” cartilage separating your nostrils. This location has the potential for both bold masculine or subtle feminine jewelry, plus the convenience of easily hiding it for work if necessary (particularly with a circular barbell or horseshoe ring).

However, the area of skin is more complicated. It’s important to get your septum pierced by a reputable, experienced piercer to prevent infections, scarring, or a septal hematoma.

Septum piercings should be pierced for 14-gauge, 16-gauge, or a lower gauge. Some piercers may opt for 18-gauge, but any higher gauges aren’t recommended.

Types of Jewelry: Horseshoe ring (circular barbell), clicker, curved barbell, captive bead ring, seamless ring, crescent pincher, septum retainer

Septril Piercing

If you already have a stretched and healed septum piercing, you may be ready for a septril (or “jungle”) piercing. This complex piercing goes through the bottom of the columella (the cartilage pierced for a septum) and meets the healed septum hole, so the piercing comes straight out the center.

Your septal cartilage must have the right structure and position for this piercing to be manageable. Stretching the septum piercing takes time before you get a septril, but the result is certifiably badass.

Types of Jewelry: Small curved barbell, flat back stud

Rhino Piercing (Vertical Tip)

A novelty nose piercing is the rhino or vertical tip piercing, which goes vertically through the tip of the nose through the area above the septum. A deep rhino piercing goes through the bottom of the septum.

Rhino piercings, and deep rhino piercings especially, are more risky. The soft tissue is getting pierced and damage can require surgery, plus scarring is more common.

Types of Jewelry: Curved barbell; Straight barbell (deep rhino)

Bridge Piercing

A bridge piercing is a horizontal piercing through the soft tissue of the nose’s bridge between the eyes. These are surface piercings, meaning the entrance and exit holes are adjacent atop the skin.

Surface piercings are risky because the body tends to reject them more often. The body may reject it as it heals or years later.

You’ll need to avoid swimming, drinking, or smoking as your bridge piercing heals over 8 to 12 weeks.

Types of Jewelry: Circular, curved, or straight barbell

Austin Bar (Horizontal Nasal Tip)

This uncommon piercing is done horizontally through the tip of the nose without piercing the nostrils or septum.

It’s unique but quite painful — not recommended for your first piercing.

A similar-looking, less painful piercing is the mantis (or “forward facing nostril”) piercing, which is two piercings, one going through the front of each nostril.

Types of Jewelry: Straight barbell

Nasallang Piercing (Tri-Nasal)

This is similar to the Austin bar but exposed to the nasal cavities. It goes through one nostril, the septum cartilage, and the other nostril. The result looks like two studs on the upper nostrils.

The nasallang piercing requires a steady, professional hand, plus skill and symmetry to ensure that the barbell is straight.

It’s also pricier, considerably painful, and takes 6-12 months to heal — not recommended for your first piercing.

Types of Jewelry: Straight barbell

Image credit: theSkimm

Types of Nose Piercing Jewelry

Choosing the best type of jewelry for your nose piercing means considering the material, size, and shape.

Materials in Nose Piercing Jewelry

Nose piercing jewelry should be high-quality to prevent irritation or infection.

The best metals for nose piercings are:

Surgical Stainless Steel (SSS):

• Pros: Inexpensive, fairly hypoallergenic, durable

• Cons: Can contain some nickel

• Best grade: 316L or 316LVM

Titanium:

• Pros: Nickel-free, biocompatible, strong yet lightweight, corrosion-resistant

• Cons: Expensive

• Best grade: Grade 23 (G23) or implant-grade

Niobium:

• Pros: Hypoallergenic, biocompatible, durable, priced between surgical stainless steel and titanium

• Cons: Rarer, limited options

• Best grade: Unalloyed (pure)

Other materials suitable for nose piercing jewelry are:

• Platinum

• Aztec Gold (a.k.a. PVD)

• Solid gold (14K or higher)

• Biocompatible polymers (e.g. Tygon)

Metals to avoid for nose piercing jewelry are:

• Silver (including sterling silver)

• Acrylic

• Copper

• Brass

• Bronze

• Plated metals

• Plastics (excluding PTFE and Delrin)

• Organic materials like wood, bone, and horn

Image credit: Boelry

Nose Piercing Jewelry Sizes

Nose jewelry is measured in thickness (gauges) and length.

• Thickness: Ranges from 00G to 22G; Lower gauge = thicker; Nose piercings are 16G, 18G, or 20G

• Length: Rings typically 5/16” to 3/8" & studs typically 1/4" to 5/16”

Reputable piercers can advise the best jewelry size. Expect longer initial jewelry to accommodate swelling.

Image credit: ThreadCurve

Types of Nose Piercing Studs

Studs are great for a subtle, elegant look. A twist nose stud is typical for initial piercings, but other nose piercing stud styles include:

• Twist Nose Stud: U-shaped post twisted in

• Flat Back: Removable post with flat back

• Labret: Straight post with flat back & threaded end (e.g. ball or gemstone)

• L-Shaped: Post with 90-degree curve twisted in

• Bone / Ball End: Straight post, nub on end

• Straight End / Fishtail: Long, straight post, custom-bent by piercer

• Pin: Straight, snug post

• Corkscrew / Screw End: Straight prong, curved end, twisted in

• Straight Barbell: Straight bar with unscrewable beads

Types of Nose Piercing Rings

• Seamless Ring: Ends twisted away to open & close

• Clicker / Segment Ring: Hinged end opens to insert, clicks to close

• Septum Clickers: Small bar & hinged, circular piece

• Captive Bead Ring: Hoop closed with removable bead

• Circular Barbell / Horseshoe: Horseshoe-shaped & threaded, unscrewable beads on ends

• Flat Disc Nose Hoop: Crescent or D-shaped, flat disc on one end, twisted open & closed

• Crescent / Septum Pincher: Crescent-shaped, sometimes secured with o-rings

• Curved Barbell: Slightly curved, unscrewable beads

• Fake Nose Ring: Flexible ring squeezed closed

What type of nose ring should I start with? Most piercers use a barbell, twist nose stud, or horseshoe ring, depending on the piercing.

Is it better to get a nose ring or a stud? Follow your piercer’s guidance. You can experiment after it heals.

Image credit: Photo by Luca Iaconelli on Unsplash

What Do I Need to Know Before Getting My Nose Pierced?

Let’s answer some common questions like:

How Much Does Nose Piercing Cost?

Nose piercings range from $20 to $100 without the added cost of jewelry.

Nostril piercings are most affordable. Nasallang, bridge, and septril piercings are priciest.

How Painful is a Nose Piercing?

Most people rank the pain at 3-4/10. Comparatively, they’re more painful than ear piercings.

Septum piercings can hurt more initially but quickly subside, while high nostril piercings may hurt more during recovery than initially.

How Long Does a Nose Piercing Take to Heal?

Each piercing is different:

• Nostril: 4-6 months

• Septum: 2-3 months

• Septril: Around 9 months

• Rhino: 6-9 months

• Bridge: 8-10 weeks

• Austin Bar: 2-3 months

• Nasallang: 4-6 months

Do Nose Piercings Get Infected Easily?

Some symptoms are normal after a nose piercing: itching, white pus, some crust. Minor swelling, redness, bruising, and bleeding are also common. Irritation and inflammation should resolve after a week.

Signs of an infected piercing:

• Smelly green or yellow pus

• Excessive tenderness

• Major throbbing or pain at piercing site

You can prevent infections with proper aftercare.

Image credit: Photo by Enolin Chrysalite on Unsplash

How to Care for Your Nose Piercing

New piercings require regular maintenance to heal. Clean it 1-3 times a day for the first 6 months.

1. Wash your hands thoroughly.

2. Soak a paper towel or cotton pad in saline solution & hold it on piercing for ~5 minutes.

3. Remove crust/discharge with cotton swab dipped in saline solution.

4. Gently pat dry with a clean paper towel.

Only use saline solution or what your piercer recommends. Hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and Neosporin are no-nos. Also avoid:

• Touching piercing before washing hands

• Picking at crust

• Twisting nose ring

• Applying ointments to piercing

• Swimming

• Putting cosmetics or harsh soaps on the piercing

• Sleeping directly on piercing

Image credit: Photo by Jason Yoder on Unsplash

Is A Nose Piercing Right For You?

You have the info, now it’s time to choose the right nose piercing for you. Will you opt for a small stud nostril piercing or bold septum ring? The best choice is what feels right for you and your lifestyle.

Browse our collection of beautiful jewelry to complement your nose ring!

Rings

Gemstone Pendants

Gemstone Earrings

Necklaces