When it comes to facial piercings, the nose is one of the most popular areas to adorn with jewelry. This is likely due to the variety of nose piercing options and the diversity of these piercings. Nose piercings can come across as elegant and subtle in some cases or bold and extreme in others, all depending on placement and your choice of jewelry. This level of diversity means there’s a nose piercing out there that can suit just about any face. But before you decide to jump on the nose piercing bandwagon, you might want to familiarize yourself with the types of nose piercings available. We’ll also go over your jewelry options, how to pick a great piercing artist, aftercare, and possible warning signs to look out for.

Types of Nose Piercings

As mentioned earlier, there are several options on the table when deciding to get your nose pierced. No single type of nose piercing reigns above the rest, it all depends on what suits your face and individual style. Nostril and high nostril piercings: By far the most common of the nose piercings, the nostril piercing has remained popular through the centuries and is revered in many cultures throughout the world. Nostril piercings usually go through the nostril night near the curved crease. It is also possible to do a high nostril piercing above the crease. Nostril piercings can be done on the right or left nostril. Some people also choose to do one on each side in order to achieve a sense of symmetry or two nostril piercings on one side for a bolder look. Septum: The next most popular nose piercing is the septum piercing. Septum piercings go through the middle of your nose between the two nostrils. When done correctly, a septum piercing should not pierce the cartilage and instead goes through the sweet spot in your septum that’s all flesh, making it much less painful than you might imagine. Septum piercings are usually done with rings or curved barbells and can be hidden when wearing the right jewelry, which makes them a good options for those who may want a facial piercing but are stuck in a job that doesn’t allow them. Keep in mind, not everyone is a suitable candidate for a septum piercing. Ask your piercer if you’re unsure. Bridge piercing: Standing apart from the other nose piercings on our list is the bridge piercing. This piercing is located at the top of the bridge of the nose between the eyes. Though it may look painful, the bridge piercing actually goes through the skin, not the nose bone. Bridge piercings do have a tendency to migrate due to the shallowness of the skin in the area though, so some caution is advised. To help avoid migration, request a curved barbell for your bridge piercing. Vertical tip: This rare nose piercing uses a curved barbell to go from just above the tip of your nose to the very bottom of your nose. Nasallang piercing: The most extreme of the nose piercings on our list, the nasallang piercing features a single barbell that goes through one nostril, through the septum, and out the other nostril. The end result looks similar to having two identical studs in each nostril.

Selecting the Best Piercer

It’s important to select an experienced and professional piercing artist when getting any piercing, but when it comes to nose piercings this is extra important! After all, this is your face we’re talking about! Always make sure your piercer uses new, sterilized hallow-point surgical needles for their piercings and never a piercing gun. Piercing guns are impossible to fully sterilize and pose a major threat of infection. The experienced piercers at Chronic Ink Tattoo in downtown Toronto, midtown Toronto, Markham, and Newmarket have extensive experience with every variety of nose piercing.

Nose piercing procedure and pain levels

Once you select a type of nose piercing and a piercer, you’ll be ready to set up your appointment. When you go in for your piercing, your piercer will start by cleaning and disinfecting the area. They will then usually mark the spot for the piercing so you can check the placement. After this, they will use a sterile hollow point needle to pierce the area and then immediately place your jewelry. Will it hurt? Everyone’s pain threshold is different and different types of nose piercings will hurt more than others. In general, pain during septum and nostril piercings is fairly mild. Where more intensive piercings such as the vertical tip or nasallang piercings will be a bit more intense.

Nose piercing aftercare

Once your piercing is done, you want to set up a good aftercare regiment to assure it heals quickly and properly. First, always wash your hands before touching your piercing. This helps prevent bacteria from getting into your piercing which could carry a risk of infection. Next, do a salt or saline solution soak at least twice a day. Your piercer can recommend an aftercare cleaning product or you can make your own sea salt solution using pure non-iodized sea salt and warm water. Using a clean cotton ball, soak the piercing site in the solution for at least 5 minutes. If you can clean your piercing more than twice a day, even better!

Signs of infection

Some redness, swelling, discharge, and soreness is common for the first week after getting your piercing. However, if these symptoms persist, you might want to check with your piercer to make sure everything is healing correctly. If you start to notice your skin around the piercing feeling hot or you begin to feel feverish, these are signs you may have an infection and its best to check in with a doctor to be on the safe side.

Healing times

How long your nose piercing takes to heal depends on the type of piercing you’ve chosen. Nostril piercings tend to heal the fastest, usually only taking about two to four months. On the longer end of the spectrum, septum piercings can take 6 to 8 months. Most of the other types of nose piercings fall somewhere in the middle. Regardless of which piercing you decided to go for, a good aftercare regiment will cut down on your healing time.

Nose piercing jewelry

There are loads of fun jewelry options for nose piercings. What you choose will likely depend on the type of piercing you decided to get and the overall look you’re going for. Nostril piercings give you the option of: Rings Nostril screws Studs For the septum, the go-to choices include: Rings (you can either do a seamless ring or captive bead ring) Circular barbells Septum clickers Septum pinchers If you’re planning on hiding your septum ring frequently, you may want to opt for a circular barbell or a septum pincher, as they are the easiest to flip into hiding. For both bridge piercings and vertical tip piercings, curved barbells are your best bet though some opt for straight barbells in bridge piercings. Nasallang piercings are pretty much restricted to straight barbells, but you’ll have plenty of options for beads in order to change up your look from time to time.

Ready to Take the Next Step? Have More Questions?

At Chronic Ink and Tattoo, we’re here to help. Whether you have questions or are looking for the perfect jewellery to match your next piercing, we’ll get you pointed in the right direction. If you’re in the Toronto, Markham, Mississauga, Kitsilano or Vancouver areas give us a call or drop by today.