Everything you need to know about nose piercings

A nose piercing usually refers to a nostril piercing which is the most common type. There are other types of nose piercings including septum piercings.

This guide contains information about nose piercings including the jewellery you can wear and pain levels as well as aftercare tips and healing times.

What is a nose piercing?

A nose piercing is performed along the upper curve of cartilage that makes up the side of your nostrils.

It is most commonly pierced once but some also opt for multiples next to each other or on either side of the nose.

How painful is a nose piercing?

On the pain scale, a nose piercing ranks at a 6 or 7 out of 10 varying from person to person.

What jewellery can you wear in a nose piercing?

Nose piercings are versatile with the jewellery you can wear and can be styled with clicker hoops, small labret studs or L-shape nose studs.

You will be pierced with a longer labret stud initially to allow space for swelling before sizing down for a snugger fit when healed.

Jewellery for healed nose piercings

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What is the aftercare for a nose piercing?

To ensure your nose piercing heals well, we would recommend the following tips:

  • Gently clean your new piercing twice daily with a sterile saline solution - we love Neilmed piercing mist. Moisture can lead to bacteria so make sure you dry the area afterwards - the cool setting on a hairdryer works well.
  • Take extra care when removing clothes and styling hair to avoid snagging the jewellery.
  • Sleep on the opposite side of your piercing or use a donut travel pillow.
  • Avoid swimming in lakes, pools or hot tubs for 2-3 weeks while the piercing is still fresh.
  • Visit your piercer for a routine check up consultation around 6 weeks after. They'll check if you need to downsize the post of your stud - downsizing can help the healing process once the initial swelling has subsided.
  • And lastly, leave it alone as much as possible and let the natural healing process occur.

How long does a nose piercing take to heal?

A nostril piercing can take anywhere between 4-12 months to fully heal but this varies from person to person.

Laura says:

"I love my recent nose piercing. I currently wear a dainty solid gold nose stud but I plan to switch up to a hoop once it’s fully healed.

I love the option to change up my nose jewellery from something understated to something sparkly."

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