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The Guide: What You Need to Know About Nose Piercing

Nose piercings have become one of the most popular facial piercings to get! With their unique placement and variety of styles, you would more than like to see a couple of people rocking this trend as you made your way down a city street. Since this style of piercing has become so popular and trendy, we here at Cleopatra Ink have decided to inform our customers a bit more about this interesting and unique piercing, so if you are thinking about getting one, be sure to read on to find out more!

The History of Nose Piercings

To learn more about these unique kinds of piercings, we have found out more about the history of nose piercings and where they come from. Nose piercings were once traditional symbols that were used in different cultures, often worn by women to signify royalty. While no one is exactly sure where nose piercings were originally derived from, Indian culture is one of the most significant cultures to have adorned this unique style of jewelry.

It is believed that this practice was however brought to India from the Middle East, but certain African civilisations also have records showing that it was a common symbol in this part of the world as well. Nose piercings were estimated to have entered western civilisation as early as 1913, as people began to travel to different parts of the world and explore new cultures. While it was not as popular and widely known through this period, during the 1960s, it exploded, with many people returning from places like India adoring this style of piercing!

During the 1960s, nose piercings were commonly associated with hippies and those who had returned from spiritual journeys abroad. It became a symbol of exploration and peace as different cultures looked to explore the meaning behind these unique types of piercings. Some of the most notable changes when it came to nose piercings during this time were the style of jewelry worn and the methods involved in the actual piercing process.

Historically, certain cultures had worn specific types of jewelry that ranged from feathers to even gold and jewels! The types of jewelry that a certain culture wore often had traditional associations, meaning lots of different styles were worn by many different people! Today, people choose to wear a variety of different nose piercings, no matter the culture they come from!

The other significant change was the way that the piercing was done. While in more traditional cultures, certain significant processes and tools were used to complete the process, in the western world, sterile pieces of equipment are used. While nose piercing is still significant in many traditional cultures, it has become a large part of modern society, with many different types of piercings and styles of jewelry worn!

What is a Nose Piercing?

A nose piercing is a type of piercing that is inserted in the naval area of your face, there are many different types of nose piercings that you can get to suit the style you are after! The most common type of nose piercing is a nostril piercing which is inserted into the cartilage on the upper side of your nose and many choose to wear a stud as the jewelry for this area. If that is not your style, no need to worry! One of the great things about nose piercings is that there are a variety of different types of styles that can be worn!

Is Nose Piercing Risky?

When you get a nose piercing, you want to be sure that you get it done by a professional piercer to ensure that nothing goes wrong in the process. You do have many different nerves in this region and hitting one could be painful and result in damaging the area. The technique used to pierce a nose is also very important as if not done correctly, the skin around the piercing can begin to die, known as necrosis of the nasal wall.

This can sometimes happen if you are not careful of who you choose to get your piercing done by. If you get your nose piercing done by a professional artist at a reputable studio, you should have absolutely nothing to worry about! If you are noticing a nose piercing bump inside your nose, this is often just a keloid forming over the scar, but keep an eye on it to make sure it is not emitting any kind of pus!

Do Nose Piercings Hurt?

As you are breaking through the cartilage and skin on your nose, you may experience some pain during the procedure. Though the pain of a nose piercing is quick, you will want to be prepared! Just like with any other piercing, after you get it you may also experience a bit of discomfort as the area may swell up a bit. Remember that incorrect nose piercing placement and care can have ramifications, so you want to be sure that you are going to a reputable piercing artist when getting your new piercing!

Types of Nose Piercings

You may be excited to learn that there are tons of different types of nose piercings to choose from! Whether you want something small or are after a piercing that is unique and bold, there is sure to be something that entices you! The following is a look at a few of the different types of nose piercings that you can look into getting.

Septum Piercing

A septum nose piercing goes through the bottom of your nose, the part that separates each of your nostrils. Horseshoe rings are one of the most popular kinds of jewelry to wear in this type of nose piercing as they are the least irritating. Apart from nostril piercings, these are probably one of the most popular kinds of piercings and they are the perfect way to add a bit of edge to your look!

Septril Piercing

A septril piercing is placed directly underneath the septum and is usually a stud. They are placed in your nose from the septum and go upwards towards the tip of your nose. These types of piercings are incredibly unique!

Austin Bar Piercing

The Austin bar piercing is quite unique as this type of piercing runs through the tip of the nose rather than through your nostril. If you are after a look that is fun and unique, you may want to try this one out! The most common type of piercing jewelry that is used for this part of the nose is a straight barbell as this shows the unique placement of this piercing best! As it is running through the cartilage on the tip of your nose, the typical healing time for this nose piercing is around two to three months.

Bridge Piercing

While the Austin bar will run through the tip of your nose, a bridge nose piercing is designed to go through the skin on your upper nose, known as the bridge of your nose. This piercing is inserted on your nose right between your eyes and is extremely unique if you are looking for something a bit different. The piece of jewelry used for this section of the nose typically needs to be quite thin as the skin on this area sits on top of the bone. The type of jewelry that is typically recommended for this nose piercing is a straight or curved barbell as this best shows off your new accessory!

High Nostril Piercing

The high nostril piercing is very similar to your standard nasal piercing, the main difference being that it sits higher up, near the bridge of your nose. Since this type of piercing sits higher up, you are able to wear oval-shaped jewelry as opposed to your standard ring style which would be good for standard nostril piercings.

Rhino Piercing

A rhino piercing is a style of piercing that enters your upper nose and comes out through the skin that sits above your septum. Curved barbells are the often recommended type of jewelry for this part of the nose and typical healing time can range anywhere from three to nine months as this piercing has to go through quite a bit of skin.

Multiple Nostril Piercing

Multiple nostril piercings include both standard nostril piercings and higher nostril piercings. You can have anywhere from two to four different piercings along this line and you can even combine the different types of jewelry that you wear with this! Having a double nose piercing with a stud at the bottom mixed in with either an oval or circle-shaped ring piercing always looks very cool!

Nasallang Piercing

While the Austin bar piercing runs through the skin on top of the nose, the nasallang piercing is placed through your two nostrils as well as the septum, making it a bit further down. Straight barbells are typically used for this part of the nose and can typically take quite a long time to heal, the total time ranging from about three to nine months.

Nostril Piercing

One of the most popular kinds of nose piercings are nostril piercings and they enter through the cartilage on either side of your nose. They are typically located close to the tip of your nose so you are able to wear hoops in this piercing. This is one of the only piercings where a gun may be used, but often needles are preferred and this might depend on the piercing artist you go to.

How To Pierce a Nose?

When getting a nose piercing, you may want to be prepared for the processes involved in the actual piercing itself. As you can see above, there are a variety of different types of nose piercings that can be done and the processes involved in each one may differ slightly. Generally, noses are pierced with needles rather than piercing guns. When you sit down in the chair, the piercing artist will clean the area with an antibacterial formula to ensure that no dirt or germs remain on the area being pierced.

The process is quite quick, and the most uncomfortable part of the process is usually waiting to get the actual piercing itself. You will feel a small pinch when the needle is inserted, but do not worry, this usually only takes a matter of seconds before the jewelry is put in place!

Changing of Nose Piercings: How Should a Nose Piercing Be Inserted and Removed?

The most important thing to remember when it comes to taking out and inserting new jewelry is that the area should be completely healed before you do this. Begin by testing out if the piercing has healed by twisting it, if it can be twisted with no resistance or pain, you can unclip it and remove it from the area. Before placing a new nose ring inside the hole, take a bit of saline solution and clean the area. Once cleaned, you can insert the piercing into the hole and clip it back in!

How Long Does a Nose Piercing Take To Heal?

Nose piercings differ in the amount of time that they take to heal, with different types of skin taking longer or shorter to heal completely. Your piercing artist will give you a rough idea of the length of time that it will take, but you can also look at the piercing itself and determine when it is healed. If the area is no longer red and puffy and you are able to twist the jewelry without any pain, this generally means that your piercing has healed.

How To Care For a Nose Piercing?

After you have gotten your new piercing, you may want to know what the nose piercing healing process is like and how to care for it during this time. Nose piercing care is extremely important as it can ensure that the area that you have pierced does not get infected. Your piercing artist will inform you of the exact steps to take to keep the area clean and inform you of how long you should be following these cleaning procedures. One of the most important things to remember when it comes to nose piercing aftercare is that you should avoid touching the area as this can result in germs being able to access the wound.

Cleaning Nose Piercings

Generally, you will want to keep the area clean and free of any potentially contaminated water, cleaning the area with a gauze that is soaked in saline solution. You should continue to do this twice a day until the area is healed. If you have a piercing that enters the nostril, be sure to clean it inside your nose to get rid of all germs that may be contaminating the area. Nose piercing cleaning is incredibly important and you should continue the process until the site is healed.

What Should You Consider When Choosing a Piercing For Your Nose?

There are a few things to take into consideration when getting a nose piercing, here are just a few of the things to account for.

Go to a Reputable Piercing Artist: Nose piercings require precision, clean tools and a good amount of know-how when it comes to the placement of the piercing. Be sure that the artist you are going to knows the type of piercing you want and has the right tools and knowledge to complete the process.

Consider the Different Types: There are different types of nose piercings to consider! Whether you are wanting something edgy and unique or you are after something small and pretty, there are tons of different options to look into and decide on when it comes to nose piercings. Before deciding which one to get, make sure you do your research and find the best one to suit you and your style!

Think About the Healing Time: As different types of nose piercings have different healing periods, be sure to consider the different options beforehand. Remember that when healing, you may have to avoid certain things to ensure your nose piercing does not get infected. Think about the timing of when you get your piercing to ensure you are not putting yourself at risk!