Not all piercings are the same. Although body modification in general is becoming more widely accepted, there are some which are more accepted than others. Despite some negative stigma around facial piercings, nose piercings are becoming more popular. It is still most common to see rings and studs on the nostril, but septum and bridge piercings are starting to become more accepted. Each type of nose piercing needs different types of care and will be accompanied with varying levels of pain when first pierced.
At oneHOWTO, we look at these different types of nose piercings in greater detail. We provide information on rings, studs and other nose piercings, as well as photos so you can have an idea how they might look on you.
Nostril piercing
As stated in the introduction, the nostril piercing is probably the most common type of nose piercing. This piercing requires creating a hole in the side of the cartilage which make up the nostrils. If we are getting our first nostril piercing, it is common for the piercer to insert a stud. Many people will soon graduate to a ring or hoop, but others will keep the stud. We can also have other designs such as a pearls, diamonds or even shapes.
Nostril piercings are one of the most common types of nose piercing because they are fairly straightforward. With time and proper care, this can heal well. However, as we are piercing the cartilage, it can take up to three months to heal. During this time, the hole needs to be rinsed daily with saline solution and neutral soap. Although it can be difficult, all attempts should be made to keep the nostrils clean and untouched.
Learn about healing periods with our article on how long it takes for a piercing to heal.
Sptum piercing
Another type of nose piercing which has become more popular in recent years is the septum piercing. It consists of piercing the thin skin between the junction of the nostrils and the nasal septum. We will need to use a closed ring or a ring with stoppers for septum piercings as gravity can cause them to come loose and fall out.
This layer of skin is very thin, but it is in a very sensitive area. It is usually quite pain when it is first pierced, as well as during the healing process. Despite being a more hidden area of the nose than for other piercings, it is usually in constant movement when speaking, moving the upper lip or blowing your nose.
The septum can take up to 6 months to heal and the first 5 weeks are essential for it to heal properly. If not, abscess can develop. It should be cleaned several times a day with saline solution and neutral soap, but we need to be very careful to move it as little as possible.
Nasallang piercing
From the outside it may seem like two independent piercings, but the special thing about this piercing is its connectivity. It is actually three piercings as it goes from one nostril, through the septum and then out the other nostril. This makes it one of the more extreme nose piercings on our list.
As you can imagine, this type of piercing requires a lot of care. It can be very painful in the first few weeks as you have to heal both the outside piercings and the internal piercing. The basic care consists of cleaning the exterior with the help of neutral soap and using swabs or nasal diffusers with saline solution for the interior hole.
They usually take up to 6 months to heal completely. However, if you want to know more, check out our article on how long it takes for nose piercings to close.
Bridge
The bridge nose piercing has become more popular over time and is now more common than you may think. It is considered to be a nose piercing because it is at the beginning of the nasal septum, between the eyes. However, for this type of piercing, the cartilage and septum are not involved, so healing is usually faster.
It is not one of the most painful piercings, but it takes about 8 weeks to heal. Like other similar piercings such as the navel, it is essential that there is not a lot of moisture or sweat condensing in the area. It needs to always be kept clean with a neutral soap and being gentle when it is applied.
Take a look at our related article on how to heal and infected naval piercing to learn more.
Rhinoceros
The name of this piercing has to do with the appearance that it has similar to the horn of a rhinoceros. This type of nose piercing crosses the tip of the nose vertically, resulting in two small balls (jacks) that give the impression of a horn.
It is a very unusual piercing that requires a lot of care since healing is very slow. For at least three months you have to perform daily care to prevent your nose from rejecting the piece since it is a fairly deep and painful perforation.
Septril
In this list of types of piercing, the septril could not be missing, even if it is not the most common. To do this, you must have previously made a dilation in the septum since the piercing will pierce the union of the nostrils, leading to a perforation at the bottom of the septum (not the sides).
It is a piercing that will be more painful than a type of nostril piercing. This is because the preparation is prolonged and requires a lot of care before and after. It can even take years to achieve a correct dilation to be able to do it right. It will only be a stud as a ring will defeat the purpose. However, you can use different types of ornament for the stud itself.
Austin bar
Among the different types of piercing, this one is very similar to the rhino but with the peculiarity that the bar of the earring is horizontal, i.e. it crosses the tip of the nose. It is usually an unusual nose piercing since, because it is placed in an elongated and superficial way, it is often rejected by the body.
Even so, if the physiognomy of your nose allows it, it is a perforation that requires a lot of care. We need to make sure that it is always clean and that no pressure is generated in any of the holes, thanks to regular washing for at least 2 months. Total healing will take between 5 to 6 months.
If this article on types of nose piercings and how to take care of them has helped inspire you to get a new piercing, you will want to do all you can to ensure you care for them properly. You can do this by following our guide on how to care for new piercings and prevent infections.
If you want to read similar articles to Types of Nose Piercings - Rings, Studs and More, we recommend you visit our Beauty & Personal Care category.