Besides ear piercings, nose piercings are perhaps the most popular piercing. The nose piercing is one of the few piercings that are more widely accepted in even professional settings, making them a common choice for those in all walks of life. Whether you opt for a sleek hoop or dainty nose stud or choose bolder styles, like diamond nose rings, the nose piercing can be dressed up for any occasion.

Since the nose piercing is so popular, it’s easy to assume that it’s an easy piercing to handle. However, like all piercings, the nose piercing comes with unique challenges to keep in mind before you get the piercing.

Here’s everything you need to know about the nose piercing.

How Bad Does A Nose Piercing Hurt

The nose piercing tends to be more sensitive than other areas of the face, and punching a needle through cartilage can sometimes cause more pain than puncturing softer skin, like the earlobe. However, most people who have their nose pierced reported less pain than they expected. Getting your nose pierced is only slightly more painful than getting your cartilage pierced.

Any pinch you might feel will be quick. Many claim that the most unnerving part of the process is not the pain, but the fact that the needle will be directly in your face as the nose is punctured. It’s recommended to close your eyes during the process, especially if you have a fear of needles.

After you get your nose pierced, you might discover that you can see your jewelry in the corner of your eye, or your brain might register the jewelry as a nagging itch. Eventually, your brain will get used to the piercing, but until then, try not to absentmindedly pick at or scratch your new jewelry; it’s easy to rip nose studs out of the piercing, which can be incredibly painful, especially if your piercing is fresh.

Nose Piercing Healing Process

The nose piercing takes around 3 - 4 months to fully heal. It’s always a good idea to talk to your piercer before stopping aftercare practices or changing your jewelry. Healing times vary from person to person, and sometimes the interior of your piercing takes much longer to heal than the exterior.

Since the nose is such a prominent facial feature, you need to make sure that you take extra care of your nose piercing as it heals. Its location on your face means that you will notice the new jewelry more than other piercing styles, so it’s important that you make an effort to refrain from messing with your jewelry as your piercing heals.

Furthermore, cartilage has a more difficult time healing than fleshier areas. Its brittle nature and prolonged healing times make it more susceptible to healing complications like piercing bumps. You must make sure that you keep your nose piercing safe from snags and irritants, like face wash or makeup.

To care for your nose piercing, clean it with a piercing aftercare saline solution 2 - 3 times daily per your piercer’s instructions. When choosing a piercing aftercare solution, make sure that it only contains salt and water. Some piercing aftercare products contain additives, like tea tree oil, that will irritate the piercing and potentially prolong healing.

Here are some aftercare tips unique to the nose piercing:

Don’t touch the jewelry. Spinning, scratching, or moving the jewelry can cause trauma to the surrounding skin that can lead to scarring, piercing bumps, and other unsightly issues. Cartilage is particularly susceptible to damage, so you need to be extra sure that you leave your jewelry alone as it heals.

Keep makeup and other face products away from the piercing. The only product or solution that you should introduce to your nose piercing is saline solution. Soap, makeup, and lotions contain chemicals that can irritate your piercing.

Nose piercings close quickly. If your jewelry falls out as your nose piercing is healing, visit your piercer immediately to get the jewelry replaced.

Why Shouldn’t I Get A Nose Piercing?

The aesthetics of this piercing really depends on the anatomy of your nose. The nose piercing can be placed anywhere on the nose, but it’s most typically placed in the crease of the nose where the cartilage is thinnest. From there, you and your piercer can decide the optimal location to best complement the shape of your nose.

If your nose crease is particularly pronounced, it might be difficult to find jewelry that will fit comfortably. You can talk to your piercer about options, or you might want to consider another jewelry option.

Blowing your nose can be especially difficult during healing. It will hurt to press the tissue against the new piercing as you blow your nose, and snot and boogers can get caught in the jewelry. If you tend to get allergies, then you’ll want to wait until allergy season is over to get your piercing.

Nose Piercing Cost

Nose piercings are lower on the cost scale at around $30 - $60. The location of the nose piercing is incredibly important; a misplaced nose piercing can completely change the aesthetic of your nose. You want to opt for an experienced piercer who has an eye for piercing location. While the location of your piercing is ultimately up to you, it’s best if you have a piercer who can give you advice that you can rely on.

Always choose a piercer who uses a needle over a piercing gun. Piercing guns harbor bacteria and use blunt force to puncture the piercing. In any piercing, it’s important to use a needle, but it’s even more important in any cartilage piercing since the blunt force can cause permanent damage to the pierced area.

Often, you will have to pay for the jewelry on top of the piercing. While options like nickel are cheaper, you want to choose more expensive jewelry options, like 14k gold or surgical steel. Even if you’ve never had sensitivities to metal, a fresh piercing could trigger sensitivities, so it’s best to choose metals that won’t agitate your skin as it heals.

Nose Piercing Variations

The double nose piercing is slowly gaining popularity. As the name implies, it consists of two nose piercings located next to each other along the crease of the nose. People with this piercing often opt for two small nose studs, often with sparkly diamonds or other gemstones, or two seamless hoops.