:: Nostril ::

More than any other piercing, the nostril ring has been used to encapsulate the political leanings and cultural interests of the wearer. From their symbolism in the African American cultural movement to their status as punk rock fashion necessity, nostril rings have a weighty social history in the US. Around the world, nostril piercings carry many different meanings. They may signify virginity or marriageability, hunting prowess, social status or wealth, or shamanist gifts, among other things. And, of course, they are sometimes purely aesthetic. Whatever your reasons for choosing a nostril piercing, there are some things you should know.

Nostrils generally take about 6 months to heal, although they can take longer. They are also one of the fastest piercings to close up, even after healing. So if you have visions of leaving the piercing empty for work in a couple months, you may need to think again, or at least buy a nostril retainer. We do not recommend changing your jewelry for at least the first six months of the piercing, even if it appears healed. All too often, you will find that the piercing was not quite ready to be messed with, and cause yourself undue pain and trouble.

As far as procedure, we clean and mark the area, then lightly clamp the nostril. As you exhale, the tissue is pierced, and the jewelry is inserted on the back of the needle. It sometimes bleeds a few drops, and your eye will water. Some piercers use a receiving tube (a hollow steel tube) instead of a clamp. The tube is placed inside your nostril to support the skin from underneath, and the needle is pushed through the skin and into the tube. Either technique is acceptable.

The placement of the nostril piercing can vary with the piercee, but the piercing tends to heal most quickly and look most natural in the horizontal crease. To find this, face a mirror and flare your nostrils. Where they bend is the crease. Anywhere along this crease can be done, provided it is away from the face enough to allow the jewelry to sit comfortably on the inside. You can also pierce below the crease, but bear in mind that piercing closer to the edge simply to wear a smaller ring is not necessarily a good idea. It is far wiser to get the piercing in a location that flatters your face, and to heal it with the smallest ring appropriate for initial jewelry. After healing you can often go down another size to jewelry that "just hugs" the nostril.

You have many jewelry choices when it comes to nostril piercings. The two main shapes are the captive or fixed bead ring, and the nostril screw. Generally you are looking at 18g or 16g, although larger is possible. Thinner than 18g may increase risk of scarring. You can choose from implant-grade stainless steel, any color of titanium or niobium, or 18k solid gold. Silver or low quality gold is not appropriate, even if you can wear it in your ear lobes. Many people's nostril piercings are extremely sensitive, even after fully healed. Putting silver in a nostril may result in both irritation (from allergic reaction) and scarring. If you want the look of silver and don't want steel, try uncolored titanium, 18k solid white gold or platinum, all of which are very biocompatible.

If you choose a ring for your nostril, your initial jewelry will be a little larger than what you could wear once you are fully healed. A ring which "just hugs" the nostril during healing may contribute to scarring if the area swells at all. (Most swelling is not noticeable, so long as it is not aggravated by jewelry that pinches.) The two types of ring you might consider are a captive bead ring or one which has the bead attached (fixed). With a captive bead ring, you have the option of changing the bead in the future. You can choose many types of semi-precious stones, glass, crystals, etc., or go with a steel, titanium or gold ball. Then, if you get bored with your jewelry, you can change the look just by changing the bead. You don't have to buy new jewelry, or even take the ring out. The advantage of the fixed bead ring is that the bead is soldered onto the ring, and canÕt come out or get lost. This is a good choice for those who want gold, or who wonÕt want to change looks frequently.

A nostril screw is another jewelry choice which works well for anyone wanting a more discreet look, or those who prefer faceted stones. The nostril screw looks like a regular ear stud from the outside, with either a ball, small shape or stone on the nostril. Rather than having a backing on it, however, the post bends sort of like a corkscrew on the inside of the nostril. The curve in the post keeps it in without a backing to catch dirt and bacteria. The post will be custom bent for you when you come in for the piercing. A little extra room will be allowed on the post for swelling and to allow you to move the jewelry during cleaning. Once the piercing is healed, you can have the post re-bent for a closer fit. You can choose from steel, any color of titanium, or yellow or white gold. Shapes often include balls, cones, spikes, hearts, stars, moons, circles, and cubes. Stones can be faceted or rounded, real or synthetic. We often have diamond, ruby, emerald, sapphire, garnet, amethyst, opal and others.

Whatever jewelry you choose, nostril healing can be both lengthy and tricky. If you are attentive to your piercing, though, there is no reason it must be difficult. During healing, it is essential that you clean the piercing at least twice a day (with antibacterial soap or EarCare), and keep dirty hands and make-up ( and lotions, etc.) out of the area. [See the Aftercare section for full details.] If you get an infection in this one, it often looks like a large yellowish pimple, and is pretty hard to hide. So keep it clean! If your skin is oily, you will want to use the antibacterial soap, rather than the EarCare to clean it, in order to get through the oil and effectively clean the piercing. Also, if you smoke, antibacterial soap is the most effective way to clean out tar, resin and smoke residue. (Seriously consider cutting back on smoking during healing.) It goes without saying that other chemicals that can go in your nose are not good for nostril healing.

If you do end up with an infection on your nostril piercing, warm salt water soaks are invaluable. Do them several times a day until the infection clears completely. Simply removing the jewelry may not solve the problem, as it allows the surface to seal over with the infection still inside.

Nostril piercings that get played with often or are repeatedly hit may get a red bump right on the piercing. This is a type of scar tissue caused by the frequent abuse. To avoid this, don't play with your piercing. Also, wait until after your allergy season to get pierced if you think you will be blowing your nose a lot. Be careful not to bump it when you wash your face. If you have a nostril screw, be careful not to hook your washcloth and towells. And, of course, don't sleep on your face.

If you take care of your piercing and don't allow it to get infected or scarred, you will usually not have much of a mark if you take it out. Once the hole closes down, it generally looks like another pore. But, as we mentioned earlier, if you want to keep the piercing, it is best to keep jewelry in it. Nostrils do close fast, and they can be painful to stretch.

All this is not meant to dissuade you if you have decided on a nostril piercing. Nostril piercings can be elegant and flatter many faces. Unlike some other facial piercings, many people keep them for a lifetime. They just need some thought and attention in order to be enjoyable right from the start