Did you know that humans have been piercing their noses for thousands of years? That's right, for millennia now, humans of all ages, races, and genders have been decorating their faces with beautiful nose rings, nose studs, and nose hoops.

Even though it's a tried-and-true ancient artform that spans cultures, languages, and continents, some of us weren't around 4,000 years ago! We all need to start somewhere - if you're unfamiliar with the piercing world, it's might be hard to know exactly where to start your nose piercing journey.

No worries! Body Candy is here to help. We've put together a helpful little guide for any nose piercing newbies who might be looking to get into the world of piercings and body mods.

Know the Nose

There are lots of way to pierce the nose! Sometimes all you need is a helpful diagram -  check out Body Candy's helpful chart to see just how many options there are when it comes to decorating your nose. 

On that note, there is a specific type of person who knows the ins and outs of the nose intimately. We're talking about professional piercers!

We recommend finding a reputable piercing studio in your area... Not sure where to look? Ask a pierced/modded friend about their experience with their piercing pro. If you ever want to get another part of your body pierced (trust us on this... they're addictive), you'll want an established relationship with someone who makes you feel comfortable. They can also help you with aftercare questions, changing your jewelry out, and anything else piercing-related. After all, your piercing is their handiwork... They want it to look and feel great too!

If you're a nose piercing newbie or you don't have a pierced friend who can point you in the right direction, we've got ANOTHER blog that can help - check out How To Find Body Piercing Shops Near Me: Choosing The Right Piercing Studio.

Nostril

The most common nose piercing is a simple nostril piercing... But it's the most common for a reason. Beyond traditional lobe piercings, nose rings are some of the most widely-accepted body mods.

The best part about nostril piercings are their sheer versatility. They can add a little sparkle to your look with a basic micro nose ring... Or you can show off a rainbow anodized nose hoop for a splash of color. 

Nose rings are also extremely affordable - many can be had for less than a dollar, while those who want the best of the best can purchase a 14k gold nose ring (made in-house by hand by our master jeweler).

Since the nostril is made of cartilage, plan for a heal time of at least six (6) months - it is regular for them to take up to a year to heal.

Septum

Septum piercings were once reserved for punks... But they've become more and more a part of modern piercing culture. There are lots of jewelry styles that look amazing in septum piercings: horseshoe rings; segment rings; seamless rings; clickers... You name it!

Septum piercings are unique because, if done correctly, they aren't actually a cartilage piercing. Your nose has a small strip of skin called the columella - most septum piercings are performed through this small strip of skin.

Because it's a fleshy piercing (like an earlobe), septum piercings are generally pretty easy to heal up... Plan for somewhere between three (3) to six (6) months.

Bridge

Bridge piercings are a little less common than nose rings and septum rings, but they are still integral to the nose ring experience! The bridge piercing is actually a "surface" piercing, meaning the jewelry runs just beneath the surface of the skin.

This is still technically a "nose" piercing, it's just placed up higher near the bridge of the nose. A variant on this piercing, placed up-and-down (rather than horizontally across the bridge) is known as the "third eye piercing." 

Since this piercing is a surface piercing, it has a relatively short heal time... Think three (3) to six (6) months. Be very careful with your bridge piercing - surface piercings do have a higher chance of rejection, which could lead to a bit of scarring.