In the market for a shiny new nose hoop? Well before you buy, you’ll want to know exactly what size you need. Here’s how to find out:
Gauge
The gauge is the thickness of a body jewelry item, and directly correlates to the needle size used for your piercing. Because there are so many different sized noses, nose piercings will also be done in different sizes. The most common are an 18 gauge, and a 20 gauge.
Even though the number itself is larger, the 20 is actually the smaller size; for body jewelry, size goes down as the number goes up. Nose piercings that were performed in eastern nations such as India may sometimes be a teeny 22 gauge, but for the most part 18 and 20 are our primary choices.
Diameter
After figuring out your gauge, you’ll then need to know what diameter size you require. Diameter for nose hoops is measured as the distance from inside edge to inside edge across the widest portion of the hoop. Depending on how high up your piercing is and how large your nostril is, an incorrect diameter size can look a little funny, so this is actually pretty important aesthetically too.
The two most common sizes here are 5/16″ (8mm) and 3/8″ (10mm), but those with larger noses may prefer a slightly larger ring, so measuring one that you already know fits properly is a good idea. Alternatively, a piercer in your area can measure either your jewelry, your nose, or both and recommend a specific size for you.
Now all you need to do is choose the style of hoop you like best, and you’re all set.
