If you’ve been searching around the piercing groups on social media, you may have spotted that rare and elusive thing – a rare and relatively new piercing! Perhaps you have spotted pictures of people with jewelry on the tip of their nose? This fascinating phenomenon is the forward-facing nostril piercing and if you haven’t seen it or don’t know what it is exactly…. we are here to help!
The forward-facing nostril piercing actually includes two different piercings. There is also a variation known as the mantis piercing. Both give you the same look – jewelry ends that sit on the tip of your nose, facing forwards (as opposed to off to the sides like standard nostril piercings.) A mantis piercing is done with a surface bar. This is a piece of jewelry that is shaped a bit like a staple. The bar portion is placed under the skin while the ends sit directly on the skin’s surface. Forward-facing nostrils are otherwise done with two separate piercings angled straight back from the same location.
These piercings are very anatomy-dependent, so they may not be for everyone. They require a fairly pronounced bump of cartilage at the end of the nose so that there is room for the jewelry. A smaller nose may not be able to handle a surface bar but may still have space for two separate labrets. The healing time for these piercings can be extensive, owing to the amount of cartilage tissue being pierced. And since they seem to be a relatively new piercing, finding a piercer who has experience with them can be a challenge. But, when pierced correctly, they make for an absolutely showstopping look!
If your anatomy won’t allow for this type of piercing but you still want to jazz up your nose piercing game, don’t fear. High nostrils can still add some serious drama and if you have paired nostril piercings or a bridge piercing, chain dangles can really add some punch to your look. Or why not stretch your nostrils for more visual impact? From conch to septum to labret, almost any piercing can be stretched. And if there’s no way for you to add some forward-facing drama to your nose, remember that new piercings and new styles come around on a pretty regular basis. Just keep your eyes open and your piercer’s number handy! Happy piercing!
