We all know about the standard-model nostril piercing. But have you seen high nostril piercings? Today we’re going to go over this nifty variant on a classic piercing.
What Is It – The name is really quite self-explanatory. High nostrils are nostril piercings but are located higher up on the nostril, towards the eyebrows.
Why Get Them – The aesthetic appeal of these piercings is huge. They go well with stacked piercings or multiple nostril piercings. They are also fantastic for people who like their piercings symmetrical.
Pain Level And Procedure – High nostrils are pierced like any other facial piercing. They are performed with a needle. They should *never* be performed with a piercing gun. Because the cartilage is thicker higher up the nose, these piercings can be more painful than the standard kind. However, pain is subjective and completely relative and what is excruciating for one person may be virtually painless for someone else.
Healing Time – Due to the thickness of the cartilage, these can take substantially longer to heal than standard nostril piercings. They are prone to irritation bumps and swelling, more so than many piercings. It can take up to two years for them to settle down and be fully healed. Because of this it is very important that you not downsize your jewelry too soon, as that can cause a flare of swelling and start a cycle of upsizing and downsizing your jewelry endlessly to deal with the swelling.
Aftercare – This is the same as any other non-oral piercing. Sterile saline wound wash twice a day, rinse with cool water, pat dry with a clean paper towel using clean hands.
Jewelry Options – The best jewelry for high nostril piercings is a flat back labret stud. The neat part is that, once they’re healed, you can experiment with using chains to connect the piercings. (This look is *very* on-trend these days!) You can even try custom fit jewelry for that little something extra that’s just for you.
How To Style – High nostrils work well with paired standard nostril piercings for a double look. They also pair well (with or without standard nostril piercings) with a septum piercing for put-together look that isn’t too matchy-matchy.
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Here's what our very own Onyx O. had to say about her high nostril piercing experience:
Q: What was the experience like?
A: "During the procedure - Well I honestly kept thinking about if I would sneeze while these were being done, because of clamps being that high on my nose. I actually didn’t end up sneezing at all! The prep and actual piercing were essentially identical to a regular nostril piercing, the placement was the only notable difference! There was also a little safety protector on the sharp end of the needle to keep my face safe! Other than that, just the setup of a regular nose piercing."
Q: Any aftercare tips?
A: "As far as aftercare, my piercer suggested to spray Qtips with saline to be able to clean the inside of my nose, which worked great! Pay attention to anything that touches your face so you do not snag it (I.e. towels, clothing, etc.) They are very easy to forget about when you first get them, and snags can cause scarring and keep you in the healing process longer than you need to be."
Q: What do you wish you had known before getting them done?
A: "The only thing I wish I had known is what a nightmare being sick is with piercings that high in the nostril. I was constantly pressing too hard when blowing my nose, and caused a few nose bleeds. The piercings became quite swollen and made it harder to breathe through my nose. You have to be really tough to ignore those bad boys with a stuffy nose. I almost took mine out! However, I was committed to trying a nose chain before I gave up on them, and I’m glad I did. If I do take them out in the future, it will be only for that reason!"
Q: Do you get any questions or reactions about them?
A: "Surprisingly no! The only reaction that I remember was someone saying my nose piercings were “in the wrong spots” on my nose. Then I showed them my actual nostril piercing and explained what high nostril piercings were! Without a chain on them during healing, this reaction made sense to me! Other than that I’ve gotten a few nice compliments, but no wild reactions or questions"
Q: Would you recommend this piercing? Why or why not?
A: "I would recommend this piercing to someone who is committed to wearing a nose chain or simply loves the look of high nostril piercings. I would also recommend it to someone who has been through a cold or allergies with a nostril or septum piercing that already knows what the experience is like. I would NOT recommend them as a first piercing or even first nose piercing. The awareness you have to have to tend to them while healing needs to sort of be second nature. The struggle with getting sick while healing these could put someone off of piercings for good. The best way I can describe the high nostril is an 'acquired taste.'"
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So that’s the rundown on high nostril piercings. Whether it’s one nostril or both, with standard nostril piercings or without, these are piercings that stand out from the basics. Piercings that look this cool are well worth waiting out the healing period! Happy piercing!
