One of the most common piercings around is the nose piercing, be it nostril or septum. Despite being a common piercing, you rarely see it looking the same way on different people because there are so many options for styling them. So, let’s take a moment and check out all the different styles of nose jewelry!
Nose Bone
This is one of the more problematic styles. A nose bone is jewelry with a straight post and a tiny bulb on the bottom end to keep the jewelry from falling out. These are incredibly easy to insert and come in a wide range of looks. Sounds ideal, right? Unfortunately, because the bulb is wider than the post, this can often lead to the jewelry getting stuck inside the piercing. If this happens, you may have to either pull it out forcefully and injure your piercing or have it removed by a medical professional. So be aware that this style does come with its own unique set of risks and is strictly for fully healed nostril piercings!!!!
Nose Screw
This is jewelry with a small, coiled bit at the end of a straight post. These are not for healing piercings because the movement can cause irritation bumps. They can also be a challenge for healed piercings because they are specific to what side your piercing is on. (Look at the coiled end. If it coils to the right, it’s for a left-side piercing and vice-versa.) If you buy a left side-design screw and put it in a right nostril piercing, you’re liable to have the curved bit visible in your nose. There’s nothing inherently wrong with using them in a healed piercing if that is your choice.
L-Shaped Nose Ring
Exactly as it sounds, this is a nose ring with a post that is shaped like an “L”, with a 90-degree bend. These are not safe for healing piercings for the same reason as screws – the movement of the jewelry can cause irritation bumps. The ease of insertion helps make these a popular choice, however they been known to fall out when there’s a lot of activity.
Fishtail
This is simply an item of nose jewelry with an extremely long, straight post. The point of it is that you take it to a piercer, and they can trim and shape it however you want it. So, it’s basically custom-fitted to your face. They are less commonly found but if you don’t like standard sizes, this would be the way to go if you want a screw or an L-shaped ring.
Clicker/Segment Ring
This is where we split the difference between circular jewelry and straight jewelry. Clickers have a straight barbell but a round design, so you don’t have to fuss with getting a ring through your piercing. This is a great solution for a lot of people although it is important that it be sized correctly for your piercing. It can also create issues with the clasp as the very tip of the barbell can poke. This just requires careful shopping, and you may find you prefer to get a similar look with a hinged segment ring. These have a hinged, curved segment that opens and closes like a clicker but without an obvious hinge or clasp.
Seamless Ring
These are also known as “closure rings”, they don’t have a true clasp or closure, you just push them open and closed. These are also popular for their simplicity because they don’t require tools or much of a struggle. The downside here is that the ends of the ring may not be completely closed and in a fresh piercing, it can cause the fistula to narrow in that space and make the jewelry difficult or painful to remove. Not for fresh piercings but a common choice. These are also not for getting pierced with because the movement of circular jewelry makes healing more difficult and can result in bumps.
Captive Rings/Ball Closure Rings
Another great choice for a healed piercing. These are circular rings that use tension on either a small ball or charm to hold them closed. They are easy to find, and they generally will not fall out. The downside is that they typically require a special tool or a piercer to insert and remove without bending the ring itself. A fine choice for a healed piercing.
Nose Hoop/Nose Nail
These are circular rings with a bulb or flat disc on one end and no closure. You simply insert the jewelry until the larger end is flush with the inside of your nostril. While circular jewelry cannot be used in a fresh piercing, these are a perfectly fine choice for a healed one and are commonly available in a plethora of styles and color choices. The style with the flat disc end is sometimes called a “nose nail” because it sort of resembles a nail curved almost into a circle. It’s still the same thing.
Labret
This is a straight piece of jewelry with a flat disc end at one end. This is the gold standard choice for getting pierced with. The shape and style keep the jewelry from moving a lot, thus helping to prevent irritation bumps. They are generally considered to be comfortable and come in a variety of sizes and styles. The lone downside to these is that they can be easy to remove but extremely challenging to insert. You may need a piercer’s aid to insert these. Otherwise, an excellent choice for both fresh and healed piercings.
A Brief Note on Sizes
There aren’t truly “standard” sizes for nose jewelry because there aren’t standard sizes for bodies. That said, nostril piercings are generally done at 18 gauge, and you can choose to size that up or down as you see fit as long you don’t go smaller than 20 gauge. (Thinner jewelry comes with a risk of cutting through the flesh of your nose.) Septums are generally pierced at 14 or 16 gauge and should stay near that range unless you choose to stretch the piercing. As for length or diameter, you should get that information in your paperwork after getting pierced. If you don’t know what size you want, 6mm to 8mm is usually sufficient and a good place to start.
Whew! That’s a lot of options! If you are in the market for new nose jewelry, this should have given you much to think about. How old is your piercing? How long do you want to keep a particular piece or style of jewelry in it? Are you okay with travelling to a piercer if needed? Once your piercing is healed, there isn’t really any “right” or “wrong” jewelry to rock in it, it’s a matter of personal choice. And now that you know what your choices are, perhaps it’s time to go shopping! Happy piercing!
