Nose Piercing Types & Nose Jewelry Guide

Wearing a nose ring is a great way to add a little something to your style; it’s fashionable yet discreet—the perfect type of understated piercing in a business environment. Whether you choose to pierce your nostril or your septum (the small section that separates your nostrils), it’s a super cute and trendy look.

Here's a handy guide for some commonly asked questions about nose piercings:

The most common starter jewelry used for nostril piercings is a twist nose stud made of high quality metals like 14k gold, 18k gold, or titanium. Hoops like captive bead rings or gold seamless rings are often used as well. If you choose to go with the nose stud, those that feature a small ball on the end are preferable; however, a small prong or bezel set gemstone can be stylish. Make sure that your starter jewelry is large enough to accommodate swelling and light enough that it doesn't pull at your new piercing.

The standard size for a nose piercing is 18G or 20G, however, your piercer will pierce with a larger needle (up to 16G) to allow for better healing. Never use a nose ring smaller than recommended by your piercer, as there is more risk of rejection, tearing, and migration.

Learn more about standard gauge sizes here.

The length of the twist nose stud jewelry will be 1/4-inch. This accommodates swelling and gives the piercing room to be cleaned easily. If you’re getting pierced with a CBR, hoop, or circular barbell, it should measure 5/16-inch or 3/8-inch.

Learn more about standard body jewelry lengths here.

Placement: Your piercer will mark the location of the piercing so you can see if you are happy with the placement. Once you’ve agreed, it’s time to pierce.

Fast Facts

Anywhere along the nostril or septum.

PLACEMENT
5/10

PAIN LEVEL
3-4 weeks

HEALING TIME
$25 - $70 for the piercing only, plus jewelry

PRICING

Find more about nose piercings here.

Your Nose Piercing Is Healed. Now What?

You followed all the advice and you’re completely healed. Now for the fun part: shopping for jewelry to adorn your awesome piercing! Remember when we talked about body jewelry sizes? It’s still important. You want to look for 20G and 18G nose ring jewelry with a wearable length of 1/4-inch.

Cost considerations: When shopping for a nose ring, it's worth investing in high quality 14k gold or platinum nose rings. There are so many styles to choose from that are quite affordable. A favorite is always a genuine diamond nose ring or genuine birthstone studs. Don’t think that diamond and gold nose rings are out of your price range; they start around $25.00 and go up from there.

Important: Some are tempted to decorate their nostril piercing with a standard earring. Don't do this. Standard earrings are typically 22G, and can cause a piercing to migrate and heal improperly. Also, the length is too long, which can damage the cartilage and scratch delicate nose tissue.

FreshTrends Tip

If pierced with a ring, do not twist, turn, or rotate your piercing for at least eight weeks. When it's time to switch out your jewelry for the first time, it's best to return to the studio for professional assistance.

Nostril Piercing Jewelry Styles

Twist Nose Ring

This type of nose ring stays securely in the nose while providing a flush fit against the nostril. It’s the most common type of nose ring for those reasons. There are a wide variety of styles available, which means that there’s something for everyone.
Nose Bone Ring

Nose bones consist of post with adornment on one side and a small ball that is a slightly larger diameter than the post on the other side. When worn, the small ball keeps it in place. Like a twist nose stud, they have a flush fit. These are best for healed piercings. While not for everybody, nose bones have a loyal fanbase that swears by the look and the comfort.
Nose Pin

This is simply a straight post, but this nose stud style is not meant to be worn as-is; a piercer will have to custom bend your pin nose stud into an L-shape. These are perfect for those who don't quite fit in regular barbell lengths.
L-Nose Rings

L-shaped nose rings have a post that is bent at a 90-degree angle. This is also a favorite nose ring backing for those that find the screw twist difficult to use since the L-Shape is easier to insert into the piercing than the screw and more secure than the nose bone.

Hoop Nose Rings

Nose ring hoops are quickly becoming the nostril jewelry of choice. They give you a different look than stud nose rings and tend to be more noticeable. Captive bead rings are easy to insert, and the bead can be decorated for extra flair. You can also opt for a faux hoop, like the one shown, for the hoop aesthetic in an easy-to-insert format.
Seamless Ring Hoop Nose Rings

Unlike the hoop in the image above, seamless rings wrap all the way around the nostril. The thickness of the hoop will depend upon the gauge of your piercing; larger gauges will make for a bolder hoop look. Never pull the ends apart in a seamless ring. Instead, twist up and down in opposite directions to open, then twist back into place.
Faux Hoop Nose Rings

This style of nose ring gives you the look of a hoop with the easy insertion and comfort of an L-shape backing.