Once your nose piercing has fully healed (and a reputable piercer has confirmed this), your world opens up to a plethora of nose ring choices.

But, if this is your first time buying nose piercing jewelry, you might understandably feel overwhelmed. There are loads of styles and sizes for you to choose from, and it’s important for the health of your piercing to choose the correct ones.

While it may seem overwhelming now, once you know your proper sizes and styles, you’ll be able to confidently shop for nose jewelry in no time, even online.

Here’s a quick guide to nose ring sizes, how to know your proper size, and why sizing is important.

Standard Nose Ring Sizes

The standard nose ring gauge is 18G or 20G, and your stud jewelry will probably be around 1/4” to 5/16” in length. These are standard sizes, and they might vary depending on your anatomy.

When you get pierced, your initial jewelry length will be a bit longer in order to accommodate any swelling. Once this swelling has gone down, you should visit your piercer to get fit with a smaller piece. Larger pieces run the risk of getting snagged, and they tend to move around in your piercing a bit, which could cause complications during healing.

As for hoops, the proper sizing will depend upon your anatomy. Before you shop for nostril hoops, talk to a reputable piercer and have them give you the largest and smallest hoop sizes that your piercing can handle.

Sizing matters greatly, and you shouldn’t force any jewelry into your piercing that feels too big or too small. We talk more about this below.

To help visualize jewelry sizes, here are some charts for reference.

Nose Stud Styles

Nose studs come in a variety of styles. Which type you choose will mostly depend upon your personal preference. It’s a good idea to try out different styles before investing in a high quality piece of nose piercing jewelry. Afterall, the 14k gold options will last a lifetime, and you want to know that it’s the perfect piece for you.

• Bone: Perhaps the most straightforward nose stud, the bone prong consists of a straight prong with a slight nub at the end that will be a tiny bit larger than the gauge of your nose piercing. To insert, you simply push the jewelry into the piercing. Because this prong stretches the piercing a bit as it goes in, you should only wear it in a fully healed piercing.
• Straight/Fishtail: This is simply a straight post, but is not meant to be worn as-is. A piercer will have to custom-bend the post into an L-shape.
• L-Shaped: As you can probably guess, this nose stud is shaped like an L. To insert, you push the prong through the piercing at a 90º angle then twist to secure the jewelry.
• Twist: This nose stud is shaped a bit like the threading on a screw. To insert, you simply twist the jewelry into place.
• Flat Back Stud: These studs are the only ones on this list that can also be worn in other piercings, particularly the ear cartilage and lip piercings. Like a typical cartilage earring, they consist of a prong with a threaded flat back. To insert, push the prong through the piercing and screw the back into the prong. This stud is probably the most secure, but it can be a bit difficult to insert, especially if you have smaller nostrils.

Nostril Hoop Types

While seamless hoops seem to be the most popular, there’s actually a fairly wide variety of hoop styles appropriate for a nostril piercing.

• Seamless Hoops: These are characterized by their nearly seamless look. Insert the jewelry by twisting the ends away from each other (never pull them apart), pushing the jewelry through the piercing, then twisting the ends back into place. Many struggle to insert this jewelry on their own, so you might need to visit a piercer to have them help.
• Clickers/Segment Hoops: Similar to seamless hoops, these attempt to hide any seams. However, they are easier to insert on your own. These consist either of a hinged piece that opens for insertion or a segment that completely comes out of the ring.
• Captive Bead Rings: This popular hoop style consists of a hoop that’s closed with a bead that snaps into place. The bead can be made of many different materials making it a common choice for those who want a little flair with their nostril piercing.
• Circular Barbells: Circular barbells host two threaded bead ends on a horseshoe-shaped prong. The two beads make it a bit more interesting than other hoop styles, ensuring that your nostril piercing will stand out.

How Do I Know Which Nose Ring Size To Get?

The best way to know which nose ring size to purchase is to visit a reputable piercer.

Everyone’s anatomy is different which means that you can’t always depend upon the standard sizing. Reputable piercers will have tools to be able to measure your anatomy, and they can give you a list of proper sizing options.

FreshTrends Tip

When it's time to switch out your jewelry for the first time, we suggest returning to the studio for professional assistance.

Why Sizing Is Important

It happens quite often: someone takes the time to perfectly heal their piercing, they excitedly purchase their first jewelry, and a few days later, they develop a piercing bump.

Just because your piercing has finished healing doesn’t mean that it isn’t susceptible to damage. One of the biggest causes of damage to a healed piercing is wearing jewelry that’s the wrong size.

If you choose a stud or a hoop that’s too small, it will pull against the piercing hole, often causing piercing bumps or other complications.

If your stud or hoop is too big, it poses a snag risk, which could rip or otherwise damage your piercing holes.

Don’t let your nostril piercing get damaged after spending months on healing. Talk to your piercer before shopping for new jewelry to ensure that you’re choosing the proper jewelry sizes.

Finding the perfect nose ring size doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it seems. Simply visit a reputable piercer to get your customized jewelry specs, and you should be just fine.