Nose piercing has grown in popularity over recent years, with more people than ever taking the plunge. Over in the US, a massive 20% of women and 15% of men have their noses pierced, and celebrities such as Zoe Kravitz and Miley Cyrus have also been seen sporting nose piercings.

If you’ve been thinking about getting your nose pierced, it’s important to make sure you’ve done your homework before you head off to the studio. Any body modification needs a certain level of commitment - read on for our top things to think about.

What’s Your Pain Threshold Like?

Nose piercings are painful. Not massively, but they’re considered one of the more painful places to pierce because the needle is going through cartilage instead of soft flesh. If you found having your ears pierced a difficult experience, you might want to avoid a nose piercing!

The pain level also depends on which part of the nose you’re having pierced. A lot of people report the nostril to be slightly less painful than the septum, but this can vary from person-to-person. The days following the appointment are often more painful; the piercing is going to be tender and may be swollen.

Generally, any piercing is going to hurt a bit - but it’s over really quickly, and it looks great. Then it’s onto the aftercare….

How Dedicated Are You to Aftercare?

When you get your nose pierced, it takes a fairly long time to heal, and the aftercare process is pretty intense. A nostril piercing takes up to 4 to 6 months to heal completely, and a septum comes in at an even longer 6 to 8 months.

Nose piercing aftercare needs a lot of dedication - so if you’re someone who skips that morning saline rinse, a nose piercing probably isn’t going to be for you. You’re going to need to get yourself a great quality saline solution, and clean your new piercing at least twice a day - inside the nostril and out. It’s hugely important to make sure you’re cleaning the jewelry as well.

Like with any piercings, you’ll need to avoid touching it with dirty hands, swimming, and removing the jewelry until it’s completely healed.

 Where on Your Nose do you Want to Pierce?

Decisions, decisions. There are three main places to choose from when you’re getting your nose pierced:

• The nostril - this is the most popular place and one that most celebrities opt for. A nostril piercing is super versatile, and you can choose from lots of different jewelry; hoops, captive bead rings, studs, and barbells all work well once your piercing has healed.
•  The bridge - this is where the piercing goes through the bridge of your nose. People usually choose curved or straight barbells for a bridge piercing.

 The septum -  slightly quirkier, septum piercings have grown in popularity recently. The piercing goes through the flesh at the bottom of the nose and can be either left down or tucked up out of the way - making it ideal for anyone who might work somewhere that piercings are a no-go. 

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