What Are the Different Nose Piercings Called?
The nose carries far more piercing options than the familiar side stud. This guide names every nose piercing by placement, from the soft nostril and the central septum to the bridge across the eyes and the bold rhino through the tip, with the pain, healing time and jewellery for each so you can choose with confidence.Nose Piercing Names and Placement
Nose piercings are named for exactly where they sit. The nostril is the single stud through the soft lower wall of the nose and it is the most popular piercing in the world after the earlobe. The septum passes through the soft spot at the front of the wall that divides the two nostrils, not the hard cartilage, which is why a skilled placement is comfortable. Beyond these two classics sit a family of bolder placements that a specialist piercer can offer once your anatomy has been checked.
Understanding the names helps in two ways. It lets you ask for the exact look you want rather than pointing vaguely at your nose and it helps you judge whether a placement suits your face and your tissue. Some placements such as the bridge and the rhino depend heavily on individual anatomy and are not possible for everyone, so an honest consultation matters more here than almost anywhere else on the body.
Every Nose Piercing by Placement
The cards below name each nose piercing and describe where the jewellery sits. Soft tissue placements such as the nostril and septum are widely available. Bridge, rhino and nasallang are advanced placements that depend on your anatomy and should only be done by an experienced piercer.
How Much Does a Nose Piercing Hurt?
A soft nostril piercing is one of the gentler placements on the face because the tissue is thin and the needle passes quickly. The septum sounds intimidating yet a correct placement through the soft spot is very manageable, though it can make the eyes water for a second. The sharper ratings belong to placements that pass through firmer tissue or the tip of the nose. The chart below rates each nose placement out of ten.
How Long Does a Nose Piercing Take to Heal?
Healing varies widely across the nose. The septum passes through soft tissue and is one of the quicker facial piercings to settle, while a high nostril or a rhino through firmer cartilage and the tip can take up to a year. The chart below shows the typical full healing time in months so you can plan when a change of jewellery is safe.
The Complete Nose Piercing Chart
This table brings every nose placement together so you can compare position, pain, healing and jewellery in one view before your consultation.
| Piercing | Placement | Pain (out of 10) | Healing time | Typical jewellery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nostril | Lower nostril wall | 3 | 4 to 6 months | Stud, screw or ring |
| High nostril | Upper nostril | 6 | 6 to 12 months | Flat back stud |
| Septum | Central sweet spot | 5 | 6 to 8 weeks | Ring or clicker |
| Septril | Stretched septum to tip | 6.5 | 4 to 6 months | Custom fitting |
| Bridge | Between the eyes | 7 | 8 to 12 weeks | Straight barbell |
| Rhino | Vertical through tip | 8 | 6 to 12 months | Curved barbell |
| Nasallang | Both nostrils and septum | 8 | 4 to 6 months | Straight barbell |
What Jewellery Suits a Nose Piercing?
Nostril piercings are the most flexible for jewellery. A flat back labret stud is the safest choice for healing because the smooth disc sits comfortably inside the nostril, while a nose screw or an L shape holds a small gem neatly in place. Rings and hoops look beautiful once a nostril has settled. The septum wears a ring, a horseshoe or a clicker and the gap in a horseshoe lets you flip the jewellery up out of sight whenever you need to.
Fit and material both matter. OSCO London fits implant grade titanium as standard because it is light and well tolerated by fresh piercings. Advanced placements such as the bridge and the rhino need a barbell sized precisely to your anatomy so it sits flat without pressing, which is one more reason these placements belong with an experienced piercer who will measure every piece at your appointment.
Not sure which placement your nose will carry? Compare the sting first on the Piercing Pain Chart by Type or browse every chart on the Piercing Charts hub.
Book your nose piercing at OSCO London
Every piercing is just £10. Expert placement, a private studio in Northwood, implant grade titanium as standard and honest advice on what your anatomy can carry.
OSCO London is a professional piercing studio in Northwood, London where every piercing is priced at £10. To choose your nose placement in person and have your anatomy assessed by an experienced piercer, visit the OSCO London homepage and book a consultation before you decide.
How to Care for a New Nose Piercing
Clean the piercing twice a day with a sterile saline solution, spraying both the outside and the inside of the placement, then patting dry with clean kitchen paper. Wash your hands before you touch the area and leave the jewellery in place throughout the healing window. Be gentle when blowing your nose, keep make up and facial products away from the site and take extra care around glasses if you wear them near a bridge piercing.
A firm bump can appear beside a healing nostril and is usually irritation rather than infection. It often settles with consistent saline care and by leaving the jewellery undisturbed. See your piercer if it lingers or grows. Avoid swimming pools, saunas and submerging your face until healing is complete and resist changing the jewellery early because the nose can close quickly if a fresh piercing is left empty.
This nose guide is part of the OSCO London Piercing Charts collection. Once your nose is planned you can map the rest of your look with the Face Piercing Names and Chart, the Ear Piercing Chart and Names and the Lip Piercing Names Explained guide.
Nose Piercing Questions
The nostril is by far the most popular nose piercing and one of the most common piercings in the world. It suits almost every face, heals reliably and offers the widest choice of jewellery from small gems to delicate rings.
A correctly placed septum through the soft sweet spot is very manageable and rates around five out of ten, though it can make the eyes water briefly. Missing the sweet spot is what causes real pain, which is why an experienced piercer matters.
No. The bridge and the rhino depend heavily on individual anatomy and are not possible for everyone. A consultation is essential so your piercer can assess whether the placement will sit well and heal, rather than reject soon after.
A small firm bump is usually irritation rather than infection and often settles with regular saline care and by leaving the jewellery undisturbed. If it grows or becomes painful, see your piercer rather than removing the jewellery yourself.