Your Complete Guide to Nostril Piercings
The nostril is the most common nose piercing in the UK. This guide covers placement along the nostril crease, left vs right choice, pain levels, the 6 to 9 month healing timeline, jewellery types and the critical aftercare rules that prevent piercing bumps.Your Complete Guide to Nostril Piercings
A nostril piercing passes through the soft cartilage of the side of the nose, typically placed along the natural crease where the nostril meets the cheek. This crease is an important anatomical guide: a piercing placed within or just above this fold tends to sit beautifully against the face and minimises the risk of the jewellery pressing against the nostril wall. Placement along the crease also means the piercing heals with less disruption from facial movement.
The nostril is the most widely performed nose piercing type and one of the most common piercings overall. It can be placed on the left side, the right side or on both nostrils simultaneously. Side preference is entirely personal though most people consider their existing piercings and facial features when deciding. There is no anatomical reason to choose one side over the other.
A high nostril piercing is a variation placed further up the nostril, above the crease and closer to the nose bridge. This placement can only accommodate studs as the anatomy does not allow rings to sit comfortably at this height. High nostril piercings take longer to heal than standard nostril piercings and require a more experienced piercer to place correctly.
Types of Nostril Piercing
Does a Nostril Piercing Hurt?
Most people rate nostril piercing pain at around 4 to 6 out of 10. The nostril is cartilage rather than the soft tissue of the septum sweet spot, which means slightly more resistance during the piercing than a septum but considerably less than thicker inner ear cartilage. The sensation is a quick sharp pinch followed by involuntary watering of the eyes, which is a normal reflex from the nasal nerves and not a sign of severe pain. Most people find the initial sting fades within minutes.
Despite being a short piercing channel, the nostril takes significantly longer to fully heal than its initial soreness might suggest. The nose is constantly in motion during everyday life: speaking, eating, laughing, washing the face and sleeping. All of which create micro-movement in the jewellery. This sustained low-level movement extends healing compared to ear placements that are more stationary.
| Stage | Timeframe | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Inflammatory | Weeks 1–3 | Swelling, redness and tenderness; the nostril may feel congested for a few days |
| Proliferative | Weeks 4–12 | Swelling reduces; crusting around the stud or ring is normal; still sensitive if bumped |
| Settling | Months 3–6 | Comfortable day to day; looks healed externally; internal cartilage still maturing |
| Full healing | Months 6–9 | Fistula fully formed; safe to introduce a hoop or change to a shorter post |
What Jewellery Can You Wear in a Nostril Piercing?
Nostril piercings use a wider range of jewellery styles than any other nose placement. During healing a flat-back labret stud or a twist nose stud is the standard starting piece as it minimises movement. Hoops and rings should not be introduced until healing is confirmed by your piercer (typically at 6 to 9 months). A ring introduced too early rotates with every facial movement and pulls bacteria through the healing channel.
| Style | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flat-back labret stud | Fresh and healing | Most recommended starting piece; minimal movement; comfortable for sleeping |
| Twist nose stud (L-shape) | Fresh and healing | Angled post holds the stud in place; stays put during daily activity |
| Nose bone stud | Healed piercings | Straight post with a small ball end; stays in without a clasp; can be harder to insert initially |
| Seamless ring | Healed piercings | Clean minimal hoop look; 6–8mm inner diameter suits most nostril placements |
| Clicker hoop | Healed piercings | Hinged closure makes it easier to put in and take out than a seamless ring |
The standard gauge for nostril piercings is 18G (1.0mm). A smaller gauge than this risks the cheese-wire effect where the jewellery migrates toward the nostril edge over time. All nostril jewellery should be implant-grade titanium during healing. Going smaller than 18G is not recommended for initial piercing regardless of how delicate the stud looks.
For every nose piercing type including septum, bridge and nasallang piercings, visit the Nose Piercing Types Explained guide. For all piercing types in one resource, visit the Piercing Types Explained hub.
Book your nostril piercing at OSCO London
Nostril piercings at OSCO London are just £10. Crease placement assessed before every piercing, implant-grade titanium jewellery as standard.
OSCO London is a professional piercing studio in Northwood, London. Visit the OSCO London homepage to book your nostril piercing and discuss placement, side choice and jewellery options with a trained professional.
How to Care for a Nostril Piercing
Nostril piercing aftercare is similar to other cartilage piercings with a few nose-specific rules. Clean twice daily with sterile saline spray. Spray the outside of the nostril and allow the solution to flow gently around the jewellery. Never push a cotton bud or swab inside the nostril to clean the inner exit point: the fibres can catch on the jewellery and introduce irritation. Pat dry with a clean paper towel after each clean.
Skincare and makeup are the most common source of nostril piercing complications. Moisturiser, foundation and setting spray all carry chemicals that irritate healing cartilage and bacteria that delay the fistula. Keep all products at least 1cm clear of the piercing site and rinse the nostril thoroughly after face washing until the piercing is fully healed.
Avoid touching the piercing with unwashed hands. Do not twist or rotate the jewellery. Do not remove the stud during healing as even a brief removal can cause the channel to begin closing. Book a check-up with your piercer at 6 to 8 weeks to confirm healing progress and assess whether a downsize is beneficial.
For a complete resource covering every other nose and body piercing type, visit the Piercing Types Explained hub at OSCO London, the definitive guide to every piercing placement available at the studio.