Everything You Need to Know About Septum Piercings
The septum is one of the most popular and fastest-healing piercings available. This guide covers the sweet spot, pain levels, the 6 to 8 week initial healing timeline, how to hide the ring and every jewellery style from horseshoes to clickers.Everything You Need to Know About Septum Piercings
A septum piercing passes through the columella, the thin strip of soft tissue at the base of the nasal septum between the two nostrils. Professional piercers refer to this location as the sweet spot. It sits between the cartilage wall of the septum above and the bottom of the nose below. When pierced correctly through this soft tissue, the septum is one of the fastest-healing piercings available and considerably less painful than most cartilage placements.
If a piercer misses the sweet spot and goes through the cartilage itself, the experience is significantly more painful and the healing time extends dramatically. This is why choosing an experienced professional is the most important decision in the entire process. A skilled piercer locates the sweet spot before marking, confirms the position and pierces cleanly through soft tissue only.
One of the most practical features of a septum piercing is that it can be completely hidden. A circular barbell (horseshoe ring) can be flipped upward into the nostrils when a discreet appearance is required. This makes the septum particularly popular with people in workplaces with appearance policies. You cannot hide a nostril, bridge or ear piercing in this way.
What Jewellery Can You Wear in a Septum Piercing?
Does a Septum Piercing Hurt?
Most people rate septum piercing pain at 4 to 6 out of 10. Because the sweet spot is soft vascular tissue rather than cartilage, the needle passes through quickly and the sensation is a sharp pinch lasting about one second. Many people experience watery eyes immediately after: this is an involuntary reflex from the nerves around the nasal area and not an indication of extreme pain.
The septum heals significantly faster than most cartilage piercings. Initial healing typically completes in 6 to 8 weeks, with full tissue maturation taking 3 to 6 months. The good blood supply of the columella delivers the nutrients and immune cells needed for healing more efficiently than the limited-blood-supply cartilage of ear placements.
| Stage | Timeframe | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Inflammatory | Weeks 1–3 | Tenderness, mild swelling and some clear discharge: all normal. Choose one position for the jewellery and leave it there |
| Proliferative | Weeks 4–8 | Swelling reduces; crusties form and soften; still tender when bumped |
| Settling | Months 2–4 | Initial healing complete for most people; internal tissue still maturing; can begin considering a jewellery change |
| Full healing | Months 3–6 | Tissue fully matured; switch to clicker or seamless ring safely at this point |
Do not flip the horseshoe ring up and down repeatedly during the initial healing period. Pick one position and hold it until the piercing is confirmed healed. Every flip during early healing disrupts the forming fistula and introduces nasal bacteria directly into the wound channel.
Septum Piercing Sizes Explained
| Measurement | Standard Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gauge | 16G (1.2mm) | Most common starting gauge; some piercers use 14G (1.6mm) for a heavier look |
| Inner diameter | 8mm or 10mm | 8mm suits most anatomies; 10mm gives a slightly more visible hang below the nose |
| Ball size (horseshoe) | 3mm or 4mm | Smaller balls for a subtle look; larger for a bolder statement |
| Clicker inner diameter | 8mm | Most decorative clickers use 8mm; confirm your gauge before ordering |
For all nose piercing types including nostril, bridge and nasallang piercings, visit the Nose Piercing Types Explained guide. For every piercing type in one resource, visit the Piercing Types Explained hub.
Book your septum piercing at OSCO London
Septum piercings at OSCO London are just £10. Experienced piercers locate the sweet spot correctly, implant-grade titanium jewellery as standard.
OSCO London is a professional piercing studio in Northwood, London. Visit the OSCO London homepage to book your septum piercing and discuss sweet spot placement and jewellery options with a trained professional.
How to Care for a Septum Piercing
Clean your septum piercing twice daily with sterile saline solution. Spray from below the nostrils and allow the solution to saturate both entry points of the fistula. The nose is a warm, moist environment that harbours bacteria naturally, so consistency with cleaning is especially important here. Pat dry with a clean paper towel after each clean: never leave the area damp.
When blowing your nose during healing, press one nostril gently and blow softly from the other rather than blowing both sides forcefully. Hard nose-blowing forces air pressure through the fistula channel and is one of the most common causes of irritation bumps at fresh septum piercings. Use fresh single-use tissues and discard after each use.
Avoid touching, twisting or rotating the jewellery between cleans. Do not use tea tree oil, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or antiseptic sprays near the piercing as these cause chemical irritation that delays healing. If you experience a small piercing bump beside the fistula, do not panic: remove the cause of irritation (usually repeated flipping or pressure) and return to clean saline care twice daily.
For information on every other nose and body piercing type, visit the Piercing Types Explained hub at OSCO London, the complete guide to every piercing placement from nostrils to specialist piercings.