The Difference Between Nose and Septum Piercings

You can pierce your nose in different places. Where you want your nose pierced indicates if it is a septum or nose piercing. 

You can get your nose pierced on your nares, which are the fleshy, cartilaginous skin around your nostrils, or you can have the septum pierced. The septum is the tougher cartilage between your nostrils.

Nose Piercings 

Nose piercings are usually on the cartilaginous structure that covers the nostril. Any piercing done on the nose is generally considered less painful than some other bodily piercings. A nose piercing costs typically between $25-$30. It usually takes two to three months to heal completely. 

Septum Piercings

Septum piercings allow the wearer to have larger jewelry. Having your septum pierced is potentially more painful if you don’t have any columella cartilage in your nose.

Your columella is the target piercers go for when piercing your septum. Some noses have thick cartilage in this area, some have thinner, and others have virtually no cartilage. Your piercing will be more painful if you have little to no cartilage.

The pain from the needle for piercing usually lasts about a split second. If you do have yours pierced, expect that it will bleed more than a typical nose piercing. Septum piercings are generally around $40 to $90. 

Bigger Noses

The truth is, any size nose can look great with the right piercing. 

Whether a septum or nose piercing, you’re free to express yourself any way you want to, even if you have a big nose. Having your nose pierced will decorate it and simply draw more attention to it.

It’s more a question of if you want this facial feature to stand out more on your face.

Talk to your piercer about what they would recommend for your nose and make sure you like what you’re purchasing. How you feel wearing your piercing plays a significant factor in how good it will look on you. 

Regardless of whether you have a more prominent nose or not, if this is your first piercing, you can start with smaller jewelry and gradually go larger in size when you’ve established more of a comfort level. From there, you can experiment with various different types of jewelry, which you can incorporate into your look. 

Types of Jewelry

Before you get your piercing, you can begin to think about what kind of jewelry you think would look nice on you. This way, you have some ideas about what kind of adornments you’ll want to try out. 

There are fake piercings available for sampling, therefore, you can experiment with different styles before committing to a permanent change to your face. 

Twist Stud

This is the most typical nose ring. The twist stud will twist or hook into the nostril to stay in place. 

Nose Bone

This piercing is a post with an adornment on one side. On the other side, there is a small ball that keeps it in place.

Pin

A pin is a good option for those who want a smaller nose piercing. It is a straight post that your piercer will custom bend into an L-shape so that it fits into your nose. 

Hoop Nose Rings

These rings are hoops that are closed by a ball. The small ball holds this ring in place. Another name for them is the captive bead ring.   

The important thing is to try out the various kinds of jewelry you plan to wear on your nose to see if it’s a good fit. From different sized rings to studs, you have a large variety to choose from that could suit a bigger nose.

Try as many of these different adornments as you like. Then, narrow down the list and purchase the ones you feel most strongly about. 

Caring For Your Piercing

Be careful because nose and septum piercings pose a higher risk for your health due to their location on your face. 

Doctors call the area between your eyebrows and upper lip the “danger triangle.” The veins in this area connect to your sinus cavity. 

This connection creates a potential risk for infection for any procedure done to it. You can lower the risk of infection in this area by taking care of your piercing.

Some simple practices for caring for your nose piercing are to keep your hands clean whenever you adjust or handle it, and apply a good sea salt solution at least twice a day to keep the area as bacteria-free as possible.

The best aftercare product I’ve personally used is the After Inked Piercing Aftercare Spray. Not only is it vegan, but it’s also completely alcohol and additive-free. The solution works well on all skin types including sensitive skin, and it comes in a generously-sized mist-spraying bottle for easy application. When using it from the very start of the healing process, the spray helps to decrease healing times and aims to eliminate any lingering pain or soreness.​

Other good practices are to keep the scab that forms after your piercing procedure. This scab protects your piercing from infection. When you shower or bathe, use liquid soap to clean the piercing area. Finally, do not share your piercings with your friends.

Confidence

Having a big nose is no reason to shy away from getting a piercing. With the variety of piercings out there, you can undoubtedly find one that will suit your nose. 

Confidence is the ultimate factor for how your piercing will look. How you feel about your nose and your piercing will show. Therefore, it is important that you select jewelry for your nose that you feel good wearing. Piercings are a statement, ergo, make yours a strong one. 

Final Thoughts 

Both septum and more common nose piercings are viable options for bigger noses. 

In that, take the time to think about what kind of piercing you want to get, and then what type of jewelry you want to use to adorn it. After you have your piercing, pay attention to your practices to keep it clean because of the piercing’s location. Wear your piercing with confidence and make a strong statement.