Conventionally, a “nose ring” implied that a person had pierced the cartilage on either the right or the left side of his or her nose. Initially it was popular among women but has expanded to male fans as well.   In recent years, the idea of a nose ring has expanded to include both a septum piercing and a bridge piercing.

The septum is the hard cartilage wall between each of the nostrils and is typically pierced toward the bottom so that it penetrates the softest cartilage.  Usually a horseshoe shape ring is worn in this piercing with a ball screwed to each end.  Sometimes, this piercing is “gauged.”  To gauge a piercing means to gradually increase the size of the hole by forcing slightly larger rings into the piercing every six to eight weeks.  This is done in primarily earrings and septum rings, but could actually be accomplished in any piercing.  Many claim that the process is not painful, but that there is some discomfort when the larger size is pushed through the piercing.

The bridge piercing is the most recent addition to the nose ring family.  It pierces the skin at the very top of the bridge of the nose, almost between the eyes.  It’s generally a small piercing because of the lack of skin available at that part of the nose.

Nose rings were originally made from bones, sticks and feathers.  In modern times, however, people have shifted to more sanitary materials like BioFlex, titanium and sterling silver.  Most often, nostril nose rings are pierced with an 18 GA or 20 GA needle.  That’s roughly the same size as a standard earring post.

Septum piercings are generally done with a larger needle, 14 GA or 16 GA and bridge nose rings are usually 16 GA or 18 GA.

T.C. Kuster

Tongue Ring
The traditional tongue ring is a 14 or 16 gauge straight barbell that penetrates directly vertical through the center of the tongue.  The web tongue ring is generally a 14 or 16 gauge shorter, curved barbell (similar to and eyebrow ring) that sits horizontal through the “web” under the tongue.

Both of these piercings take a fairly short amount of time to heal and can be ready to change in as little as 4 weeks.  Most states require age 16 or age 18 for piercing.

Industrial
The industrial is a piercing that penetrates two parts of the outer ear.  It can be done in various places but both holes are generally along the cartilage of the ear and are 14 or 16 gauge.  A ball is secured to each end and this piercing takes 4 to 6 months to heal.

Labret/Monroe
Although the labret and monroe are two different piercings, they are a similar concept.  They each pierce the area directly around the mouth or lips.  Typically the Monroe is on the top lip, off to the side (like the infamous Marilyn Monroe mole) and the labret is on the bottom, usually in the center. These piercings go directly through the lip and use a unique type of ring.  They are 16 gauge and very short; the back is a flat surface that can rest against the gum or teeth and the outside is a ball or decorative gem.

Surface Rings
Surface piercings are exactly what the name implies; they are on the surface.  They do not penetrate one spot on the skin and come out on another, rather they stick into the skin and do not come out the other side.   They stay in the body by using a “fishhook” design.  That is, they can move down into the skin, but as you pull out of the skin, it will be stopped, or stuck, by the hook.  In most cases these rings are professionally removed or changed.