People who have decided to adorn themselves with body jewelry, however, respond with “Why not?”  Tongue rings and nose rings are just two more ways for a person to express himself or herself.  The idea of body jewelry is similar to the idea of tradition earlobe piercings:   people want to be able to decorate themselves.

In addition, less traditional forms of body jewelry such as tongue rings, nose rings and eyebrow rings, are sometimes used as an outlet for rebellion against one’s parents or against a conformist society.  The purpose is to essentially say, “Hey, it’s my body, I can poke holes wherever I want.”

The beauty of body jewelry is that most often, when a person decides that the body jewelry is no longer a desirable form of self-expression, he or she can simply remove the nose ring or tongue ring, and the tiny hole will eventually close up.  Body jewelry is a semi-permanent way for people to show their style, rebel, or simply decorate the body.

T.C. Kuster

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Nose rings were originally made from bones, sticks and feathers.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

Eventually, nose rings reached Indian cultures and became popular for expectant mothers.  The motivation for this gender change was that a left nostril piercing allegedly reduced pain during childbirth.  When peace-seeking American’s traveled to India in the 1960s, they picked up this trend for themselves.  Like the Indians, it became most popular in American women.

The nose ring eventually shifted from a sign of peaceful expression to a rebellious piercing for fans of punk rock music and lifestyles.  Today, the nostril piercing has become just another facial piercing and piece of body jewelry to decorate one’s body and express oneself.

When you have a cold, you will likely blow your nose more often which could result in soreness and tenderness on the entire nose, not just around the piercing.  If it is bothersome, consider taking out the metal ring and replacing it temporarily with a flexible retainer stud. It is also recommended that you remove and clean your nose ring during and after a cold to prevent bacteria and viral buildup.
2.  What is the healing time for my new piercing?
Healing times vary greatly from piercing to piercing.  Below are simply approximations and you should ask your piercer for specific details.
Tongue: 4 to 6 weeks
Ear Lobes:  6 to 8 weeks
Ear Cartilage:  4 to 14 months
Eyebrow: 6 to 8 weeks
Lip: 3 to 4 months
Nose: 3 to 6 months
Navel: 6 to 12 months

3.  If I take my ring out, will my piercing close right away?
That depends.  Some piercings take longer to close than others. For example, a tongue ring hole may close in a matter of hours but your ear lobes could stay open for years.  If you are concerned that your hole will close, invest in a piercing retainer.  These are often clear, plastic, rings used to hold open the hole, but draw less attention than regular jewelry.

4.  Should I “spin” or “twist” my piercing several times a day?
This is a very debated question with two valuable points of view.  The “yes” group says that this is important because it can cut down on scabbing and will loosen any “crust” or “pus” that forms around the hole.  The “no” group says that this will tear any of the new tissue that forms or it will drag bacteria into the hole, causing infection.  Many agree that if you feel this is necessary, it’s best to twist your piercing after a hot shower because the skin will be looser and softer and make the spinning process easier, less painful and safer.

5.  Should I use alcohol to clean my piercing?  What about Neosporin?
No! Never ever use alcohol or Neosporin to clean you piercing.  Alcohol will dry out the skin and cause it to crack and peel.  Neosporin will trap dirt and bacteria and easily cause infection. The only way you should clean your piercing is with warm water and antibacterial soap or seasalt.  Consult your piercer for more details.

6.  There are so many names for the different piercings; what’s what?
labret: a piercing centered below the lip and above the chin.
tragus: a piercing that goes through the small tab of tissue that is connected to the side of the face and slightly blocks part of the ear canal.
daith: a piercing through the inner ear cartilage.
helix: a piercing through the outer ear cartilage ridge.
conch: a piercing through the main shell of the ear.
rook: a piercing through the cartilage fold above the conch.
monroe: a top lip piercing to the left or right of the nose.