Steph Simpson
If you’re looking to perhaps transform your image, and maybe even reinvent yourself in the process, a makeover is a great place to begin. In these instances, people will throw old their old clothes, purchase brand new ones, change their hairstyles, perhaps alter their physiques, and even go as far as to get new tattoos and piercings. Body piercings are great for not only making fashion statements and reinventing yourself, but also for simply enhancing your overall appearance. Piercings can be traced back thousands of years and are staple parts of many cultures to this very day. On top of that however, they can also look fantastic and can really help you to stand out from the crowd. If you’re thinking of getting a new piercing and want something other than just your ears, you may wish to consider getting a nose piercing instead. If you are indeed tempted to have your nose pierced however, there are a few things you will need to know and consider about nose piercings beforehand. Here’s a look at some of the primary examples.
How is the piercing carried out – Typically, a nose piercing will be performed using a fully sterile surgical needle that pierces the part of the nose you wish to have pierced. Sometimes the septum is pierced but for the most part, the most popular part of the nose to have pierced is the side of the nostril, either the left or the right. Sometimes people will have these piercings performed using a plastic gun but this is more painful and far less sanitary, leaving you open to all kinds of infection and complications at a later date.
Knowing which jewelry to choose – When it comes to nose piercing jewelry, there are a number of options for you to consider, though generally speaking, the two most popular forms of nose piercing jewelry are either: nose studs, or nose rings. Nose rings come in a variety of different sizes and lock themselves into place via a self-clasping mechanism. Nose studs however, are just like ear piercing studs, except for being smaller. Like earring studs, they can come in gold, silver, and plain designs, or they can be ordained with sparkly jewels. Nose screws are also a very popular design, as these are held in place by simply being screwed directly into place, meaning that no clasp is required. As far as materials go, you can go with: gold, surgical steel, titanium, and sterling silver. In fresh piercings, surgical steel is highly recommended as it causes virtually no irritation and it is also hypo-allergenic.
What about the pain? – There’s no point in beating about the bush, as you are literally punching a hole into your own body and placing a piece of metal in there, having your nose pierced is going to hurt. Now, as far as how bad the pain is, well, that really will depend on your own unique pain threshold. Some people are relatively tolerant to pain, whilst others don’t cope all that well. Contrary to popular belief, a surgical needle is actually the LEAST painful method of having your nose pierced, due to the fact that the needle makes its way through the skin so easily and precisely.
Preventing the hole from closing – After you have your nose pierced, you must make sure that you leave your jewelry in the piercing for at least 24 hours before you remove it. If you remove it before this amount of time, the piercing can quickly close up as the body will try to heal itself. If you wish to leave the jewelry out for a prolonged period of time I.E more than a day, it is recommended that you wait at least a year to avoid the wound healing itself.
Caring for your piercing – The first few weeks of having a new piercing are always the most crucial times when it comes to caring for the piercing, as that is when it is at its most vulnerable in terms of infection. To help ensure that your nose piercing doesn’t become infected, and doesn’t migrate or even be rejected, you will need to follow a very in-depth aftercare routine. On average it can take anything from 6 – 12 weeks for a nose piercing to heal, and during this time you will need to make sure that you clean it daily with saline solution, that you don’t touch it excessively, and that you always ensure your hands are clean and washed before touching your nose or the jewelry.
