Nose piercings are becoming more common among both women and men.
The number of people who wear them has increased over the years. In fact, some studies show that the number of men who have had their noses pierced has doubled since 2000.
There are several reasons why men might want to get a nose ring. Some say they look cool or fashionable. Others say they are into body modification and self-expression. In some cultures, it is considered an expression of manhood.
Whatever the reason, nose piercing is considered a fashion statement all around the world.
For many people, getting a nose piercing is a rite of passage. It can be done at any age. It is mainly associated with females, but in recent years, there has been a rise in male nose piercings. No matter your gender, you should consider getting one if you feel like it.
Are you ready to give your nose a new look? Here are some things to consider before making this big decision.
Here is our guide to nose piercing for men.
Which Side Should Men Get Their Nose Pierced?
If you’re thinking about having a nose piercing, you may wonder which side of the nose makes sense. The answer is: it depends on what kind of look you’re going for.
Do you have a ‘better’ side of your face?
Many people will know what we’re talking about when we say the ‘better’ side: when having a photograph taken, or when taking a selfie, we all typically have one side of our face that looks better than the other. This is because most people naturally tend to smile from one side of their mouth.
But how do you decide which side is your better side? Well, there’s no right way to do it. You just need to make sure that you’re comfortable with the idea of having a nose piercing on your better side. If you don’t have a preference, then you could go either way.
There has been a connotation between gay men and having a nose piercing on the right nostril, just the same as an ear piercing on the right side.
When you go in for your piercing, the person piercing your nose will usually draw a dot on your nostril where he/she wants to place the hole. This works as a stencil for them to work from, as well as giving you an indication of what your piercing will look like, and where the placement will be.
You could, beforehand, use a washable marker to place a dot on each side of your nostrils yourself, before going in for your piercing. This way, you can get an indicator of which side you prefer.
What Is A Nose Piercing?
Let’s go back to complete basics for a moment, shall we?
What exactly is a nose piercing? Well, while most of us will think of a nostril piercing when thinking about a ‘nose’ piercing, there are other kinds of placements too. After this section, however, we will be focusing mainly on nostril piercings for the remainder of the article.
Here are all the placements that you should consider before getting your nose pierced.
Nostril
A nostril piercing is when a small hole is made into the side of the nostril. You can either have a stud or a ring placed inside the nostril: both are very popular choices.
High Nostril
This is very similar to the nostril piercing, except it is placed a little higher up. Many people decide to have both a nostril and a high nostril piercing.
Septum
The septum is the cartilage that separates the two nostrils. A septum piercing is when a piece of jewelry, usually a ring, is inserted through the cartilage. This is one of the most popular piercings for both males and females.
Nasallang
This is when a bar is inserted straight through the two nostrils, pierced through the cartilage in the middle. However, for a similar (and less painful) effect, you could simply get both nostrils pierced.
Austin Bar
The Austin bar is similar to the nasallang piercing, except it is a little lower down, placed on the tip of the nose. The bar goes straight through the cartilage at the end of your nose.
Rhino
This is the vertical variation of the Austin bar piercing: a small bar is pierced downwards through the tip of the nose.
Septril
This is another variation of the septum piercing, but involves stretching the already existing septum piercing so that it can hold a piercing at the tip of the nose.
Erl
The erl piercing is placed right at the top of the nose, just across the bridge. A bar is placed across the bridge of the nose.
The Process Of Getting A Nostril Piercing
Now that we’ve covered the different types of nasal piercings, let’s talk about the process of getting one.
Step 1: Getting Prepared At Home
First off, you’ll want to make sure that you’re ready for the procedure. Make sure that you have no infections, allergies, or colds, and that you don’t have any open wounds or cuts on your face.
Also, you will want to think long and hard about whether you really want this piercing.
Do you work at a place where piercings are prohibited? Nostril piercings take up to 6 months to fully heal, meaning you shouldn’t take it out or change it during this time period. This means that the stud or ring will need to stay in place for a long time.
If you are certain that you want to get your nose pierced, then the next step is to find a place that will book you in.
Step 2: Find A Shop
Once you know what type of piercing you want, and how much money you want to spend, you’ll need to find a shop that does the piercing.
There are many shops that do nose piercings, but not all of them offer the same services. Some places only offer the basic piercing, while others specialize in more complex ones like rhinos, etc.
You may also be able to find a friend who has had a nose piercing done, and ask him/her if they would recommend a specific shop.
Step 3: Book Your Appointment
After finding a shop, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with the person who does the piercings. They’ll ask you questions such as your name, age, and medical history.
In the US, you can get a nose piercing in most states if you are under the age of 16, but only with parental consent. You will need to be 16 or over to get a piercing without parental consent. You will also need to take your personal ID with you to prove your age.
Additionally, you should let them know if you have any allergies to nickel, titanium, silver, or other metals. If you do, they will need to use special rings or plugs instead of metal bars.
Step 4: Get Your Piercing
When you go into the piercing room, the person piercing your nose will probably use a washable marker to place a dot on your nostril. This is so he/she knows where they will be piercing, and also so you can check the positioning of the piercing beforehand.
Next, they will cleanse your skin by applying alcohol or soap. If you ask, they may be able to apply numbing cream to your nose, but this is not necessary: although it does hurt a little, it is a bearable pain that only lasts less than a second.
Depending on the shop, they will either use a needle or a piercing gun to pierce your nose. The former is preferred as a gun can sometimes cause trauma to the skin tissue.
When you are ready, he or she will pierce your nose.
As we previously mentioned, it will hurt for a moment, and your eyes will most likely water due to the sting. It may also bleed slightly, but this is expected.
Providing you don’t feel dizzy or nauseous after the piercing, you will be able to leave immediately afterwards!
Nose Piercing Aftercare
The aftercare process depends on which piercing you choose.
A nostril piercing will take 3-6 months to fully heal due to the thickness of the skin. During this time, it is recommended that you:
- avoid touching your nose.
- avoid twisting/touching the piercing.
- keep it dry.
- rinse with warm salt water every so often.
Some places will only pierce a nostril with a stud, which can be disappointing for those who wanted a ring right away. You may be tempted to switch the stud for a ring as soon as possible, but you will want to avoid doing this for, at least, 4 months. Doing so could cause infection, or affect the healing time.
It is normal to experience redness and soreness for the first few days following the piercing. However, these symptoms usually disappear within 2 weeks.
If you notice swelling after this time, or other symptoms including irritation, bleeding, drainage, or pus coming from the piercing, you should contact your doctor immediately. These signs indicate that something went wrong during the piercing procedure.
Additionally, there have been cases where people have had a piercing with a stud, bar, or hoop that is too small for the nose. In these cases, the piercing has healed unevenly and caused discomfort.
This is why it’s important to make sure that the size of the piercing corresponds to your nose.
How Much Does A Nose Piercing Hurt?
There are different types of piercings, and each type requires a different amount of pain.
A nostril piercing takes longer to heal than, for example, an earlobe piercing, and this is because the skin in the nose is thicker. For the same reason, a nostril piercing will hurt a little more than an earlobe piercing.
On a scale of 1 to 10, the average person reports that the pain of a nostril piercing is at around 5 or 6.
Of course, it is important to remember that pain is subjective: some people have higher/lower pain tolerances than others.
A piercing is always going to hurt, no matter where it is on your body: after all, a needle is being stuck into your skin. That is always going to hurt! However, the initial pain only lasts less than a second, and the result is definitely worth that moment of discomfort.
Famous Men With Nose Piercings
If you’re a man who is second guessing whether he should get a nose piercing, we have compiled a list of famous men who look great with studs and rings.
Lenny Kravitz
Kravitz has both nostrils pierced, and has been spotted with different variations of studs, rings, and both at the same time over the years.
Travis Barker
Barker has two nostrils pierced, but is often only seen wearing a ring on one side in recent years.
Zayn Malik
Malik has one nostril piercing on his left side. He usually wears a ring as his piercing.
Tupac Shakur
Shakur paved the way for male nose piercings back in the 90s, wearing a stud in his left nostril.
Final Thoughts- Nose Piercing for Men
As you can see, nose piercings for men are becoming more common in older generations and also are very trendy in new generations.
The benefits of getting a nose piercing include making yourself stand out from the crowd, improving self-confidence, and enhancing your overall appearance.
It’s important to note that nose piercings do take longer to heal than piercings elsewhere on the body. This means that you need to be patient when healing, and avoid any activities which may cause damage to the area.
Also, it is important to keep up hygiene by cleaning the piercing regularly, especially after swimming or working outdoors.
We hope this article helps you decide if a nose piercing is right for you.