When can you change your nose piercing? You’ve got your nose pierced. Congrats!
Whether you went for a stud or a ring, you’re probably wondering about changing the ugly stud for something a little more “you.”
So when can you change your nose piercing? Well, you have to wait until the piercing heals.
Keep reading to get a complete guide to nostril piercings, the best materials for nose jewelry and how to clean and change piercings.
The Backstory of the Nose Piercing Trend
Piercing is quite trendy among young and fashionable people, regardless of gender, and aside from ears, nose piercing is the most common of all types.
Nose piercings have been around for centuries, dating back over 4000 years in the Middle East.
The ritual then spread in the Indian subcontinent, where it’s exclusively limited to women.
But both men and women have embraced the trend after its popularization in western countries.
Initially done for religious and cultural purposes, piercings on the nose have since become more of a fashion statement, especially in the USA and other western countries.
Singers in 80s and 90s music videos contributed to the soaring popularity of piercings in mainstream culture.
People started following their favorite celebrities, including Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Lenny Kravitz, Mary J.
Blige, Dennis Rodman and others.
Today, nose piercings are done for various reasons, including self-expression, fashion and medical reasons.
The Many Different Kinds of Nose Piercing
Piercing is a way to express yourself. It indicates your sense of style and personality.
Nose piercing is not limited to the nostrils; there are various types to decorate your face.
Choose the one that matches your vibe.
Austin bar piercing
This piercing is done horizontally through the tip of the nose with a standard piercing needle.
The go-to jewelry for this rare piercing is a barbell. You may recover within two to three months.
Bridge piercing
This is a horizontal double piercing done through the bridge of your nose, which is located right between your eyes.
The piercers use a hollow piercing needle for this purpose. The usual jewelry choice is straight or curved barbells; healing takes about two to three months.
High nostril piercing
This is a double-piercing sitting between the nose bridge and nose tip. The job is done with a hollow 18-20 gauge piercing needle, and you can use various nose rings, including a hoop, stud, screw or bone.
Total recovery for high nostril piercing takes about six to twelve months.
Multiple nostril piercings
When you have more than one nostril piercing, it may take two to four months for each wound to heal completely.
This style looks better with L-shaped jewelry, including hoops, studs and screws.
Nasallang piercing
This may look identical to the austin bar, but the needle here runs through the nostrils and inner septum.
These areas are sensitive, so recovery can take around four to six months.
An 18-20 gauge piercing needle is used for the piercing. A straight barbell is the most suited piece of jewelry for nasallang piercing.
Rhino piercing
This goes vertically through the tip of your nose and exits through the skin slightly above your septum.
You will need a standard piercing needle, and complete healing may take up to six to nine months.
The usual jewelry choice for rhino piercing is a curved barbell.
Septum piercing
Also known as bull piercing, this is done by horizontally running a standard 18-20 gauge piercing needle through a cartilaginous wall that separates the two nostrils.
You can put a horseshoe ring, segment ring, circular barbell or seamless hoop into the septum hole.
Don’t change septum piercing jewelry until the pierced tissue is completely healed, which may take three to four months.
Septril piercing
This is a single piercing at the tip of your septum. Healing may take around nine months, depending on several factors.
The piercer will use a standard piercing needle to operate. The best types of jewelry for this are curved barbells, tunnels or plugs.
Nostril piercing
This is a common form of nose piercing performed on the center of either of your nostrils.
Usual jewelry options are a hoop, stud or screw. Nostril piercing takes two to four months to heal completely.
What Are the Best Materials for Nose Piercing?
People with sensitive skin should avoid materials like nickel or sterling silver, which contains 7.5% copper.
Stainless steel can also irritate if the alloy contains nickel.
Some standard options are:
Surgical stainless steel
Piercing studios mostly use surgical stainless steel jewelry because it’s safe for sensitive skin.
You can also clean it quite easily.
Titanium
Titanium is another popular choice for body jewelry because it’s solid and hypoallergenic.
However, it’s also quite expensive.
Gold
Gold is a classic choice for nose piercing jewelry. It’s elegant and timeless, but it can be expensive.
It can cause allergic reactions if you use lower-grade gold (lower than 14K).
Silver
Silver jewelry is another popular choice for nose piercings. It’s less expensive than gold, but it can tarnish over time.
Also, it can cause allergic reactions in some people if the alloy contains nickel or copper.
Plastics/silicone
These are not popular choices, but work well in preventing allergic reactions when the wound is raw.
Some people love them because they’re affordable and come in various colors.
When choosing the material for your nose piercing jewelry, you must consider your budget and allergy problems.
The Cost of Nose Piercing
If you’re considering getting your nose pierced, you’re probably wondering how much it will cost.
It depends on these factors:
The type of piercing
The first factor is the type of nose piercing you want. The most common type is the nostril piercing, which is usually the least expensive and costs around $25-$70.
On the other hand, a bridge piercing may cost up to $40-$95, and a septum piercing can cost you $45-$90.
Jewelry type
The next factor is the jewelry you want. An elaborate gold stud will be more expensive than a simple silver ring.
Anything made with platinum or titanium will cost you good bucks.
The type of jewelry and metal you choose will determine the overall cost, as more elaborate or expensive pieces will cost more.
Location of the piercing
If you get your nose pierced at a tattoo parlor or piercing shop, the price will be higher than doing it at a mall or jewelry store.
Piercing and tattoo studios have overhead costs passed on to the customer.
Big city studios charge even more than those in small towns.
Piercer’s experience
A more experienced piercer will usually charge more, but they will also likely do a better job and have a lower risk of complications.
If you’re getting a nose piercing for the first time, we recommend picking a piercer with plenty of experience.
So, how much does nose piercing cost? It depends on the factors mentioned above.
Contact a few different studios or artists and ask for pricing quotes to get an estimate.
What Is the Healing Process for Nose Piercings?
The recovery period varies based on your immune system, jewelry metal and care routine.
There are three stages of the healing process, including:
Inflammatory stage
This is the first week after your piercing where your nose can hurt, bleed or swell.
You may experience a slightly high body temperature. At the end of the first week, the pierced tissue will start healing, but the piercing site will still be quite sensitive to touch.
Proliferation stage
This may last several weeks, and you will experience everything from crust formation around the pierced spot to the gradual decrease in swelling, redness and discharge.
Maturation stage
When can you change your nose piercing? You can do that at this stage. Around three to six months after the piercing, the maturation stage starts.
The piercing will be fully healed at this stage, leaving no sign of discharge, swelling or pain.
How to know the wound is healed
Look for these signs to be sure about recovery:
- It should no longer be sore or tender to the touch.
- Touching or moving it around should not hurt.
- The skin around the piercing hole should have no redness, inflammation or discharge.
- The piercing should not be crusting.
- It should not be bleeding.
Why does the piercing smell?
When can you change your nose piercing? You cannot do that if the wound still produces a smelly discharge.
During the healing process, it’s not uncommon for nose piercings to smell foul.
It happens due to a build-up of crusties or sebum.
Crusties are dried blood and lymph that can accumulate around the piercing.
They often have a yellow or brownish color and can be hard to remove.
Sebum is an oily substance that builds up around the piercing when you don’t clean it regularly, and causes the area to smell bad.
However, an infection is the most common cause of a smelly nose piercing. It’s easy for bacteria to get into a wound, causing an infection and reeking discharge.
If you have a smelly nose piercing, consult your piercer. S/he can tell you if it’s an infection or sebum build-up and give proper cleaning advice.
What Are the Risks of Nose Piercing?
Nose piercing is trendy, but it’s not without its risks. Medical problems could arise if something went wrong during the piercing or recovery.
Here’s a rundown of some of the dangers you should be aware of:
Allergic reactions
If you’re allergic to the metal used in your nose ring, you could experience swelling, itching and a rash around the piercing.
An allergic reaction can lead to a life-threatening condition like anaphylaxis in severe cases.
Infection
A sloppy piercing job, contaminated jewelry or neglected aftercare can lead to an infection.
Symptoms could include swelling, discharge and pain. Get medical treatment if there is an infection.
Necrosis
This happens when the tissue around the piercing dies. It can occur if the piercing goes through the cartilage in your nose.
A complication that could arise may cause disfigurement.
Septal hematoma
This is a collection of blood that forms around the piercing. It can happen if the piercing damages a blood vessel.
A septal hematoma can be painful and can cause death to the cartilage between the nostrils.
Rejection
Your body can reject a nose piercing, just like it can reject a transplanted organ.
Rejection happens when your body attacks a foreign object (in this case, the nose ring).
Symptoms of rejection include thinner tissues between the entry and exit points, moving of the jewelry from the original site, flaky skin, callus at the piercing, and more.
Nerve damage
You could experience numbness, tingling or pain if the piercing needle hits a nerve.
Any kind of nerve damage is usually permanent.
Bloodborne diseases
When the piercing is done with dirty equipment, you could contract a bloodborne disease such as hepatitis B/C or tetanus.
Suffocation
In rare cases, a nose piercing can cause suffocation from an untreated infection.
If you’re having trouble breathing, remove the jewelry and see a doctor immediately.
When Can You Change Your Nose Piercing?
How long before you can change your nose piercing? Well, you can do it after the piercing site has completely recovered.
Typically, the healing process takes about three to six months, but it all depends on the person, their diet, metabolism, health issues and if they have been doing their aftercare properly.
Can a nose piercing heal in 2 weeks?
No, two weeks will be too early for recovery of any kind of body piercing.
It’s the period when your pain and swelling disappear.
Can I change my nose piercing after 1 month?
No. It may look healed because nose piercings close quickly. Moving it too much will cause infections.
Can I change my nose piercing after 2 months?
Some people could recover within that period if it’s nostril piercings. However, it’s still too early to change the jewelry.
When can I change my nose ring? Can I do it after 6 months?
Most piercings are supposed to heal within that period. But septril or high nostril piercing can take up to twelve months.
How Do I Change a Nose Piercing for the First Time?
When can you change your nose piercing? We hope you already have a clear idea about that.
Now it’s time to change your jewelry for the first time. Make sure the site does not hurt anymore. Just twist or spin the jewelry gently to check that you feel no pain.
Then, follow these procedures:
- Wash your hands with soap or sanitizer. Wear sterile latex gloves, which help to hold a tiny nose ring.
- Sanitize the outside and inside of the nose around the piercing site.
- Remove any fastener or beads from the jewelry. Apply gentle pressure when pulling it out slowly. You might feel a pinch-like sensation. Sanitize the pierced area inside and out again after the removal.
- Sanitize the new jewelry before putting it in. Always maintain hygiene to prevent infections.
- Put in the new jewelry. Slide its pointed end through the piercing and then attach the fastener. And you are done changing your new piercing.
You can also go to your piercer and ask them to replace the jewelry.
How to Clean Your Nose Piercings
The process is similar to belly button piercing cleaning. There are several methods to clean and sanitize your piercings.
You should follow your piercer’s advice and take medication (if necessary).
Regularly clean your piercing with any of these methods:
A sterile saline solution
Buy a pre-made saline solution or prepare the solution by mixing ¼ or ⅛ teaspoon of sea salt with one cup of distilled water.
Soak a soft towel or cotton ball in the solution and gently clean the piercing and the surrounding area.
While it’s wet, use clean tweezers to remove any crusties that may have formed around your piercing.
Clean the area 2-3 times a day until it’s healed. You can use H2Ocean Piercing Aftercare Spray, an environmentally friendly natural sea salt saline spray.
It quickens recovery and reduces swelling and pain.
Mild soap and water
Choose a soap that is gentle and fragrance-free. Lather on the piercing and the surrounding area with your fingers.
Wash with clean water. Dry it with a clean towel afterward.
Alcohol-free cleansing pad
These pads are available at most pharmacies. Sanitize your hands, and then use the pad to clean the piercing and surrounding area.
If you notice that your piercing is red, swollen or leaking pus, you should see a doctor or a piercer as soon as possible.
These could be signs of an infection.
Aftercare Best Practice for Your Nose Piercing
Perform these aftercare practices to prevent or reduce crusties and sebum formation around your piercing:
- Use a piercing aftercare spray or solution. These products can help to keep the area clean and free of crusties.
- Don’t touch or pick your piercing. It may be tempting to touch or twist your new piercing, but this can delay healing and increase the risk of infection.
- Clean your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing.
- Don’t use makeup, lotions or perfumes around the piercing. These can irritate and delay healing.
- Don’t submerge the piercing in pool water. Dry it with a clean towel after taking a shower.
Final Words
When can you change your nose piercing? After it’s healed, which is a delicate process and takes time, and daily aftercare for three to six months.
Maintaining hygiene throughout the healing period is a top priority. You can wear anything you like when the wound is cured.
FAQs about: When Can You Change Your Nose Piercing?
Can I change my nose piercing after a month?
The healing period vastly depends on your health conditions, proper aftercare and the type of nose piercing you have.
However, it’s unlikely for a nose piercing to be cured within a month, so you cannot change it within that period.
When can I change my nose stud to a nose ring?
You can change into any nose jewelry you desire after the piercing is fully healed.