9 Ugly Truths Of Nose Piercings

Welcome to the War on Nostrils. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the first few months of your new sparkling stud.

Via flickr.com

The afternoon I finally worked up the courage to get my nose pierced was on a whim. On a brilliant September day the first week into my senior year of college, I shuffled into my local mall and gazed longingly at posters in the piercing parlor. Beautiful young women with tiny, delicate nose studs glittered the walls. My best friend nudged me, telling me I had to do it. "It'll look so good on you!"

I caved to the pressure – from him, society, and all of those Xtina videos from 2003 - and signed the consent form. Five minutes later, I sat in a sterilized room with my eyes crushed closed, digging my fingers into my palms as a piercer with seemingly endless facial piercings told me to stay still. (Breathe in, breathe out, you're done.)

Though I love my piercing today and have no complications, there are a few things I wish someone had told me as I left the mall, a brand new bottle of H2Ocean clutched in my hand. These are not universal truths and don't necessarily apply to everyone, but these are issues I ran into as a newbie. In the case of any issues you may have with your piercing, remember to always consult with your piercer, who is a trained professional, and go to a reputable, clean parlor to get any piercing.

Now with that disclaimer out of the way, let me introduce you to my right nostril and the adventures we've been on together.

1. You can't pick your nose.

"MyBiggestFan" / Via flickr.com

Or blow it correctly, for that matter. It might sound gross, but you don’t notice how often you pick, itch, and blow your nose until there’s a metal stud poking through one side of it. If you have a sinus infection, make sure to buy soft tissues and gently press when you need to blow your nose. If you have stubborn boogers or an itch you can’t scratch, it helps to whirl a q-tip around the inside.

2. Changing rings can be insanely difficult

"Duncan" / Via flickr.com

I can’t tell you the number of times I have spent crouched on my bathroom counter, sweating in front of the mirror with one hand pushing my nose up while I meander around with a hoop in the other, searching blindly for the piercing hole. Not only does it take time to get used to changing, you’ll look like a perched gargoyle with a pig nose while doing so.

3. It's easier to rip out than you think

Via Flickr: sukanto_debnath

Once you become less sensitive to the fact that your nose is pierced, it’s effortless to roll out of bed and into the bathroom with your eyes half-closed and dunk your face in the sink to wash the sleep off. You’ll grab for a towel hanging on the bathroom door and bury your face in it, not realizing that the threads have ensnared themselves between the tiny ragged edges of your little diamond. When you go to put the towel back…you can fill in the blanks.

Snagging your piercing on hand towels, shower towels, pillow cases, shirts, and even your own hair is a very real hazard, especially in the first few months after getting your piercing. Not only does snagging the piercing hurt, disturbing it can lead to a revolting growth that brings the exact opposite kind of attention that you want to your piercing: the nose bump.

Most people suffer from 'the nose bump'

Via diamondsnflowers.us

If you’ve done any research about nose piercings, you might have come across the “nose bump” – it haunts in various shapes, forms, and smells, but it’s always disgusting. The bumps can come with or without infection, and can reoccur no matter how long you’ve had your nose pierced, if you irritate the piercing enough. Some are red, some are filled with clear fluid, some are filled with vomit-colored pus, and some of them can actually lead to permanent scarring. Once you notice the bump coming on, it’s important to treat it accordingly. And beware – it won’t always be on the outside of your nose. Nose bumps can occur inside your nose on the other side of your piercing. I distinctly remember delivering the “it’s-a-nose-bump-not-a-pimple” speech to everyone I interacted with, just in case they had seen it, but were too nice to call me out on it. Once, an attractive coworker told me he couldn’t see the bump, but could see the makeup I had caked onto the side of it. Nothing says “I’m dead sexy” like a dried, cracked, pus-filled mountainous peak slathered in foundation sitting next to your stud.

5. It's hard to exfoliate.

Via flickr.com

Another nasty reality of having a nose piercing is that you can't wash one tiny part of your face with the towel, wet wipe, or scrubber used on the rest of your face (see #3). To remedy this, you'll become a wizard with a q-tip, and become more familiar with your pores in those gigantic close-up mirrors than you ever wanted to. If you're susceptible to dry skin, don't forget to delicately apply lotion around (but not in the piercing) the area. Otherwise, the rest of you will be moisturized and a tiny part of your nose will be a violent shade of red.

6. Kissing can be awkward

"Robert S. Digby" / Via flickr.com

Seriously, seriously awkward. When you kiss someone, you’re supposed to be able to oscillate between one side and the other. With a nose ring, particularly a new one, it can be painful to you and irritating to the piercing if you’re pressing the side of your nose against your partner’s. Usually this can be remedied with clueing the other person in, but it still can be an awkward bummer in the moment. “By the way, can you maybe not turn your head that way? I don’t want to sprout a granuloma.”

7. If you leave your nose ring out, the piercing will close - and fast

Via Flickr: technopolitan

This could seem obvious to some people, but for those who might not be aware: Don’t take your ring out for long periods of time, even if you’ve had it pierced for a while. The amount of time the piercing takes to close will vary from person-to-person, but it’s probably not a good idea to sleep with your ring out, or spend a full day without it in, particularly if it’s new. (In fact, if the piercing is new, you shouldn’t be changing the ring until the piercing is fully healed. Talk to your piercer about what they recommend.) If you need to go somewhere that doesn’t allow nose piercings, like a job interview or work, you can purchase skin-colored or clear studs to put into place that will hide your piercing from far away.

8. All hoops, rings, and studs are not created equal

"Andrew Ferguson" / Via flickr.com

You may be sensitive to certain types of metals, and it’s important to talk to your piercer about any allergies you may have. Some people need sterling silver, whereas others can buy dirt-cheap nose rings from a mall kiosk. If you’ve never had a piercing before and aren’t sure if you’re sensitive, pay close attention to your piercing, especially when you switch rings. If you have a reoccurring nose bump or infection, the metal may be the culprit.

Also important to note is that not all nose rings are the same gauge. When you pick out a cute new hoop from the store, make sure that it’s going to fit in your nose. I have made the mistake more than once of buying 16g hoops when my piercing needs 18g. Putting in a larger gauge piercing can be tear-jerking and unbelievably painful.

9. Enjoy your piercing

Via Flickr: hannahkitti

I hope I haven’t dissuaded you from getting a nose piercing. Most of the amendments you’ll have to make are integrated into your routine effortlessly, and you won’t have to think about them anymore. Some of these may not even affect you, and regardless, you’ll be able to rock a ring, stud, or hoop like a total badass.