Double Nose Piercing | Everything You Need To Know

If you’re considering getting a double nose piercing, you’ll want to know everything about the process and what to expect. Nose piercings are particularly prone to infection if cared for improperly, so it’s crucial that you arm yourself with as much information as possible.

In this complete guide, we’ll cover all your questions about double nose piercings. Everything from “How much is a double nose piercing?” to “Can you get a double nose piercing on the same side?” to “How much does it really hurt?”

If you’re looking for answers you’ve come to the right place. Read on to find out everything you need to know!

RELATED | Harry Styles Launches Nonbinary Beauty Brand Pleasing

Double Nose Piercings: The Essentials

A double nose piercing is a combination of any two types of piercings done on the nose. There are seven different types of nose piercings, including nostril piercings, bridge piercings, austin bar piercings, nasallang piercings, septum piercings, septril piercings, and rhino piercings. The most common double nose piercing combinations are usually double nostril piercings and nostril plus septum piercing combos, so we’ll be focusing on those two in this guide.

Nostril piercings are piercings done on the outer cartilaginous area of the nose, or the nostril. Regular nostril piercings are usually placed along the curve of the nostril.
Septum piercings, on the other hand, go through that thin membrane that hangs beneath your septum, or the columella. Since the septum – that wall made of cartilage that separates your nostrils from each other – is quite hard, piercers aim for that “sweet spot” of soft tissues underneath.

How much does a double nose piercing cost? Nostril piercings typically cost between $25 and $30, not including the cost of jewelry. So, naturally, a double piercing would cost twice as much.

What Is The Procedure Like?

For most piercing first-timers, the number one question on their minds is “how painful is it going to be?” While everyone’s pain tolerance is different, generally speaking, nostril piercings are on the lower end of the pain scale.

The first step of the procedure involves marking some areas on your nose with ink so you can decide exactly where you want your piercing to be.
Placement is important because certain placements can “shape” your face – for better or for worse. Certain placements may also feel uncomfortable. For example, if you get a piercing that sits too far into the curve of your nostril and you want to wear a nose ring, you might have to deal with an uncomfortable fit or have to get bigger and clunkier rings.

If you’re getting your piercings one at a time, make sure to visualize where both piercings will go before deciding on the placement. You can also choose to get both piercings done at the same time. For a better idea of how your piercings will look and feel together, you can look for faux studs and hoop nose rings and try different placements till you find the right one.

The entire piercing procedure is relatively quick, taking just a few minutes to finish. Most people with nostril piercings say that the process feels like a sharp pinch, followed by a feeling of warmth in the area. You should also expect your eyes to water – that’s totally normal and not something to be ashamed of!

getting nose pierced

Vershinin89/Shutterstock.com

Double Nose Piercing Aftercare

The healing process for a nostril piercing is a bit longer than your typical earlobe piercing. On average, nostril piercings will take anywhere between four to six months to heal completely. For some people, it can even take up to a full year. This is because cartilage takes a lot longer to heal than fleshy tissues.

From the day of the piercing and up to about three weeks after, you can expect some minimal bleeding, swelling, bruising, and redness. What you shouldn’t feel are fever, swollen and tender skin, and pus coming out of the piercing site. These are all signs of a possible infection and your cue to see a doctor immediately.

Caring for your nostril piercings is pretty straightforward. All you need is a saline solution, some gauze or a cotton swab, and some soap and water. You’re supposed to clean your piercing with a saline solution two to three times a day – don’t under- or over-clean, as doing so could lead to irritation.

First, wash your hands with soap and water before touching your nose or your jewelry. Next, soak your gauze pad or cotton swab in your saline solution and gently swab or pat the piercing area until it’s fully covered. You can also try immersing your piercing into a cup filled with saline solution if possible.

Do NOT use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or ointments like Neosporin or Bactine on your piercing. The first two will dry and kill the healthy cells, slowing the healing process. Ointments, on the other hand, prevent oxygen from reaching your piercing and leave a sticky residue that could clog up your hole.

piercing jewelry assortment

Vera Larina/Shutterstock.com

What Jewelry Can You Wear For A Double Nose Piercing?

Before we get into our jewelry guide, let us talk about when you should be able to replace your initial jewelry. Piercers will often give their clients jewelry that is slightly bigger than they would normally want to account for swelling in the first couple of months after the procedure. The swelling usually subsides within two to three months, after which you can find jewelry in the right size.

Okay, now on to your jewelry options. There are several jewelry options for nose piercings. As mentioned above, we’re focusing on nostril and septum piercings, so we’ll only include the following jewelry types:

Press Fit

This consists of a hollow post inside the nostril and a “top” that is pressed atop the post. The press fit type of stud is a great option for those who want a same side double nose piercing or a double stud nose piercing.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nergal (@nergal_bodyart)

Nostril Screws

Nostril screws consist of a bent or arced post that are made to march the curvature of the inside of your nostril. As such, to remove a nostril screw, you have to twist or “unscrew” the jewelry out of your nose.

Hoop Nose Rings

There are different kinds of nose rings, from subtler seamless rings to captive bead rigs, which, as the name suggests, have a bead or gemstone in the middle. If you want a double-sided nose piercing that isn’t made up of studs, you can get a double hoop nose piercing instead.

Septum Clickers

For a double nose piercing with septum piercings, the most common jewelry options are clickers and barbell types. The former consists of a hoop with a hinged closure that can click into place.

close up septum piercing

Luuuusa/Shutterstock.com

Circular Or Horseshoe Septum Barbells

Septum barbells aren’t complete hoops, so they resemble the letter C or horseshoes. To secure the jewelry onto your nose, you attack a small barbell to either end as a stopper.

The Double Nose Piercing Chain

This is a chain that sits atop one’s nose and is achievable with a nasallang piercing. This type of piercing consists of a bar that starts from one nostril, goes through the septum, and goes into the other nostril.

You can also wear a septum chain, which is similar to a septum clicker but instead of a solid hoop, you have a chain hanging from a semi-circle.

The Bottom Line

Getting a double nose piercing requires some preparation and a fair bit of aftercare. So if you’re thinking about getting one, it’s best to read up about it as much as you can.

We hope this guide has been helpful and informative!

RELATED | 5 Reasons Why Men Should Wear Makeup

Double Trouble: Must-Knows Before Getting A Double Nose Piercing

Join 83,000 Gay Men and Save 25% on an Annual Subscription by Rainbow Media

Ready to join a growing community of 84,000 queer people?

Read on Substack
To Top