Nose Stud vs Septum Piercing: Which One Suits You?

Pick a nostril stud if you want something subtle that reads as jewelry, and pick a septum if you want a bolder look that you can still flip up and hide. That's the short version. Practically, a septum usually heals faster (about 2 to 3 months versus 4 to 6 for a nostril), while a nostril is the easier one to get used to day to day.

The bigger question is how each one changes your face, since they sit in very different places. Here's how to decide.

How each one changes your face

A nostril stud adds a small point of light on one side of your face. It draws attention to the side of the nose and the cheekbone, and it's asymmetrical by nature. It tends to look delicate and works with almost any style.

A septum ring sits on your center line, right above your lip. It frames the mouth and makes the middle of the face the focus. On some people it softens a long or narrow nose. On others it makes the nose look wider, especially with a large ring. A thin 8 mm ring looks very different from a 10 mm clicker with gems, so the jewelry matters as much as the placement.

Because the difference is so personal, this is a good one to preview. On Lody's piercing try-on you can put a Nose Stud and a Nose Septum on the same selfie and compare them side by side.

Pain: nose stud vs septum

Most people rate a nostril at about 3 to 5 out of 10. It's quick, sharp and makes your eyes water, which surprises people more than the pain does. A septum done correctly goes through the thin strip of soft tissue in front of the cartilage, often called the sweet spot, and many people rate it similar or a little higher, with a strong sneezy, eye-watering feeling.

If the piercer has to go through cartilage because your sweet spot is small or off-center, a septum hurts more and heals slower. That's one reason anatomy checks matter. Our piercing pain scale puts both in context with the rest.

Healing time and aftercare

A nostril usually takes 4 to 6 months, sometimes longer. It's prone to bumps if the jewelry gets knocked by towels, makeup brushes or face masks. A septum often feels settled in 6 to 8 weeks and is considered healed around 2 to 3 months, partly because it's well protected inside the nose.

Aftercare is the same idea for both: sterile saline once or twice a day, no twisting, no makeup or skincare on the piercing, and leave the starter jewelry in. Colds are tough on a fresh septum, so if you can, avoid getting it done right before winter. See a doctor if you notice spreading redness, heat, fever or thick discolored discharge.

Hiding it for work or family

This is where the septum wins. A septum ring or a horseshoe can be flipped up into the nostrils so it's invisible from the front. A healed nostril can only be made smaller, with a tiny flat disc or a clear retainer, and it'll still show up close.

One caution: don't flip a brand-new septum constantly. Leave it down while it heals unless you really need to, and if hiding is a daily requirement, ask your piercer to start with a retainer-friendly shape.

Starter jewelry for each

For a nostril, a good piercer uses a flat-back labret stud, typically 20g or 18g, in implant-grade titanium or solid gold. Avoid nose screws and bone studs for fresh piercings: they're hard to remove, they rub the channel and many are made from low-quality metal. Rings in a nostril should wait until it's healed.

For a septum, most piercers start with a 16g circular barbell (horseshoe) or a clicker, in titanium. Once healed you can try thinner or thicker rings, clickers with gems or a simple seamless ring. Material matters more than style early on, and we explain the options in titanium vs surgical steel.

Can you have both?

Yes, and it's a popular combo. A small stud on one side plus a thin septum ring keeps it balanced if the stud is small. Let one heal before getting the other, so you only deal with one sore nose at a time.

If you're torn, think about where you want the attention: on the center of your face and your lips (septum) or on your cheekbone and profile (nostril). That usually settles it.

Nostril placement: high, low and the angle

Most nostril piercings sit in the crease where the nostril meets the cheek, or just above the curve of the nostril. A lower, more forward spot looks delicate and close to the edge. A higher spot, sometimes called a high nostril, sits further up the side of the nose and is harder to heal and harder to change jewelry in.

The angle matters as much as the spot. A piercer will aim the needle so the inside end sits in a comfortable spot inside your nose and the outer stud faces forward. If the angle is off, the stud can look like it's pointing sideways. That's one more reason to go to a professional with a needle rather than a gun or a home kit.

For septums, centering matters a lot, since even a small offset is noticeable on your center line. Many people have a slightly deviated septum, which a good piercer accounts for by lining up with the outside of the nose, not just the inside.

FAQ