Laura Ljaze
Body Piercing

We are used to seeing Nostril piercings in our day-to-day lives now, but like most piercings they did not originate in Western culture. These decorative piercings actually have their roots in the Middle-East and Asia. Indigenous tribes like the Apatani tribe was home to women who wore large, dark plugs in stretched nostril piercings; it has been said that this tradition may have been to deter the attention of men from other tribes.

Throughout the years Nostril piercings have remained popular in India, with more decorative versions being worn including chains that link the Nostril Piercing with an earring. In some parts of India it is believed that piercing the acupuncture pressure point on the nostril may inadvertently encourage submissive behaviour and alleviate symptoms associated with menstruation/childbirth.

Despite this rich history, Nostril piercings are now one of the most common piercings in Western society, second to ear piercings. It's not just the masses that are sporting this body mod, but with a long list of celebrities flashing their Nostril studs and rings, you've probably already seen it on the red carpet!

Nostril piercings are generally well tolerated in terms of pain, with most people agreeing they are about the same as ear lobe piercings. The majority of people describe it as a 'short, sharp sting' that makes your eyes water but is over quickly.  Nostril piercings take approximately 4 - 6 weeks to heal but this can be extended for a variety of different reasons. If you knock your piercing or accidentally pull the jewellery out, this will extend the healing time considerably, as well as if you have a cold during the healing process. Always follow your piercers aftercare advice to ensure your nostril piercing heals smoothly.

There are precautions you can take to heal speed up the healing process and reduce irritation which are:

Soak your piercing twice a day with salt water soaks

Always make sure your hands and clean and dry before touching your piercing

Do not attempt to remove or change your jewellery until your piercing is completely healed

Nostril piercings will heal over very quickly if the jewellery is removed, so keep your original jewellery in for as long as possible before changing it.

Jewellery: There is a huge variety of decorative nose rings and nose studs available for nostril piercings, from simple silver rings to more decorative jewelled studs, you can really customize your new body modification. If you want to make a real style statement, you can even try wearing a chain decoration between your nose piercing and your ear piercing, just like they do in India!