Septum piercings have been around far longer than we can even document. Modern septum piercing has evolved from the “native” piercing that so shocked ethnocentric European explorers back the 17th century, and the “bull rings” worn by fashionable leather daddies in the 1970s and 80s, to the piercing of choice for those looking for something subdued and contemporary today.
This piercing tends to be an easy one to sit through, and heals rather quickly: usually in about six to eight weeks. It goes through the thin membrane of tissue between the hard cartilage that gives the nose its shape and the thicker skin below, placed closer to the tip of the nose than the face. (This is often referred to as the “sweet spot.”)
The septum piercing has the distinction of being the only facial piercing you can easily hide while it’s healing; this can be done by wearing a septum retainer (or sometimes a circular barbell) and flipping it up inside the nose where it can’t show. The thinnest jewelry we use for initial piercing is 16g, but 14g (or even 12g) are options as well. After healing, there are dozens of options for jewelry, everything from plain steel rings to hinged gold “clickers” with precious stones set in them. We’re more than happy to go over your different options with you; just stop in!
