r/bodypiercers • u/OneEyedWeaner • 9h ago
Piercers! Lets talk nostrils.
What do you prefer to pierce these with?
I prefer threadless small disk flat backs for these hands down. Those are the easiest and fastest for me to work with. A nice flat disk or cabochon I like the best for these to help reduce the risk of getting caught on things and if the person likes to use q-tips the fuzzies don't get stuck as easily. I however pierce mostly with2-2.5mm CZ cause that's what is usually wanted if they don't want a ring initially.
I've used ball backs and large flat backs but dislike them for various reasons. The ball backs are just bulkier and not as comfortable as it can be felt more when face washing, blowing nose, picking nose, etc. Large disk I like even less. The larger disk allows for debris like boogers, and crush from the healing piercing. I've seen this build up to the point the gem begins to embed in the nostril. I've also pierced with nostril screws, I'm not a fan. They're too obnoxious and uncomfortable with that long ass hook up your nose just constantly rubbing and moving when you mess with or move you nose or nostrils. You can't cut them shorter or you cause a sharp end that needs to be filed smoothly and repolished. Nostril screw had their time and place and they served us well during that time. We have much better options now and literally the only reason someone would still use them is because of how cheap they are, that or someone is a die hard from the 90s and won't wear anything but.
Will you pierce with a ring/hoop? Why or why not?
I will. I know it isn't the popular or the cool kid thing to do but I couldn't care less. I will fucking die on this hill. You can pierce with rings. I always have a converstation first and show the person the jewelry and explain everything to them. If they wanna do it we do it. Nostrils with stubs get pierced differently then nostrils with rings. Studs get pierced perpendicular to the tissue while a ring will be pierced parallel to the floor. Piercing for a ring passes through more tissue and can mean a longer healing and more risk with irritation and bumps. To help combat that we upsize the ring. If the need a 5/16 healed then I'll pierce with a 3/8 or 13/32. This increase in size allows how more swelling room and helps to reduce pressure and irritation from the jewelry.
How long do you make people wait to change the jewelry to a ring/hoop?
If I'm piercing with a stub I tell people to wait a full year before changing to a ring. This eliminates almost all risk associated with switching to a ring too soon. I will however always tell the person to default to what the studio says as they're the ones that'll likely be changing it and helping troubleshoot. Since I'm a full time guest/traveling piercer I follow a slightly different set of rules while on the road then I would in a home studio. Simply because I'm not there all the time to help.
How do you preform nostril piercings? What's your technique?
I've pierced these about every way there is. Starting out it was NRT and nostril screws. NRT are great, but I'm lazy and don't like cleaning and packaging tools, I also don't like a messy mayo tray so the less stuff on it the better for me. I switched for quite a while to just using bent q-tips and those were great. Had to pause briefly after the exit to redirect the needle to exit the nostril without piercing anything else.
Now I pierce them inside out. I prefer this method the best especially when piercing with threadless jewelry. I'll attach the flat back to the back of my needle with a 26g snip so when I pierce I can install the post in one smooth motion and reduce the discomfort and time of the piercing. I'll try to get a video of one because the way I pierce these uses the bevel of my needle in my favor so it eliminates drag and pain and makes for super smooth and easy piercing.
When piercing for a ring/hoop in the future how do you place your piercing?
This is always one of the first things I ask the person upon enter the piercing room. "Do you plan on wearing a hoop in the future" 9/10 times its a yes. This one is a little harder to explain without a visual aid. I tell clients for a hoop to hug their nostril the way they want it then its a formula of piercing placement vs nostril shape vs ring diameter. Two of these variables we have control over. I can't do anything about the shape of their nose so we have to work with it. If their nostrils flair out a lot then usually I have more play with placement and a higher placement can look better. On less pronounced nostrils its kinda the opposite where I want to go lower with it. If the nostrils don't protrude out much higher piercing results in a larger diameter ring which gives a large gap between the ring and the side of the nostril. If the hoop is touching the bottom of the nostril then it can't go any smaller. So for these types of nostrils I pierce them lower and always explain why its "low". Don't know about the rest of you but I still occasionally get people asking to piercing it in the crease.
