Septum Piercing: Jewelry, FAQs & Guide

Septum piercing is becoming a popular body modification in a variety of sub-cultures. While the alternative crowd tend to opt for heavier piercing jewellery, the different septum piercing sizes means you can opt for daintier decorative jewellery inspired by Indian culture or can stretch your septum piercing once it is healed. Check out our answers to your FAQs for more information about septum piercings.

What is a septum piercing?

The septum piercing is placed through the septum which is part of the nose. The piercing does not go through cartilage but instead the soft part of tissue above the septum cartilage. The septum piercing is becoming one of the most popular types of nose piercing, still second to nostril piercing. Nasal decorations originate from a variety of ancient cultures who used anything from bones to gold in their noses as a sign of strength or wealth.

How long does a septum piercing take to heal?

Septum piercing healing usually takes between 3 – 6 months provided there are no complications. Septum piercing healing time can take longer if you get a cold or have an infection. Keeping up with good aftercare will reduce the chances of you getting an infection. The initial swelling from having the piercing should reduce after 1 – 3 weeks.

How long does the pain from a septum piercing last?

Septum piercing pain will vary for each person. Most report that the initial piercing may make your eyes water but shouldn’t be much more than a brief stinging pain. If your septum piercing was very painful, as some people do report, it is likely that your piercer caught the cartilage. The septum piercing should only go through the soft tissue so make sure you go to an experienced piercer to ensure they pass the needle through the ‘sweet spot’. If you experience excessive amounts of pain after piercing, you should consult your GP or piercer. You should only experience mild discomfort for up to 8 weeks after piercing.

How much does it cost to get a septum piercing?

The average septum piercing price will vary depending on the jewellery you choose. At Blue Banana UK piercing studios, the septum piercing cost is £38 - £43. You should take into consideration that the cost of a septum piercing will vary depending on the experience of the piercer. This piercing should only be done by professional piercers as it requires a specific ‘sweet spot’ to be pierced.

Can you flip a septum piercing up while it’s healing?

While your septum piercing is healing you should avoid flipping your piercing up. To flip the piercing jewellery means to turn the curve of the barbell in toward the nostrils. During the healing process any movement or touching the piercing should be avoided as this may slow down healing. Leaving the wound to heal is important and movement could re-break the new skin or cause additional trauma to the area.

How can I make my septum heal faster?

Septum piercing aftercare is important for a quick healing process and there are few things you can do to help your septum to heal quickly. It is unlikely that your piercing will heal faster than 3-6 months and the piercing jewellery should not be changed until this time. To help heal your septum make sure to avoid touching or moving your piercing, clean your piercing twice a day with a saltwater solution or Tea Tree Oil and take care when blowing your nose.

Do septum piercings get infected easily?

Any piercing can get infected easily if the proper aftercare is not followed but the risks in septum piercings are fairly low if they are done by an experienced piercer and are pierced with high-quality jewellery. Although it is easy to think of the mucus in your nose as being dirty or unhygienic, it actually helps to fight off infections which is its purpose with or without a piercing. Having said that you need to take care to clean your piercing twice a day to remove any mucus deposits (or bogeys!).

How to take out a septum piercing?

Any piercing jewellery can be tricky to remove but with the help of a mirror, you should be able to take out your septum piercing with no problems. Most types of barbell feature a threaded ball which can simply be unscrewed. Similarly, a BCR can be unscrewed. However, if your piercing jewellery is too stiff to be undone with your fingers, you may need some jewellery pliers which will give extra help in unscrewing the jewellery. Only use sanitised pliers that are specifically designed for piercings if you are a pro. You can also go to a Blue Banana piercing studio where one of our piercers can remove or change your septum piercing jewellery for you.

Can you hide a fresh septum piercing?

It is usually best to wait until your septum piercing has healed before hiding it by flipping it. However, if you want to hide a fresh septum piercing you can flip the jewellery up and leave it there to heal. Please note that this may affect the position of your jewellery once it has healed. To ‘flip up’ your septum piercing simply means to change your curved barbell from curving out of your nose to curving up into your nostril. Moving your piercing jewellery while your septum piercing is healing is not advisable as it will put pressure on the fresh wound.

Is it normal for a septum piercing to be crooked at first?

Septum piercing placement can look crooked when first pierced which is usually down to the swelling. Sometimes the position of the piercing jewellery will shift or move therefore giving it a crooked look. This can simply be moved back into place to restore the symmetry. It is common for the jewellery to appear crooked to begin with, but once the piercing has healed it should look straight if you were pierced by a professional.

Why does my septum smell weird?

A strange phenomenon occurs in septum piercings called ‘septum funk’. The septum piercing smell comes from a combination of dead skin, old mucus/bogeys, old cleaning solution, and a build-up of fluid from inside the piercing. To get rid of the smell, ensure you clean every part of your jewellery by either rotating it or removing the jewellery. You may have to wait until your piercing is healed before being able to thoroughly clean the jewellery. The septum funk smell is common and is sometimes described as strong cheese.

As you can see, there’s plenty of things to consider before getting your septum nose piercing but this popular piercing is a great choice thanks to its low pain, easy healing and awesome look. With so many types of piercing jewellery available, there are plenty of ways to customise your new septum piercing.

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Piercing Procedure

Ready to get a septum piercing? Use our store locator to find your local Blue Banana Studio. There’s no need to book an appointment; you can simply go to the store of your choice and be pierced on the day.

Make sure to check the septum piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the septum piercing age restriction is 16 (ID may be required).

Once you’re all booked in, you will have some forms to fill out. A member of Blue Banana staff will go through the steps and can help you pick out jewellery. Then you can meet the piercer! They too will give you a quick consultation and briefing before discussing the septum piercing location.

The septum piercing typically involves a sterilised gauge needle which your piercer will pass through the skin, inserting the jewellery in the process. The piercer will first use a small clamp to hold the septum still and provide a taught area for the needle to pass through. This piercing should only be done by an experienced piercer as they need to find the ‘sweet spot’ of the septum which is the soft tissue. This piercing should not go through any cartilage.

Aftercare Advice

A septum piercing can take 3-6 months to fully heal. The healing time varies from person to person and will need top aftercare to ensure speedy healing.

During the healing process, it is important to avoid knocking the piercing or putting pressure on the area as this will slow down healing and can even cause unnecessary problems. For example, be careful when blowing your nose, don’t touch the piercing unless absolutely necessary, and avoid contact with any kind of cosmetics including moisturisers.

During healing, it is important not to ‘flip’ your piercing jewellery if you want it to heal successfully – a common way to hide a septum piercing is by flipping the barbell to curve up into your nostril.

Like any piercing, it is important to maintain top hygiene when caring for your septum piercing. Sticking to your aftercare routine for your septum piercing will help limit potential infections and ensure your piercing gets the best chance at healing quickly. Gently clean your septum piercing twice a day with salt water solution or Tea Tree Oil by bathing it using cotton wool.

If you would like further information, make sure to read our full Piercing Aftercare Guides to learn about side effects to look out for.

Choosing Piercing Jewellery

There’s plenty of options when it comes to septum piercing jewellery from Blue Banana. Some popular styles include:

Septum Piercing Jewellery
Septum Piercing Retainer
Septum Clicker Jewellery

We recommend getting a curved barbell with your septum piercing as this will reduce the risk of the piercing getting knocked or caught. Your piercer may choose a bar that is slightly longer to allow room for swelling. It is vital for the healing process that you remain patient and don’t change or move your jewellery until your piercer has advised you to do so. Once your piercing is healed you can switch to a ring or hoop.

There are a range of colours and designs to choose from in our septum piercing jewellery range. When choosing your piercing jewellery there are a few things you should consider:

Jewellery Size – Make sure to find out from your piercer the size your septum piercing jewellery should be. The length or diameter may vary depending on the size of your nose. You will want to make sure your piercing ring is a snug fit for best comfort.
Jewellery Material – piercing materials differ not only through their look but also how they could react to your skin.

If you have sensitive skin that is prone to irritation, one of the many Titanium jewellery options is recommended. This material comes in a variety of colours and is durable too! If you regularly participate in sports, you may want to discuss the best piercings for you with your piercer. You may be able to wear a retainer or flexible type of jewellery in your septum piercing once it has healed. Once healed, you can ‘flip’ certain types of jewellery to hide them in your nostril.

When searching for a piece of jewellery make sure you know your measurements. We display the piercing jewellery measurements as Gauge first (displayed in millimetres) then Length, e.g. 1.2mm x 8mm.

Gauge – this is the thickness of the jewellery itself. Diameter – the width across the widest point of the jewellery for hoops and rings.
Length – the length of the piercing bar, usually not including the ball.

We generally recommend that for new piercings you choose longer jewellery. This can allow for extra room in case of any swelling. Make sure to check out the tips from our piercing guides for information about changing and removing piercing jewellery.

Other Guides & Ranges

Please Note: Blue Banana piercing information is based on knowledge from our experiences as one of the UK's top piercing studios. All details provided should be read alongside professional advice. Please see our full Piercing Articles Disclaimer, here.

Septum Piercing Jewelry