For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a little rebellious streak. During some days or phases it is more prominent than others **cough cough 13-year-old-emo-Sarah cough cough**, but it’s always been there.
But because my entire life is one big contradiction, the majority of me is prefers a clean-cut look. Not only am I aware that I may one day work in corporate America, but it’s the only preference I have that has remained stable over the years so I don’t want to do anything to screw it up. Â In order to satisfy my wild side, I decided I’d get some hidden piercings that wouldn’t take away from my “look.”
The septum piercing had been growing on me for years, but there was probably a three week span in Spring 2013 when I was really hounding my friends about the idea. Over lunch, one of them finally told me I had to either get it done or shut the fuck up about it.
Naturally, we threw our food away and went to the piercing shop. An hour later, the deed was done.
Septum with a very small bullring — perfect for flipping up to hide! P.S. Here’s how I maintain this red hair hue!
So here’s a summary of my experience:
Septum piercing pain: the piercing itself didn’t hurt at all. Seriously, I didn’t even know she had put the jewelry in by the time she told me to sit up. Granted, I went with a really small and dainty gauge (18) and my adrenaline was reaaaally pumping, but I know if you go to a good piercer and they hit the sweet spot (pinch where the piercing would be and you’ll feel a break where it gets really thin…it’s just skin right there!) the septum piercing pain is fairly minimal.
Septum piercing aftercare & healing: I kept my septum ring pushed up inside my nostrils because I wasn’t ready to show it off to every person I saw and didn’t want to flip it back and forth too much while it was healing. The piercing place told me it may take up to four months for it to completely heal, and to do warm salt soaks in the mean time. At first it was sore for about a week, but nothing too bad. Then, like a total ballsy idiot, I decided to change my jewelry just seven days after the initial piercing. It stung and bled so much, and I sat there staring in the mirror looking at myself like wtf you are an idiot. I got it through, but the piercing was pretty damn sore for about two more weeks. Not so much that I couldn’t flip it up and down, but enough that I had to be careful how I slept.
For another two months or so the cartilage on the tip of my nose remained fairly sore. There were a lot of accidental brushes and bumps at bars and clubs that left me in tears and strangers looked at me like I was crazy. Maybe I am, I dunno.
Anywho, it completely healed (no soreness at all) about 3.5 months later. Throughout the entire process I never once regretted it — I am in love with how versatile it is. There are really dainty and cute rings, more punk-y bullrings, and even “retainers” that kind of look like staples and are perfect for people who want to keep it hidden. If you’re looking for a hidden piercing (something that you can have in a piercing-free environment), a septum is a good choice (if that’s the case, I’d buy a retainer or a really small bull ring to flip up during the daytime.) As a makeup artist, it definitely suits my style.
My advice to those interested? Do it! It’s a really fun piercing and I’ve really enjoyed the people I’ve met who’ve come up to me to talk about it. My biggest piece of advice is to make sure you pick a great piercer — do NOT skimp and try to save a few bucks — because that is the difference between a painless, pretty piercing and a painful, messed up one.
My personal favorite jewelry: a full ring in gold.
Oh, and I forgot: No, when I get sick there isn’t snot hanging off the ring. No, it doesn’t feel any weirder to sneeze or blow my nose. Yes, picking boogers is just as satisfying…jk 😉
Where did you get your septum ring? I’ve been looking for one this small. Cant find any.
I got mine in a piercing shop in Atlanta, GA called Virtue & Vice. Perhaps give them a call and see if they could mail one to you?
I have a question I’ve had my septum done for almost 4 years and I mostly just wore my retainer. But I loved the small full rings that didn’t hang low from my nose bc they’re feminine and a little hard to notice, so I got one and haven’t worn it much bc it’s hard to get in and out (like really hard. You have to twist is to open it and it’s so small) so do you think it’s okay to just leave the full ring in most of the time? Like even to sleep?
Hi! I have the same problem with my small ring (which is my preferred one, for the same reasons you mentioned), so I leave mine in unless I NEED to take it out for something professional! It’s totally fine to wear regularly and sleep in 🙂
Jesus, you are gorgeous!
How much did it hurt changing the jewelry after 1 week? I had my septum pierced about 11 years ago and just got it redone but have broken out in hives… either as a reaction to the implant grade steel or the antibacterial stuff the piercer gave me. He wants me to come in to change the jewelry to implant grade silicone but I cant get there til the weekend. Im trying to prepare myself for the pain of changing the jewelry so early.
Thanks!
I won’t lie, it hurt. It stung a lot. But, I think this was largely due to the fact that I was doing it myself and replacing a smooth edge retainer with a screw edge bullring, so the texture of the new jewelry was thicker and rougher. I think with an experienced pierce you should be okay!
Hi! Your piercing is so cute and fitting on you! I just was wondering about the pain you mentioned at the tip of your nose. I got my septum pierced about 5 weeks ago, and it seems to be healing up ok, no bleeding or crusties, but it is still really tender if I bump the tip of my nose. Do you happen to remember when this pain started to subside? I will admit, I was impatient and changed my jewelry at 3 weeks in, but I still have no pain or bleeding at the actual peircing site, just on the tip of my nose.
Thank you for your advice, from one secret rebel to another!
Hi! So I had the exact same pain where the tip of my nose was painfully tender for about 2 months I think. My piercer said it could take up to 3 months. Try not to play around with it too much – pick a jewelry and leave it up or down for long periods of time!
I really like your piercing and I totally want one, but it happens that my mom, dad, brothers, boyfriend and friends don’t want me to get one, and that makes me sad, I don’t know what to do 🙁
Mine all felt the same and I did it anyway. I keep it up a lot of the time, so only the people I want to see it ever see it!
I went for it on saturday! (:
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What size do you have on in the picture of the bullring one on this page? Is it the 18g? That’s the look I want!