I’ve heard some men say that they really want to get on nose piercings but don’t want to be labeled as “gay” or feminine. Objectively, a male nose piercing doesn’t mean either of those. Nose piercings have been around for more than 4,000 years; even the Bible refers to them. Different variations of nose piercings have been adorned by men throughout history. It’s never been worn exclusively by homosexuals or women. However, Western civilization only saw nostril rings around 1913 – and it took about 50 years until they caught on. True, it was women who wore them first in Western Cultures, but no one ever established that it’s exclusive to women and it’s becoming more common on men. If you are considering a male nose piercing, this article will introduce you to the basics.
Why Male Nose Piercings May Be Taboo
it is understandable why nose piercings piercings are often associated with women. Ayurveda medicine (an alternative medicine system) uses piercings in the nostril as an attempt to relieve menstrual pain and ease childbirth. Women of Bedouin tribes of the Middle East and the Berber and Beja tribes of Africa are often gifted nose rings by their husbands.
Nose piercings are also typically linked with a groups of people who may be considered at the fringe of society, like hippies, punk rockers or goths.
Nose piercings may also be considered unprofessional. Employers may frown down upon employees with nasal piercings. However, employers are becoming more lax about this rule. Additionally, if you are concerned, you can find ways to hide some piercings (flipping a septum piercing upside down or wearing a very small clear stud).
With that in mind, you should not let this stop you from rocking a nose ring. After all, in certain countries and tribes, nose rings are actually very common among men. Not to mention that royalties from the past (Aztec, Egyptians, Mayans, etc.) also saw the nose ring as the symbol of wealth and power.
Why They Shouldn’t Be
In most cases, your gender should not determine what you can or cannot wear. We saw a lot of stars sporting marvelous nose rings; just look at Lenny Kravitz or Slash from Guns N’ Roses. Even Justin Bieber or Wiz Khalifa. They were all very proud of their nose rings.
Men with nose piercings are, in fact, very masculine. Kings of old would not have worn them if they weren’t. The right piercing can make you feel powerful – dangerous if that’s what you want. It gives off a vibe of masculinity that will likely prevent anyone from trying to mess with you.
If you are still on the fence about this here ways to see how you’d look with a nose piercing before you get it for real.
- Try a magnetic piercing
- Get a clip-on piercing
- Use a sticker (there’s many stick-on studs you can try)
- Photoshop the piercing on yourself and see how you look
8 Tips to Getting a Nose Piercing
There are several things that you may want to keep in mind when you are getting your nose piercings, and we’ve listed some of them below:
1. Get the Right Nose Piercing
Depending on the nose piercing that you get, you may feel a different level of pain – so, if you have a low threshold for pain, then you might want to choose wisely. For example, a nostril (or high nostril) piercing is said to hurt less as compared to a rhino or nasallang piercing.
2. Choose the Shop Carefully
There’s a reason why the saying “you get what you paid for” became so popular. If the price seems too good to be true (for example, around $20 including the jewel used), then you might want to ask yourself some questions in regard to quality. Don’t go trusting the guy that says, “I know some place that does it cheaper,” because these situations always end disastrous. Do some proper research, and don’t skip on the price.
3. Use a Needle
You may think it’s faster to get a piercing done with the piercing gun, but it’s more advisable to use the old-fashioned needle. In other words, you should get it done at the salon rather than at the mall. Needles are less likely to cause trauma as they break through the skin, and they also take less time to heal.
4. Be Careful about the Placement
When getting your piercing done, you need to be very careful about the placement. Each nose piercing type will have a certain placement that won’t put your septum in danger. This is why you may want to get it done at a parlor, as they are more likely to know exactly where your piercing should go.
5. Choose a Good Material
Implant-grade stainless steel is often the go-to when it comes to getting piercing jewelry. However, since it also has nickel or carbon elements inside, it can cause various reactions. If you want to lower the risk, you should go for titanium, as there is no purer material out there. Titanium is hypoallergenic, and therefore, less likely to trigger a reaction. Not to mention that the alloy itself looks very cool.
6. Don’t Swim Until It Heals
Until your nose piercing heals, you may want to stay away from swimming. You can never know what’s in those waters, and the last thing you want is to get an inflamed or infected piercing as a result. Your bathtub with clean water is no problem but stay away from public swimming areas.
7. Clean It Twice per Day
To make sure infection does not become a problem, you should clean it twice every day. You can use saline solution or saltwater, as it has antibacterial properties and can also speed up the healing. Use a clean paper towel and avoid cloth towels that have been in the house for a while. You can never know what’s on them.
8. Don’t Touch the Piercing
This might seem obvious, but do not touch the piercing while it heals. Your hands can carry germs – and once those germs land on your newly-made piercing, they can surprise you with a glorious infection. Even with clean hands, you might want to avoid touching the piercing, as its shifting can slow the healing process.
This is definitely not a complete list of tips so make sure to do some more research of your own and follow the instructions of the professional who does your piercing
Questions Often Asked About Male Nose Piercings
As a male, what side of the nose should I get pierced?
Get whichever side you like better. At He,Him,His we support your individualism. Do what makes you happy. It’s uncertain where the conception that getting a piercing on one side of the nostril means something. Perhaps it’s the strange idea that homosexual men get their right ear pierced and straight men get their left ear pierced. Or perhaps according to Ayurveda, the left nostril was symbolic of the female reproductive system.
What is the meaning of a male nose piercing?
We argue that the male nose piercing shouldn’t determine who you are and doesn’t really mean anything you don’t want it to. You should do what you feel completes you and your image. However, we unfortunately can’t change how people perceive you. Take all that into consideration and make the judgement for yourself.
Different Types of Nose Piercings
When it comes to getting a piercing, you need to consider that there are different types to choose from. Depending on your preferences and your style, here is what you may go for.
Nostril
The nostril piercing is the kind that we see pretty much everywhere. It’s a perfect choice if you want to get rings, hoops, L-shapes, bead rings, nose bones, and nostril screws.
High Nostril
As the name suggests, this one is like the regular nostril piercing – only higher. Sitting above the fleshy side of your nose, it works perfectly for studs, screws, nose bones, and L-shaped pins.
Third Eye
Also referred to as “bindi” piercing, this type of piercing goes vertically between your eyebrows. Two perforations are needed through the skin plane, leaving a “canal” long enough for just the ends to be visible. You can use a surface bar or curved barbells for this type of piercing.
Nasallang
This piercing may look like two nostril piercings, but in truth, it is one tri-nasal nose piercing. These types of piercings are a bit more complicated, as they require three penetration points: one on each side of your nostril, and one in the septum. This piercing is typically worn with a straight barbell.
Austin Bar
The Austin Bar piercing is similar to the nasallang option – the main difference being that it doesn’t go through your septum. It pierces the tip of your nose and, most of the time, the procedure is performed using a barbell jewel.
Rhino/Vertical
Rhino piercings may not be as popular, but they are certainly striking. They are similar to the third-eye piercing – only that instead of going through your forehead, it goes through the tip of your nose. Curved barbells are the standard jewels used, but since this piercing procedure is more complex, you might want to consider getting it done professionally.
Bridge
A bridge piercing does not require any puncturing of the bone or the cartilage, and most of the time, it is a very popular option among men. The most commonly used jewels here are regular barbells and curved barbells.
Septum
Septum piercings are also quite popular among men and ladies alike. To put it simply, you have a thin membrane in the center of your nose, going between the septum and your nose tip. The piercing will go through that membrane. The good part is that since the hole is hidden, you can easily hide the piercing if needed. You can use subtle rings, mandalas, thicker rings, or horseshoes for this kind of piercing.
Septril
Septril piercings are likely the trickiest ones to go for, which is why it is highly recommended that you get these done professionally. If done right, they can actually look great. They often use a curved barbell for this procedure. The piercing itself takes time to do, as well as quite a bit of patience. Still, when it is done right, the results are subtle yet impressive.
The Bottom Line
In the end, male nose piercings don’t have any objective meaning behind them. They have been associated with certain groups of people but aren’t exclusive to any one particular group. In the end, make the judgement for yourself. Complete the physical image you want for yourself. If you decide to get one, Ideally, you should do these piercings in a specialized parlor. Still, if you decide to do them at home, make sure that your tools are sterile and that you are piercing in the right points.
