There are three usual locations for piercings of the nose: the nostril (most common), the nasal septum (uncommon), and the nasal bridge (rare). The complication of each piercing is roughly proportional to its rarity, and nostril piercings are by far one of the simplest and most common body piercing procedures available. Piercing the nasal septum is somewhat more painful as there are many nerves in this area, but it is not exceptionally dangerous or prone to complication. Bridge piercings are increasing in popularity, but are almost always classified as surface piercings due to the skin tension at this location. For some people, they may be potentially permanent, but the majority find that they will begin to migrate or reject after some time, necessitating their removal. Bridge piercings will not be discussed in depth here, as their care is in most ways identical to that of surface piercings.

The nostril is reportedly among the three most common locations for a piercing, the first being ear and navel. The procedure was reportedly practiced as many as 4,000 years ago, originating in the Middle East and spreading to Indian culture. In India it is thought that women who have their left nostrils pierced will find childbirth easier, but the aesthetic value of the piercing has permitted it to spread to the West with relative ease. It is still most commonly found on women. The nostril can be pierced almost anywhere, but the hole is usually placed near the top of the nostril�s curve. A popular choice for this location is the nasal stud, which is curved into a sort of �S� at the bottom to make its positioning easier within the nostril. These are frequently found in very high (small) gauges, making the piercing unobtrusive and to many, highly attractive. High-gauge rings are also often found in the nostril.

The septum is the cartilage wall between your two nostrils, but the area that is pierced is usually the skin just in front of the cartilage. A low (large) gauge bar or ring is most commonly found in this location.

Caring for a piercing involves careful, rigorous cleaning. For the first three days, you must clean your piercing twice a day. This is often easiest after showering, but that is not a must. To clean your nostril or septum piercing, lather an antibacterial soap on your fingers and apply to the area of the piercing, turning the stud and working the soap around the piercing and jewelry as effectively as possible. Leave the soap for a few moments, and then rinse thoroughly. Dry the piercing with tissue paper and avoid all contact with towels, which may retain bacteria. After the first three days, repeat this procedure only once a day for about one month. For the second month, you may do this every few days. Don�t over-clean your piercing, or you may find it irritated.

The bridge of your nose is the thinnest, highest part, just between the eyes. A bridge piercing is what is known as a surface piercing, meaning that it is a piercing of relatively flat skin, rather than a hanging part, such as the nostril or earlobe. Like all surface piercings, this places strain on the skin that can cause the piercing never to fully heal or to last only for a few months or (ideally) years. Surface piercings require specialized attention, and you should read a guide that directly concerns them before having the bridge of your nose pierced.