An Enthusiast’s Guide to Nose Piercing Terms

Nose pin is a centuries old jewelry fashion that originated in India. It represented several characteristics and intimate life details about the individual wearing it, depending on the culture they come from. Since then, nose pins have traveled all around the world leaving the people only wanting more. They have developed a tasteful reputation and a modish tang among their lovers. The jewelry is no longer only associated with traditional or cultural hints of lifestyle and it’s popularization has added stars to its heterogeneity. Nose pins have advanced to be a style statement as there are plenty of choices for one to finesse their personality. With the diverse choice of design and details that come with the most loved accessory comes an array of terms that revolve around it. These terms are used by aficionados and professionals for fluent and specified communication despite the linguistic limitations in day-to-day exchanges.

If you have a piercing then chances are you might have heard few of these terms from your professional or if you’re planning to get your nose-pierced then we are sure that these appellations will come in handy for you.

Width

Nose pins come in different styles and are talked about in slightly different ways than each other too. When talking about the width of round/circular nose pins it means the diameter of the jewelry whereas barbells and most septum rings mean the distance between the two balls.

Gauge

Gauge is a term that you might hear during your first meeting with a professional. Even if you just want to window shop or simply inquire, you’ll eventually get in a situation where you will be asked to specify the gauge of your pin. Gauge refers to the thickness of the jewelry that goes through your nose. In addition to this, it is good to know that an 18-gauge ring or pin is thinner than a 12-gauge pin. The lesser the number, the thicker the wire.

Fixed Bead Rings

This is a classic style that has emerged to be quite admired by youths. We guess it is because of its minimal design, thin wire, a rich cultural bequest and ease of use. It can be gently twisted like a corkscrew to take off and has a repo to be popular with Indian women in the past. These are also called nose studs sometimes.

Healing Time

It can be easily misunderstood that healing time means taking care of the blood and discharge on your tender nose wound. None of these factors attribute to the terms. Healing time means the time your body takes to accept the jewelry and recovers from the blunt trauma of the piercing overall. It can vary from person to person and is essential that you take extra care of your wounds at this stage.

Aftercare

Aftercare refers to a set of instructions that are given to you to safe keep your open wound. It is essential to recover the damaged tissue on your nose and meet the jewelry at the center.

Seasoning

Your piercings can continue to heal even years after. The skin tissues can begin to grow and close the opening if the piercing is left free for a long time. Seasoning refers to that process.

Migration

Migration in piercings means when the body mistakenly moves or shakes the jewelry from its original place during the healing process. It is more common in higher gauge jewelries than thicker nose pins or nose rings. Your sleeping patterns and daily life activities mildly dictates your piercing’s overall position and it can also be a factor for migration.

Rejection

In some cases it is possible the your body pushes the jewelry out of your nose completely. It can be due to the piercing process, the material, the shape of the jewelry. You can re-pierce but it can only be determined by an experienced professional. It is best to listen to your body and get rid of the piercing altogether.

Retainers

Retainers are designed jewelries that serve to retain the opening of your piercings. There are going to be situations where you will be advised to take off your piercings, for example during scans at the hospital or if you take part in a sporting event. Retainers are made out of glass, metal, plastic and even wood.