A professional piercer replies to your septum piercing questions
When I was young, I wanted to get my ears pierced so badly. I spent a year waiting after telling my mom to finally be able to go to the appointment I scheduled. It was at the local pharmacy and the teenage employee shot my ears with a piercing gun. Afterward, I really hated that memory. I learned about the risks of piercing guns and decedents and started to regret getting the piercing.
I started high school and the popular kids all had ‘extra’ piercings, and I was never cool enough to hang out with them. I had a bunch of friends who would get unique piercings, even though the school didn’t allow them. Second lobe earrings and sneaky helix piercings were very common among my classmates. I wanted to get piercings so badly that I would think about sneaking them into school.
We admit being a little nosy. So, Don’t be shy. Head to our Beauty section for a sneak peak.
If you want to be considered one of the “cool kids” in the 90’s, you probably had a septum piercing. School administrators probably hated the trend, because sneaky kids would gain the ability to hide the piercing from teachers by flipping them up while they walk through the school gate. Luckily, they had me inspiring to be as brave as them.
About nine years from my dream of doing it, I decided to flip the dream and my septum piercing went to reality after an impulsive appointment that I now love every bit of.
If you want to know more before doing it, I got an expert opinion from Eden Cox who is a Sydney-based piercer that works at their studio and does septum piercings among other things.
What is a Septum piercing?
According to Eden, the cartilage septum piercing goes through what is called the “sweet spot” because it is the most central and softest part of the septum. Eden explains that their popularity has a lot to do with the fact that “circular barbells can be flipped up and concealed in your nose”, meaning that septum piercings are a piercing that can be hidden.
Can anybody get a septum piercing or does this depend on ones anatomy?
Eden explains, “The first thing your piercer should do is assess your anatomy. They’re going to pop their fingers up your nose to feel around the inside of your septum (we’re all friends here!) to check where your ‘sweet spot’ is, how large it is, how much cartilage you have, and to check for any deviations or scar tissue.”
“Eden” had this to say on the difficulty of working with nose anatomy after surgery: “Certain anatomy can be quite tricky, especially for those with deviated septum piercing or who have had nasal surgeries such as a septoplasty.” Luckily, deviated septum anatomy can usually be worked with, and most who go through with these piercings don’t have issues with them.
So how does the septum piercing process go then?
The most essential step in the process is manipulating the anatomy of the face. Before this happens the nose, the piercing station, and the materials used must be sterilized. According to Eden, informing her clients of possible complications of the piercing is what she considers to be the most important part of the process. “Many times with deviations, the septum is incredibly hard to get straight, and there may have to be some re-angling involved.”
Once this step is completed the actual piercing can begin. There is much variability in this part of the step, and it is noted that this will be dependent on the piercer. Eden explains that “every piercer has their own unique technique when it comes to a septum piercing.” These techniques also extend to the methodologies, and structures, used to position customers in front of them. Piercers have their own preferences for equipment as well. This equipment can be anything from clamps to a free-hand setup. After the piercing, a good thorough cleaning is given again, this time with sterile saline, and the customer is on their way!
Can I get a hoop or a ring right now?
“Yes and no,” Eden answers. “Rings should 100 percent be used, but what kind and style is really important,” he explains. Eden says you should never use a ‘full circle’ seam ring or a hinged ring, where the hinge is placed in the septum. “Ideally, you want to be pierced with a circular barbell, a captive bead ring or a decorative ring that can’t spin.”
“I suggest to my clients to start off with a circular barbell, they’re heal easy, the jewelry can be widened for comfort and they can be flipped up your nose if you want to hide them,” she says.
What is the pain like? Is it similar to how a regular nose piercing is?
“Septum piercings, when done correctly, actually are quite low on the pain scale! Myself and the vast majority of my clients say their septum hurt much less than their nostril piercing and healed in a quarter of the time,” Eden says. I have to agree with her, my septum piercing was the least painful piercing I have done.
How long does a septum piercing take to heal?
Eden says septum piercings are actually one of the easiest piercings to heal. “They heal so fast it’s actually suspicious but 8 to 12 weeks is the standard.” As for healing, she says to take the ‘LITHA’ approach, “Leave it the hell alone!” Aside from showering it and washing it with Neilmed Wound Wash spray, Eden says don’t touch the piercing. “No twisting, turning, or touching,” she explains.
What jewelry can be worn once a septum piercing fully heals?
Eden says, “You have a colossal amount of options! Septum jewelry can be small and dainty, or big and bold, which makes them quite the statement piercing. Septum ‘stacking’, where multiple rings are worn in a stretched septum, is trendy right now,” and also suggests using implant-grade titanium or solid gold in the 14k or 18k range.
What are the best ways to locate a trustworthy piercing studio?
Eden has shared that the first step of your appointment should be finding a good studio with properly trained professionals. “Stay away from chain stores. Their training and quality of jewellery are both subpar. The best studios to go to are the Australasian United Professional Piercers and the Association of Professional Piercers. When you go to these stores, you know that they are held to high standards of training of their piercers, quality of their jewellery and of infection control and bloodborne pathogens.”
Even though these stores do charge more than other piercing studios, Eden has said that they are worth the money. “You deserve the best. It is likely that you will get what you pay for, so avoid the studios that are offering really cheap piercings and jewellery. Usually, they will have the lowest quality studio as well.”
Eden has said that the best piercers are those who are not only trained but also open and willing to answer any of your questions. “If you don’t feel comfortable with your piercer for whatever reason, you should leave the store. You should feel at ease by your piercer.”
What tips would you give to someone considering a septum piercing?
Eden has a strikingly simple answer. Just do it. Eden septum piercing believes everyone is capable of pulling off the septum. They offer perfect discretion. “You can explain it away to your Nan, no need for your boss to know about it, since they aren’t like the rest of the piercings that leave a gaping hole when you take them out. So just do it, and if you don’t like it, take it out and no one would ever know.”
