Does a Nose Piercing Hurt? Pain Level and What to Expect

Does a Nose Piercing Really Hurt?

Yes, a nose piercing will probably hurt.

That said, everyone feels pain differently, and the needle used for a nose piercing is extremely thin. Some people feel almost no pain at all.

For others, the nasal tissue is particularly sensitive. Those people may feel the pain of a nose piercing more intensely than others. You can get a sense of how sensitive your nasal tissue is by pinching the area you want to pierce.

How Intense Is Nose Piercing Pain?

In general, the more relaxed you are for a piercing, the less pain you will feel.

Trust us, the pain of a nose piercing is bearable. After all, everyone who got their nose pierced before you survived it.

Here is what you can expect, based on how other people describe nose piercing pain:

You may shed a few tears during your nose piercing. This happens often with nasal piercings in particular, because the nasal tissue is connected to your sinuses, and when the nose is irritated, it sends nerve signals to your eyes.

So if you have seen someone get their nose pierced and cry, it does not necessarily mean they are crying because it hurts. It simply means their eyes are watering as a normal reaction to the nasal tissue being stimulated.

If you already have piercings, you may have something to compare it to. Ear piercings are the most common, so let's compare a nose piercing to those:

• The earlobe is the least painful area of the body to pierce. So if you go into a nose piercing expecting it to feel the same as a lobe piercing, you will be in for a shock.
• On the other hand, cartilage piercing can be one of the most painful because the needle has to pass through thicker, firmer tissue. So if you have had a cartilage piercing, you can expect nose piercing pain to be similar to that.

For many people, the pain of a nasal piercing feels like a pinch, like the feeling you get when you need to sneeze.

How the Session Goes at the Piercer

When you get your nose pierced, the procedure is fairly standard.

1. The professional doing the piercing prepares the equipment, making sure the piercing needle and jewelry are clean and sterilized.
2. They also clean the area to be pierced on your nose, and they should put on a fresh pair of gloves before starting.
3. The piercer marks the spot to pierce with a pen and places a clamp on your nose. The clamp holds the nose in place so you do not move during the piercing process. It has smooth edges and does not hurt.
4. Next, the needle is inserted into the marked area. For nostril piercings, the needle passes through the cartilage.

You will probably feel the most intense part of the pain when the piercing needle passes through the nose. Remember, that part is over in a few seconds, and it is a thin, sharp needle, the kind that causes the least pain.

Finally, the piercer places the jewelry. For some people, this part can also cause a little pain. Others feel nothing when the jewelry is placed. It really depends on the person.

Often, the jewelry is attached to the end of the hollow needle so that when the piercing needle comes out of your nose, the jewelry passes through with it.

How Long Will Nose Piercing Pain Last?

The initial pain of a nasal piercing fades within a few seconds, but you can expect your nose to be sore for a few days afterward during the healing process.

New piercings tend to swell (red and tender). This reaction usually goes away within 5 days for nasal piercings (unless an infection occurs).

If your piercing hurts for more than a week, or if you develop bumps, extreme redness, or scarring, you should go back to your piercer to have it checked.

Cleaning your nose piercing regularly with a saline solution or a good aftercare product during the first two weeks can help speed up healing and reduce any lingering pain. For the full timeline, see our guide on nose piercing healing time.

Aftercare Steps for a Nose Piercing

A simple, consistent routine makes all the difference. If you want the step-by-step method, read our guide on how to disinfect a piercing. Here is a short video overview:

What Factors Increase Nose Piercing Pain?

If you are still uneasy about the pain you will feel getting your nose pierced, preparing ahead and caring for your piercing afterward can positively affect the pain you experience.

Take a look at these factors that influence how you feel pain during a nose piercing:

How Much Did You Sleep?

Getting a piercing well rested is an excellent idea. Sleep is how your body recharges and heals itself. With that in mind, if you slept well the nights before your nasal piercing, it will help you tolerate the pain at your maximum pain threshold. In other words, you should not stay up all night partying or studying before getting a piercing.

Your General Health

If you are not feeling well or you are on medical treatment, your body is not at its best to tolerate pain. You are already dealing with stressors, so wait a bit before getting your nose pierced if you are not in good health.

Which Nose Piercing Are You Getting?

There are several types of nose piercings, and they are all different.

• The nostril piercing tends to be one of the least painful.
• As for the septum, it all depends on how much skin you have under your cartilage and on your piercer's experience.

Getting your septum pierced can be very painful, but for some lucky people it is a relatively low-pain piercing. The most painful nasal piercing is the vertical nose piercing, which goes up through the tip of the nasal cartilage.

Alcohol or Drug Use

Many people try to limit the pain with drugs or alcohol before a piercing. In fact, it is usually the opposite. Mind-altering substances can increase your awareness of pain, and they can trigger an inflammatory reaction in your body, which means your piercing will be even more sensitive.

Using a Numbing Product

Some people find numbing products helpful and others do not. You can buy a numbing cream at a pharmacy before going to get a piercing.

Keep in mind you need to apply it early enough for it to take effect and close enough to your appointment. It only numbs the surface of the skin, reducing the initial sting of the needle.

For most people, a numbing cream does not reduce the pain enough to be worth it. Still, you can try it to see if it helps. On the other hand, avoid numbing sprays.

Gun or Needle?

There are still a few piercers who will use a piercing gun for nose piercings.

Using a needle instead of a gun can mean the piercing costs a little more (because of the extra experience and care required), but that small extra cost is definitely worth it in the long run.

The Piercer's Roughness

Body piercing professionals are unique. They each have their own technique. So you can try talking to people who have been with a particular piercer before to find out whether a piercer in your area is more or less rough than another.

The Piercer's Experience

This is one of the most important factors when it comes to nose piercing pain. Experienced piercers know the right spot to place a piercing, and they can pass the needle and jewelry through as quickly as possible. Generally, a faster piercing process means less time for pain.

Personal Pain Tolerance

This is another of the big factors that determine how intense the pain you feel is.

Everyone has a personal pain tolerance threshold. What you feel at level 1 on a scale of 1 to 10 might feel like level 4 pain for someone else.

Tips to Avoid Pain During a Nose Piercing

Your physical and mental state really makes a difference in how you feel piercing pain. Here are a few "tricks" you can use on the day of your nose piercing to make it more bearable.

• Listen to music during the piercing; music has been shown to reduce pain in medical procedures.
• Bring someone to talk to as a distraction, or talk to your piercer if they are okay with it.
• Meditate or think about how much you will enjoy your piercing.
• Remember that everyone who got a nose piercing before you survived it.
• Sleep enough the night before and do not drink alcohol or take unnecessary drugs.
• Read up in advance on the nose piercing process.
• Eat a snack before going to the piercer; it can prevent fainting.
• Wear comfortable clothes.

Either way, rest assured, it is going to go just fine. When you are healed and ready to switch things up, browse our nostril jewelry for your next look.

Conclusion