About Nose Rings

Nose rings are popular in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and the Middle East, and are an increasingly popular facial piercing in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other industrialized nations. Some might say the nose is the most prominent feature on a face and thus a nose ring draws added attention. Nose rings are predominantly worn by people of all races and ages. The following considers the history and many types and sizes of nose rings.

History

Nose piercings go back further than most are aware. There are mentions of a gold nose ring in the historical script of the Bible dated about 4,000 years ago in Genesis 24:22. More recently, in the 16th century, the tradition began in India. Nose rings were not seen in America until the hippie movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

Significance

Nose rings are also worn by calves, though the purpose is quite different. Nose rings worn in the septum are meant to wean the calf by interfering with the feeding process. For humans the nose ring holds more of an aesthetic value, though the exact ideals differ between cultures.

Misconceptions

Nose piercing is often associated with India. In northern India the outside of the left nostril is the most common piercing place as this is thought to make childbirth easier, and in southern India the right nostril is common. Though nose rings are extremely popular in India, they derive from the Middle East and did not come to India until the 16th century, when the mughals first ruled the country. Nose piercings are also regarded as a mark of beauty and during the 16th century as a mark of social standing and an honor to the Hindu goddess of marriage, Parvathi.

Types

The shape of nose rings can be divided into four main types: bones, studs, screws and rings. Bones are a straight piece of metal with a small ball on the inside end that does not screw off. This can be harder to get in but also less likely to fall out. Studs are a straight piece of metal with nothing on the inside end and can fall out easier. Screws are a longer pieces of bent metal that twist into the nose hole. These are usually what are used for initial piercing, enable better healing and are the least likely to fall out. Rings are small loops that are not advisable until a nose piercing has fully healed after 6 to 8 weeks. The septum is an area of the nose besides the nostril that can be pierced and, in this case, a circular barbell is worn. The bridge of the nose between the eyes is another less frequently pierced area, and for this a straight barbell is used.

Size

Nose rings generally come in gauges from 22 to 16. The lower the number gauge means a thicker piece of metal. Diameter of the actual gem or jewelry top piece is usually no smaller than 1 mm but some are adorned with jewels as large as 6 mm. A 22 gauge, 1mm nose stud is tiny. Most straight nose rings are about 1/4 inch or 6mm in length.

Considerations

What kind of nose ring one wears can affect how quickly a piercing heals or how likely infection will be. The material used to make nose rings consists of stainless steel, 14/18 carat gold, sterling silver, titanium, nickel and plastic. Those that are plated in nickel can cause irritation for some. The plastic nose studs are generally clear and used to prevent the piercing from closing when the wearer wishes to maintain a nonpierced look. Most professional piercing parlors will use a stainless steel screw ring to remain in the nose for the duration of healing.