What Is a Nose Screw?
A nose screw is a small piece of jewelry, usually made of bent metal, that is inserted through a pierced hole in the side of the nose. Nose screws are a fashion accessory used by both women and men. Nose screws are often decorated with gemstones or finials. Nose screws can be challenging to insert; a piercing technician can demonstrate how to insert and remove a nose screw. Does this Spark an idea?
-
Description
-
A nose screw is one type of jewelry used in a nose piercing. One end of a nose screw is a decorative ball, finial or gemstone, and the other tapers as the lead end to thread through the piercing. Nose screws should be hypo-allergenic, often made from surgical steel, platinum, gold or glass.
Sizing
-
Nose screws are available in various thicknesses, or gauges, generally ranging from 14 to 20, the thickest. The size of a nose screw is from 5 to 10 mm, top to bottom.
-
Styles
-
Nose screws are made in three styles. The most popular is the straight style, which is basically a small piece of metal shaped in an "L" bend. Nose screws are also made in a curved shape, like the end of a corkscrew, with either a right bend or a left bend.
Considerations
-
Nose piercing is done with a gun or needle under sterile conditions. Nose piercing done by trained professional body piercer most often employing a piercing needle for precision and less pain. The piercer will insert a nose screw. A nose screw should not be replaced until the piercing has completely healed. It can be difficult to get it back into the hole.
History
-
Nose piercing has been used an an ornament on the face since ancient times and is mentioned in the Bible. Nose piercing is a centuries old tradition in Africa and parts of Asia, especially India. Nose piercing, and a variety of nose jewelry including nose screws, was popularized in the West by the "hippy" movement in the 1960s.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Samiksha K
