NOSE PIERCINGS: RINGS, STUDS & SCREWS

Most nostril piercings are 20g (0.8 mm) or 18g (1 mm). We stock both deeply, plus some finer 0.6 mm studs. If you do not know yours, ask the studio that pierced you — forcing a thicker stud through a finer piercing is painful and can damage it.

A nose bone has a small rounded end that pops through the piercing and holds the stud in place — quick and secure for healed piercings. A straight pin is meant to be bent (usually into an L or curve) to fit your nose exactly; piercers often prefer them for fresh piercings. If your piercing is under a few months old, stay with what your piercer fitted.

Solid 18k gold will not tarnish in normal wear. Gold PVD-coated steel is real gold colour bonded over surgical steel — durable and much cheaper, though the coating can wear over years of hard use. The Materials Guide compares both against silver and titanium.

Titanium is the usual answer — light and effectively nickel-free. 316L surgical steel suits most people; sterling silver looks great in healed piercings but is best kept dry. When in doubt, choose titanium and see our Materials Guide.

Losing studs usually means the wrong style or length for your nose. A properly bent straight pin holds better than a worn nose bone, and a snug hoop better still. If a stud backs out overnight, try a pin bent by your piercer to match your nostril thickness.