Septum Piercing Aftercare and Choosing Your First Piece
Healing a septum piercing takes patience, particularly because its position inside the nose means the area can be affected by everyday things such as blowing your nose, touching your face and accidentally moving the jewellery while it heals.
Choosing appropriately fitted jewellery is just as important. Because septum jewellery is usually ring-shaped, both gauge and inner diameter influence how the piece fits and sits beneath your nose. In this guide, we'll cover septum piercing aftercare, healing and how to choose the right fit once you're ready for a change.
Quick Answer: A septum piercing can take several months to heal fully. During healing, keep your aftercare routine simple, avoid unnecessarily touching or moving the jewellery and leave jewellery changes to your professional piercer. Once fully healed, you can explore different septum rings and clickers in a gauge and inner diameter that suit your anatomy and piercing placement.
Jump to a section
- Choosing Your First Septum Jewellery
- What to Expect While Your Septum Heals
- Everyday Habits That Help Your Septum Heal
- Septum Piercing Aftercare
- When Can You Change Your Septum Jewellery?
- Bottom Line
- FAQs
Choosing Your First Septum Jewellery
The jewellery fitted when your septum is first pierced is chosen to give it the best chance to heal comfortably. Septum piercings are commonly started with appropriately sized ring-style jewellery, such as a segment hinged clicker, circular barbell or horseshoe, captive bead ring or another suitable piece selected by your professional piercer.
Fit is particularly important because everyone's septum anatomy and piercing placement are different. Your piercer will consider the septum gauge and inner diameter of the jewellery, together with your anatomy and exact placement, when choosing your initial piece. The jewellery also needs to allow appropriate room for the swelling that can occur during early healing.
The material matters too. Implant-grade titanium is a popular option for initial piercing jewellery because it's lightweight, hypoallergenic and widely used for body jewellery. High-quality stainless steel may also be suitable depending on the specific grade, your piercer's recommendation and your individual needs.
Your initial jewellery is chosen primarily to support healing rather than simply for appearance. Once your piercing has fully healed, you'll have more freedom to explore septum clickers and rings in different designs and inner diameters that suit your anatomy, piercing placement and personal style.
What to Expect While Your Septum Heals
Septum piercing healing typically takes around 2 to 3 months, although everyone's healing journey is different and some piercings may take longer. The piercing may begin to feel comfortable relatively quickly while the tissue inside is still continuing to heal, so how the piercing feels isn't always a reliable indication that it's ready for a jewellery change.
During the early stages, you may notice some tenderness, swelling or sensitivity around the piercing. Your nose may also feel more sensitive when touched, particularly if the jewellery is accidentally moved or knocked.
It's also worth remembering that healing isn't always linear. Your septum may feel settled for a while before becoming slightly tender again after being bumped, caught or unnecessarily handled. Continue treating the piercing gently even when it appears to be healing well.
Everyday Habits That Help Your Septum Heal
Because a septum piercing sits inside the nose, small everyday habits can make a difference while it heals. A few simple adjustments can help reduce unnecessary movement and irritation.
- Wash your hands before touching your nose or the area around your piercing.
- Take care when blowing or wiping your nose so you don't pull or move the jewellery unnecessarily.
- Avoid touching, playing with or adjusting your septum ring unnecessarily.
- Be gentle when washing and drying your face, particularly around the bottom of your nose.
- Take care when getting dressed if clothing needs to be pulled over your face.
- Keep skincare, make-up and other cosmetic products away from the piercing itself while it heals.
These small adjustments can help minimise unnecessary contact while giving your septum time to settle.
Septum Piercing Aftercare
Septum piercing aftercare doesn't need to be complicated. A simple routine and minimal handling can help protect the piercing while it heals.
- Clean with sterile saline using a pre-made wound wash containing 0.9% sodium chloride.
- Wash your hands before touching the area.
- Avoid twisting or rotating the jewellery, including while cleaning.
- Don't pick at any build-up around the piercing; allow it to soften and rinse away naturally.
- Avoid harsh cleaning products and unnecessary home remedies.
- Keep skincare and make-up away from the piercing where possible.
If you're concerned about how your septum is healing, contact a professional piercer for advice. If you suspect an infection, seek appropriate medical advice and don't remove the jewellery unless advised to do so.
For more detailed advice on cleaning and caring for a fresh piercing, read our New Piercing Aftercare Guide.
When Can You Change Your Septum Jewellery?
It can be tempting to change your jewellery as soon as your septum starts to feel comfortable, but healing beneath the surface often takes longer. It's generally best to wait until your piercing is fully healed before changing the jewellery yourself.
Once healed, you can explore different septum rings and clickers. Two measurements are particularly important when choosing your next piece: gauge and inner diameter. Gauge refers to the thickness of the jewellery that passes through your piercing, while inner diameter is measured across the inside of the ring.
Your septum ring size shouldn't be chosen from diameter alone. A smaller inner diameter can create a closer-fitting look beneath the nose, while a larger ring can sit lower, but the finished fit depends on your anatomy and the exact position of your piercing.
If you're unsure whether your piercing is ready for a change or which septum jewellery size you need, ask a professional piercer to assess and measure your piercing before changing your jewellery.
Once your piercing is ready for a change, explore our Septum Jewellery Guide: How to choose the right style for more inspiration.
Bottom Line
Healing a septum piercing takes patience, but keeping your aftercare simple and avoiding unnecessary movement can help protect the piercing while it settles. Don't rush your first jewellery change and, once fully healed, choose a septum ring or clicker with a gauge and inner diameter that suit your anatomy, piercing placement and preferred look.
FAQs
What size septum ring do I need?
The right septum ring size depends on your anatomy, piercing placement and how you want the jewellery to sit once your piercing is fully healed. Septum jewellery size is determined by both the gauge and inner diameter of the ring. There isn't one universal size that works for everyone, so if you're unsure, ask a professional piercer to measure your piercing and recommend an appropriate fit.
Should I choose a 6mm, 8mm or 10mm septum ring?
6mm, 8mm and 10mm usually refer to the inner diameter of a septum ring, measured across the inside of the hoop. A smaller inner diameter generally creates a closer-fitting look, while a larger diameter allows the ring to sit lower beneath the nose. However, the fit of a 6mm, 8mm or 10mm septum ring will vary depending on your anatomy and piercing placement, so there isn't one size that's right for everyone.
What gauge is a septum piercing?
Septum piercing gauge refers to the thickness of the jewellery that passes through the piercing. Your professional piercer will choose an appropriate gauge when your septum is pierced. When buying new jewellery, it's important to know your existing gauge rather than assuming a particular size, as changing the thickness can affect how the jewellery fits your piercing.
How is septum ring diameter measured?
Septum ring diameter is normally described using the inner diameter, measured in a straight line across the inside of the ring rather than from the outside edges. This measurement influences how closely the jewellery sits beneath your nose, but your anatomy and piercing placement also affect the finished fit.
When can I change my septum piercing?
It's generally best to wait until your septum piercing is fully healed before changing the jewellery yourself. Healing time varies from person to person, and a piercing can feel comfortable before the tissue inside has completely healed. If you're unsure whether your piercing is ready, ask a professional piercer to assess it before changing your jewellery.
How do I clean a septum piercing?
Keep septum piercing cleaning simple by using a pre-made sterile saline wound wash containing 0.9% sodium chloride. Avoid twisting or rotating the jewellery while cleaning and don't pick at any normal build-up around the piercing. If you're concerned about how your piercing is healing, contact a professional piercer for personalised advice.
