Nose piercings are cool and all, but not everyone seems to think so. Just imagine how much your strict parents would freak out if they saw it!
Parents aren’t the only ones who hate nose piercings.
You can get an email from HR at your job for breaking company policy or a stern warning from your C.O if you’re in the military!
If you play sports, you can get reprimanded for a nose ring, and most schools won’t hesitate to suspend you if you have your nose pierced.
Your options are simple. Take it out, or hide it to keep the peace and not draw attention to yourself.
After going through all that pain and seeing how cute it looks, the first option may not be viable.
Hiding it works if you do it well, and the method will depend on the type of nose piercing you have.
Let’s cut to the chase and talk about how to hide a nose piercing:
Which types of nose piercings can be hidden?
Some types of nose piercings are more difficult to hide than others because of their location and size.
The easiest piercing to hide is a septum piercing. It goes through the septum and is easily flipped out of sight.
Next are nostril piercings. Nostril piercings sit right in the crease of your nose and are easier to hide than high nostril piercings, which are more pronounced, as they sit on the border of the nostril and bridge.
Vertical tip or rhino piercings are very obvious and are even harder to hide than a high nostril piercing.
Bridge piercings are much higher up. They sit right between the eyes horizontally on the bridge of the nose and will take some work to hide.
Nasallang piercings are sort of like low bridge piercings, except they go through the right nostril, into the septum, and through the left nostril.
These are rare, and stand out.
Even more difficult to hide are septril piercings. This piercing surfaces at the bottom of the tip of your nose.
It sticks out like Rudolph’s red nose and will take a bit of work to hide.
How to hide your nose piercing using a retainer
Someone, somewhere decided that DIY methods were not for them, so they came up with this brilliant invention.
A piercing retainer sometimes comes as flesh-colored nose ring place-holders for concealing piercings.
You can even get a clear retainer if that works better for you, and cover it with makeup.
Check Amazon or online body jewelry shops for this tool.
Nose ring retainers are easy to use. All you have to do is remove your nose ring, and insert the retainer in its place.
We don’t recommend using a retainer for fresh piercings since it can cause irritation or infection to the open wound.
Wait at least 1-2 months before inserting a retainer as this gives it ample time to heal.
Be sure to sterilize it before inserting it, and keep up with your aftercare routine.
Pros:
- Keeps piercing firm
- Prevents piercing from closing
- Blends well with skin
Cons:
- Easy to lose
- Not ideal for fresh piercings
- May not be ideal for all types of nose piercings
How to hide your nose piercing with makeup
Using foundation or concealer that matches your skin tone, pack makeup onto your stud as you would your face with a brush or beauty blender.
When you’re done, it should look like you have a pimple on your nose. This works best with a flat stud, but with a little effort, you can conceal most nose piercings.
Pros:
- When done properly, it will look like a concealed pimple
Cons:
- Not good for long-term use
- Can clog fresh piercings and cause infection
How to hide your nose piercing when it’s freshly pierced
Nose piercings take the same amount of time to heal as belly button piercings, so at least 4 months, sometimes even 6.
If you just had your nose pierced, you don’t want to irritate it with a retainer or makeup.
This can affect the way the piercing heals and can even cause keloids and infections.
Yuck!
Here’s what you can do if you have a very small stud:
- Get a skin colored band-aid. Avoid liquid bandages for fresh piercings, as these can slow down the healing process.
- Cut it as small as you can to fit over your stud. If your piercing is almost healed, apply 3 layers of a liquid band-aid. It will smell a bit like nail polish, but you’ll tolerate the smell if you need to hide your piercing urgently.
- Apply the band-aid to your nose and cover it with foundation. It’s better to do a full face of makeup so it doesn’t look out of place.
Nose piercing aftercare
We don’t recommend taking your piercing out if you just had your nose pierced.
You should also keep your nose ring in if you have an infection or if it starts to swell.
If you take it out, it can begin to close, and it will be very painful to put it back in.
Instead, treat with antibacterial ointment and a mixture of seasalt and warm water.
Do not use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. This will only cause unnecessary pain and slow down the healing.
Did you know that nose piercings are some of the easiest piercings to close?
When fresh, it can start to close up in a matter of minutes without a nose ring.
Don’t underestimate the skin’s ability to regenerate. You’ll be surprised at the amount of resistance and pain you’ll endure if you take out your piercing for longer than that.
If you must remove your piercing, try your best to put it back within 24 hours.
Alternatives to nose piercings
If you know your nose ring is likely to get you in trouble, and hiding it is more work than it’s worth, consider any of these four alternatives:
Magnetic septum rings
Magnetic septum rings follow the same concept as regular septum rings, except there’s no piercing.
They are sometimes hard to tell from genuine piercings, with the only difference being that both ends are connected at the septum with a magnet.
Magnetic septum rings are one of the most popular types of fake nose rings and come in many different designs and sizes.
Septum clickers
Unlike magnetic septum rings, septum clickers come in one piece. The top of the septum clicker looks similar to the latch mechanism on earrings.
These are supposed to be more comfortable, considering there’s no hole, and should keep the ring in place for a few hours.
Faux clip-ons/hoops
At first glance, these look like distorted pieces of metal with intricate designs.
They clip onto the nose sort of like clip-on earrings and stay in place very well considering they’re fakes.
Though they’re not a new invention, these types of nose rings are trending now and give people the option of having a nose ring one day, and a non-pierced nose the next.
Fake nose studs
Fake nose studs come in two types: the magnetic type, and the stick-on type.
Magnetic studs work in pretty much the same way as the magnetic septum ring.
The stud goes on top, and the magnet goes inside of your nostril. Just make sure you don’t end up accidentally inhaling it!
The stick-on type comes with an adhesive on the bottom or a special type of glue.
These are great as costume jewelry but don’t expect them to last long. If you have sensitive skin, we wouldn’t recommend this alternative since it can irritate your skin.
You can even use them before getting a real piercing to see if you’re up for the commitment.
And this way, you don’t have to worry about how to hide a nose piercing.
If you’re not sure what your parents will say about a nose ring, or even an employer, test it out with one of these fake nose rings.
If they make a big deal out of it, just say it’s fake and take it out.
Takeaway
Our ultimate goal in life is to be who we are loud and proud, but at the same time, the world operates on rules, and without them, we’d plunge into chaos.
You can always wear your piercings proudly at home and when you’re out, but the rules of the institution (school, church, work, military) should be respected.
And, if you can’t convince your parents, then you simply have to wait until you’re out on your own.
There’s no law that says you have a right to wear piercings at work or school, so there’s nothing you can do about it but take it out, hide it or wear a fake.
While we have provided great ideas on how to hide a nose piercing, you’re doing so at your own risk.
Good luck!
FAQs
What jobs don’t care about piercings?
Every employer has their own policy, but you can definitely rock your piercings at a tattoo and piercing shop. The entertainment industry, beauty industry, food service industry( depending on the establishment), and anything art-related usually turn a blind eye.
How quickly does a nose piercing close?
Fresh nose piercings can close within minutes. Partially healed piercings can close within a few days.
Can you have a nose piercing at Chick Fil A?
No. Nose piercings are prohibited under their dress code.
Are nose piercings becoming more acceptable?
Yes. The world is changing, but not everyone has caught up.
