The Exotic Nose Piercing Variants
High Nostril
Higher on your nose than a standard nostril, closer to your eye socket. It looks subtle – not everyone notices immediately – and it can be truly elegant. High nostril only works with studs (rings don’t fit the placement), so your jewelry options are more limited. You need enough space on your nose; place it too high and you’ll hit bone bumps or your sinus cavity.
Healing: 8-12 weeks, similar to standard nostril, but because it sits higher it can feel longer.
Double Nostril
Two piercings in the same nostril or one in each. You can do this in stages (left first, weeks later right) or both at once. Double nostril looks symmetrical and balanced – very popular. If you do both simultaneously, expect double swelling. Many piercers recommend phasing: first one, wait until healed, then the second.
Healing: Each piercing 8-10 weeks separately, so if you do both at once, you’re really looking at 10-12 weeks for both.
Nasallang
This is the “industrial of your nose”: one straight barbell through both nostrils AND through your septum. Yes, you read that right – one bar, three holes. This looks striking, but it’s also advanced. The piercer must place it perfectly straight, or it’ll feel off and heal poorly. Your septum also needs to be straight (many people have deviated septums).
Nasallang is for experienced piercers and patient people. Healing: 4-6 months, because you’re healing three locations at once. You’ll need special longer bars (nasallang barbells), and you’ll wear this specific bar for months.
This is a statement piercing: everyone sees it, and it changes how your nose feels and functions (breathing, using nasal spray, blowing your nose – everything feels different).
Rhino / Vertical Nose Tip
A vertical barbell through the tip of your nose, angling downward. This looks dramatic – you literally have an extra hole in your nose tip. Rhino is rare, and there’s a good reason: it’s anatomically challenging. Your nose needs enough bone and tissue, and the piercer must know exactly how deep, at what angle. Curved barbells work better than straight here.
Healing: 6-9 months, quite long. Your nose will feel strange while it heals, and you need to be careful when touching your nose.
Risk: If placed incorrectly, this can disrupt your nasal airflow or damage tissue. This is not a piercing for beginners or piercers without serious complex nose experience.
Septril
This is the endgame of nose piercing ambition. Septril goes through an already-stretched septum fistula (the hole in your septum from a septum piercing you’ve stretched over months/years), so that the jewelry goes through your septum AND exits your nose tip. This isn’t one piercing – this is a multi-year project. You need a septum piercing first, then you stretch that for years (gradually to 4mm or more), then only then can you do septril.
Healing (total project): 2-3+ years if you’re dedicated.
Septril is extremely rare, striking, and requires full commitment. This is for people who know what they’re doing.
Healing: Everything You Need to Know
Healing timelines vary wildly: - High nostril & double nostril: 8-12 weeks - Nasallang: 4-6 months - Rhino: 6-9 months - Septril: 2-3+ years (multi-project)
General aftercare for all types: - Salt water rinse, 2-3 times daily (salt + warm water, no soap) - Don’t blow your nose hard – be very gentle for the first months - No “nose picking” or touching - Avoid heavy exertion / sports (blood pressure up = more swelling) - Sleep on your back, not face-down - No deep neck bends (boosts swelling to your nose) - Protect the piercing during showers and swimming
Special precautions: - Nasallang: your septum heals simultaneously. This feels strange – breathing is different. Many piercers advise against nasal wash; salt water only. - Rhino: avoid anything that could knock your nose – sports, roughhousing, even hugs can feel weird. - High nostril: many piercers advise against inserting contact lenses while healing; your hand goes to your eye and can accidentally touch your nose.
Risks – You Need to Know This
Anatomical limitations: not everyone can have every type. Deviated noses, thin nasal tissue, unfavorable bone anatomy – these rule things out. An honest piercer says: “This won’t work” if it’s true.
Infection risk is higher because: - Your nose is humid and bacteria-rich - Breathing through a fresh piercing is challenging - Many people unconsciously put hands in their noses (bad idea)
Signs of infection: increasing redness, pus, sharp pain, fever. See your piercer or a doctor, don’t wait.
Blood and nerve damage: Rhino piercings can cause nerve damage (sensation changes), and all nose piercings can hit blood vessels (bleeding). That’s why slow and steady – your piercer won’t rush.
Long-term: Nasallang can change your allergies (your nose feels different); some people get chronic irritation. Rhino piercings can cause tissue changes (thickening). These are permanent consequences.
Jewellery: What Works?
High nostril: Studs only (tiny hoops maybe, but most piercers say no). Titanium to start.
Double nostril: Studs or small hoops, symmetrical or mixed. Keep both materials the same for consistency.
Nasallang: This requires special nasallang barbells – not standard stock. Your piercer orders this. You’ll wear the same bar for months while it heals; changing it isn’t necessary and isn’t recommended.
Rhino: Curved barbells (no straight), titanium or gold. It must be smooth; your nose is sensitive.
Septril: This depends on how stretched your septum is. It’ll likely be a custom piece – your piercer helps figure this out.
Rule: implant-grade titanium to start, always. Cheap material and your nose will hate you.
Visit Us – Piercings Works Amsterdam
Reguliersbreestraat 46, Amsterdam | Around the corner from Rembrandtplein
Daily 10:30–22:00 | Walk-ins welcome
These are complex piercings, and your piercer’s experience is non-negotiable. We have decades of it – since 1998. Our piercers train constantly, especially for advanced work like nasallang and rhino.
Book an appointment: https://www.piercingsworks.com/en/appointment/
Download aftercare info: https://www.piercingsworks.com/en/service/download/
Price list: https://www.piercingsworks.com/en/service/studio-prijslijst/
We check your anatomy first. If it won’t work, we tell you. If it can work, we tell you realistically how long it’ll take and what it’ll cost. Implant-grade titanium, sterile single-use materials, period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is nasallang really through septum AND nostrils?
Yes. One bar, three holes. This sounds odd, but it looks really striking – and it heals really tough. Not for beginners.
How long is a nasallang barbell?
Much longer than you think – usually 38-50mm, depending on your nose. Your piercer measures this before your piercing happens.
Can I get a rhino if I already have nostril piercings?
Yes, but your piercer will map out where on your nose. Rhino goes through the TIP; standard nostrils are on the sides. They don’t conflict.
How much pain is nasallang?
Three piercings feel like three piercings. Adrenaline helps, but three sticks is… three sticks. And because one bar goes through three locations, it feels like one long movement – some piercers say it hurts less than you’d expect (because you’re not “stuck three times”), others say it feels intense.
What if I want to remove my nasallang piercing?
The three holes will close, but slowly – fast the first couple months, then slower. Many piercers recommend inserting a single nostril stud in two of the holes and letting the septum close.
Are exotic nose piercings permanent?
It depends how long they stay open. High nostril and rhino close fairly quickly (months, not years). Nasallang closes slower (can feel like years). Septril depends on your fistula. Ask your piercer for realistic timelines.
Exotic nose piercing is for people who dare. It looks striking, it heals longer, and it requires a piercer who knows their trade. Come to Amsterdam, have your nose checked, and make a thoughtful choice. We’re here.