So, you’ve moved past the 'if' and are now thinking about the 'how.' You've decided you want a nose piercing—a timeless mark of style in India. But as the excitement builds, the practical questions, the ones you might google late at night, start to surface.
A Quick Note: This guide focuses on the traditional nostril piercing (on the side of the nose). A septum piercing, which goes through the central wall between the nostrils, is a different procedure with its own unique considerations for pain, healing, and jewellery, which we will cover in a future post.
So let us continue with the traditional nostril piercing now after clarifying between nostril piercing and septum piercing.
It’s completely normal to wonder, and you're not alone in asking the following:
- How much is this actually going to hurt?
- What should it cost in India or a metro like Delhi, Banglore or Mumbai?
- Which is safer: a needle or a piercing gun?
- How do I make sure it heals properly, without any issues?
- And which side should I even choose?
Navigating the process for the first time can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created this complete, practical guide.
We will walk you through every step, answering all these common questions to ensure your experience getting a nose piercing in India is safe, confident, and exciting from start to finish.
Let's get you ready for your piercing.
Step 1: Choosing Your Side - Tradition vs. Aesthetics
The first decision is where to place your new adornment. In India, this choice is often guided by tradition. As we discussed in our previous post, Ayurveda suggests piercing the left nostril to help ease menstrual pain and childbirth, which is why it's the most common choice in North and West India. In South India, the right side is often preferred due to different local customs.
However, in 2025, the strictness of these traditions has softened. While many still choose the left side for its cultural and wellness significance, the final decision is yours. The modern rule is simple: choose the side you feel best showcases your face and profile. Look in the mirror, imagine a stud on each side, and go with the one that makes you smile.
Step 2: The Most Important Choice - Needle vs. Piercing Gun
This is the most critical decision you will make for the health and safety of your piercing. You will find many local jewelers or mall kiosks that offer to pierce your nose with a piercing gun. We strongly advise against this.
The safest, cleanest, and most professional method is always a sterile, single-use piercing needle.
A reputable, professional body piercer will only use a needle. Here’s why the needle vs. gun debate is not a debate at all:
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Safety & Sterility: A professional piercing needle is medically sterilized in an autoclave and is used only once before being disposed of. A piercing gun is made of plastic and cannot be properly sterilized, creating a risk of transmitting bacteria and blood-borne pathogens.
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Tissue Damage: A needle is hollow and razor-sharp; it slices cleanly through the tissue, creating a smooth channel for the jewelry. A piercing gun uses blunt force trauma. It forces a dull stud through your skin and cartilage, shattering the tissue, causing significantly more pain, swelling, and a much higher risk of complications and scarring.
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Precision: A trained piercer using a needle has complete control over the angle and placement, ensuring your piercing is perfectly positioned. A gun is clumsy and imprecise.
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Jewelry Quality: Guns use low-quality, ill-fitting studs with butterfly backs that can trap bacteria and embed in the piercing. A professional piercer uses implant-grade titanium or gold jewellery that is specifically designed for safe, initial healing.
A Note on Your First Piece of Jewellery
A piece of jewellery must be inserted immediately. The material of this initial jewellery is critical.
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The Best Choice: Implant-Grade Titanium. This is the top recommendation by professional piercers worldwide. It is highly biocompatible (the body doesn't react to it) and nickel-free.
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Good Alternative: 14k or 18k Solid Gold. If you prefer gold, ensure it is solid (not plated) and from a reputable source.
What to Strictly Avoid for a New Piercing:
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Sterling Silver: While beautiful for healed piercings, silver is not safe for a new wound. It oxidizes (tarnishes) and can permanently stain your skin black or grey (a condition called Argyria).
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Gold-Plated or Gold-Filled Jewellery: This is a major one to avoid. The thin layer of gold can easily flake or wear off, exposing your healing tissue to the cheap base metal underneath (often brass or nickel), which can cause severe allergic reactions and infections.
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Low-Quality / "Mystery" Metals: Avoid any cheap jewelry where the metal is not clearly identified. These often contain high levels of nickel, which is the most common metal allergy, and other irritating alloys.
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Acrylic & Plastic: These materials can be porous, trapping bacteria, and are not suitable for the initial healing period.
Step 3: The Piercing Process, Pain, and Price
A Practical Tip: Bring Your Friends!
Getting a piercing can be little apprehensive. A great way to ease the "fear factor" is to go with supportive friends. It turns a moment of anxiety into a fun, shared experience and a memorable day out. Moral support makes a huge difference!
Once you've found a professional piercer who uses a needle, the process itself is very quick.
What to Expect
The piercer will first have a consultation with you, clean the area thoroughly, and mark the spot with a sterile pen for your approval. Once you agree on the placement, you'll take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, the piercer will make a quick, smooth motion with the needle. The jewelry is then inserted, and it's all over.
How Much Does It Hurt?
This is everyone's biggest fear, but the reality is much less scary. On a pain scale of 1 to 10, most people rate a nostril piercing between a 3 and 4. You will feel a sharp, quick pinch, and your eyes will likely water reflexively. But this sensation lasts for only a second. The procedure is over before you really have time to register the pain.
How Much Should It Cost in India?
Cost is a major factor for everyone, and it's important to know what to expect. The price for a nose piercing in India can vary widely, but we must differentiate between the unsafe traditional method and the safe, modern professional procedure.
While a local jeweler might offer to pierce your nose with a gun or silver wire for under ₹500, this is not the recommended safe standard.
For a safe, professional piercing in Delhi, which uses a sterile, single-use needle and appropriate initial jewelry, you should budget for the following:
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Piercing Fee: A professional's service fee typically ranges from ₹800 to ₹1,500. This pays for their expertise, hygiene, and sterile equipment.
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Initial Jewelry: A basic, implant-grade titanium stud will cost between ₹800 to ₹1,500. Solid gold will be more.
Therefore, you can expect the total cost for a safe, professional nose piercing in India to be in the range of ₹1,600 to ₹3,000+. The final price will depend on the studio's location and the specific jewellery you select.
Step 4: Healing and Aftercare - Your Guide to a Happy Piercing
Getting the piercing is the quick part; the healing is a commitment.
The Healing Timeline
A nostril piercing takes, on average, 4 to 6 months to fully heal. It might feel better after a few weeks, but on the inside, your body is still working to build a stable, healed channel of new skin through the piercing. This internal full healing is what takes time.
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Can it heal in a week? Absolutely not. Any piercing that seems healed in a week is not; the initial swelling has just gone down. Changing jewelry or stopping aftercare at this stage will lead to problems.
Your Daily Aftercare Routine
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For the First 4-6 Weeks: Clean the piercing 2 to 3 times every day with a sterile saline solution. This initial period is the most critical time for preventing infection.
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For the Remainder of the Healing Period (4-6 months total): After the first month or so, as the initial tenderness subsides, you can reduce the cleaning to once or twice a day. It is essential to continue this daily cleaning until the piercing is fully healed.
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To clean, either spray the solution directly onto the piercing or soak a clean piece of non-woven gauze or a cotton ball in the solution and hold it on the area for a few minutes.
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Gently wipe away any "crusties" (dried lymph fluid, which is normal) with the soaked gauze. Do not pick them off with your fingers.
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Pat the area dry with a clean, disposable paper towel. Fabric towels can harbour bacteria and snag on the jewelry.
What "Medicine" Should You Use?
The only thing you should use is sterile saline solution. Do NOT use:
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Dettol, Savlon, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide. These are far too harsh and will irritate the piercing and delay healing.
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Antibiotic ointments like Neosporin. These are not meant for puncture wounds, can trap bacteria, and should only be used if a doctor diagnoses an actual infection.
A Note on Traditional Remedies
Many of us in India have grown up with traditional remedies like turmeric. While turmeric has amazing properties, it is not safe for a fresh piercing. A new piercing is an open wound, and applying non-sterile pastes or oils can introduce bacteria, cause infection, and clog the piercing, which prevents healing. For the sake of safety, please stick to the modern, professional standard: use only sterile saline solution.
When Can I Change the jewellery?
Wait until your piercing is fully healed (at least 4-6 months) before changing the initial stud. Changing it too early is the most common cause of irritation, bumps, and infection. Be patient—it's worth it!
Your Piercing Journey
Getting a nose piercing is an exciting experience. By choosing a professional piercer who uses a needle, committing to simple and consistent aftercare, and being patient with the healing process, you are ensuring your new adornment will be a safe and beautiful part of your style for years to come.
Now that you know how to get your piercing safely, the truly fun part begins: choosing your jewellery!
Explore Totapari Collection of Nose Pins @ https://totapari.com
Stay tuned for our next post: Your Complete Guide to Nose Jewelry Styles.
"What's your go-to nose pin style? Let us know in the comments below!"
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