Nose piercing: types, healing, and what your nose reveals about you in Face Reading
- Daniel Neuhaus
- Feb 6
- 12 min read
Many people consider at some point whether a nose piercing would suit them. You notice a small sparkle on the nostril or a striking ring in the septum, feel the pull of change and freedom. At the same time, questions arise: Does it hurt, how long does it take to heal, does it fit into my profession and my family?
In the mirror, we ultimately see only a small piece of metal in the center of the face. In Face Reading, however, this area is one of the most important. The nose is the place where self-worth, themes of prosperity, and our inner drive come together. A nose piercing therefore always touches these inner levels as well, even if someone initially chooses it simply “because it looks beautiful.”
Contents at a glance
1. What you should know about nose piercings
A nose piercing is a piece of jewelry placed through the skin or cartilage of the nose. The nostril and the septum are the most commonly pierced areas, but there are far more variations than one might expect at first glance.
Common types of nose piercings
An overview of the most important forms:
Nostril piercing
The classic piercing through the nostril. It can be placed on the left or right side and is usually worn with a small stud, ring, or horseshoe. For many people, this is their “entry point” into the world of nose piercings.
High nostril
Also located in the nostril, but positioned higher toward the bridge of the nose. It appears more subtle, but requires more patience during healing due to the cartilage.
Septum piercing
Runs through the soft tissue between the nostrils. Depending on the jewelry, it can be very noticeable or almost invisible. Many people experience the piercing as more intense, as the nose is highly sensitive and well supplied with blood.
Bridge and vertical bridge
The bridge sits on the bridge of the nose between the eyebrows, while the vertical bridge runs vertically along the nasal bridge. Both variants are quite striking and require very experienced piercers, as nerves and bone structures must be carefully considered.
Less common variants
Nasallang, Austin bar, rhino, or septril are special forms that usually combine several channels through cartilage and tissue. They belong in the hands of highly experienced professionals and are considered advanced body jewelry for most people.
How a nose piercing is done
Reputable studios work with sterile single-use needles or hollow needles. The nose is disinfected, the piercing site is marked, and the piercing is performed in a calm, quick motion. The initial jewelry is inserted immediately afterward.
Especially on the nostril, piercing guns should never be used, as the pressure can crush tissue. Anyone considering a nose piercing should therefore always choose a studio that specializes in piercings and maintains clearly documented hygiene standards.
Healing, pain, and aftercare
How painful a nose piercing feels is very individual. Most people describe the piercing as a short, intense moment that quickly subsides. The septum can cause the eyes to water more strongly, as many nerves converge in this area.
As a rough guideline for healing:
Nostril: several weeks to a few months
Septum and high nostril: several months
Bridge and complex piercings: usually on the longer end of the spectrum
Important factors for good healing include:
touching the nose as little as possible during the first weeks
gently cleaning twice daily with saline solution or a product recommended by the studio
not twisting the jewelry and not picking at crusts
avoiding cosmetics, makeup, and strong rubbing around the piercing
being cautious with sports involving contact or risk of impact in the early phase
Redness, mild swelling, and a small amount of wound secretion are normal. Warning signs include severe pain, throbbing heat, clearly yellow or green discharge, fever, or visible migration of the piercing. In such cases, the nose should be checked by a doctor or an experienced piercer.
Risks that should be taken seriously
Like any piercing, a nose piercing can involve complications. These include infections, scarring, overgrowth of tissue, metal allergies, and in some variants, rejection or migration of the jewelry. With piercings through the bridge of the nose, pressure from glasses or headaches may also occur.
A reputable studio will explain which variant is suitable for your anatomy and which should be avoided. Professional considerations also matter: a subtle nostril stud is widely accepted today, while a large septum or a bridge piercing may still be viewed critically in some industries.
Up to this point, the focus is on health, care, and style. In Face Reading, an additional question arises: why exactly this spot?
2. Transition: what a nose piercing touches in Face Reading
In Chinese Face Reading, the nose belongs to the Five Officers and is described as the “Supreme Judge.” It is the palace of wealth, identity, inner drive, and decision-making. Through the nose, we read how a person handles money and resources, how they seek professional fulfillment, and how clear their inner path is.
When metal is placed in this area, a second level comes into play. A nose piercing acts like a small metal anchor in the palace of wealth and identity. It marks a zone where someone wants to stabilize or loosen themes related to money, profession, order, and self-determination. Often, it reflects a tension between the desire for security and the desire for freedom.
3. The nose in Face Reading: center of direction and self-determination
In short, the nose in Face Reading stands for:
handling of money and resources
professional self-realization and career path
self-worth and identity
moral orientation, straightforwardness, or detours
inner drive and focus, especially in the area of the nasal root
It therefore answers the question: how do I position myself in the world?
The nasal root between the eyes shows how well someone can focus their energy and how easily decisions are made. A stable, well-developed area points to inner drive and the ability to take responsibility. A noticeable indentation may indicate difficulty initiating things or staying committed to a project for long periods.
The nostrils reveal how freely someone handles resources, how much space they allow themselves, and how courageous they are with money. Full nostrils are often seen in people who value freedom, dislike external control, and think entrepreneurially. Narrower nostrils suggest caution and a stronger need for security.
The tip of the nose stands for the ability to generate wealth, business intuition, and practical handling of money. It reflects how well someone uses their opportunities and assesses investments and chances.
With this background, a nose piercing gains additional depth.
4. Nose piercing in Face Reading: freedom, money, and one’s own path
The nose is not a minor feature in Face Reading. It is considered one of the Five Officers and is known as the Supreme Judge. Through it, we read how a person deals with money and resources, how strong their inner drive is, and how clearly they pursue their own path in the world. The nose reveals aspects of self-worth, direction, and decision-making.
When a piercing is placed in this area, an additional layer emerges. Metal acts like a small anchor in the palace of wealth and identity. A pierced nose can indicate that something is shifting in material or organizational areas of life. This may involve finances, professional decisions, family structures, or the broader question: “How freely do I want to live my life?”
The side matters.
A nose piercing on the right side is more connected to the outer world: job, money, obligations, family as a system. Here, I often see a tension between security and independence. The person wants to breathe more easily in these areas, make their own decisions, and feel less externally controlled. The nose shows where more freedom is needed in external structures.
On the left side, the focus shifts more toward private themes. A nose piercing on the left can point to inner stories, relationships, or deeply personal value systems. It touches the question of “Who am I, really?” more than issues of career or finances.
The exact position also plays a role.
Piercings near the nostrils emphasize the area where freedom, independence, and handling of material resources become visible. People with full nostrils often love personal space, enjoy making decisions, and want to steer their own lives. When metal appears here, it can look like a visible statement: “I will no longer let others dictate everything to me.”
A septum piercing sits directly on the axis of direction. It literally pierces the area that stands for inner orientation, decision-making, and self-assertion. Many people who wear a septum describe it as a clear statement: “I am walking my path, even if it does not fit into every box.”
One thing is important to emphasize: a nose piercing does not prove anything. It does not automatically mean that someone has financial problems or is lost in life. For me as a Face Reader, it is an indication – a visible metal anchor in a zone that already carries strong themes of wealth, identity, and inner drive.
In a reading, I am therefore less interested in the question “Why do you have a piercing?” and more in “What was happening in your life when you decided to get it?” This is often where very honest stories begin – about freedom, responsibility, money, and the courage to follow one’s own path.
5. Septum, nostrils, and nasal root: small differences, big themes
Septum piercing: right through the axis of direction
The septum lies at the center of the nose. It connects left and right, inside and outside, above and below. In the language of Face Reading, many themes related to inner direction and decision-making intersect here.
A septum piercing can therefore indicate that someone consciously breaks away, questions rules, or wants to live their individuality visibly. It can be a sign of stepping away from old structures and moving toward a more self-determined path. At the same time, it touches the question of how much rebellion can truly be lived in everyday life. For some, the septum becomes an inner anchor point that reminds them not to completely fall back into old patterns.
Nostril piercing: freedom in dealing with resources
A piercing on the nostril lies close to the area where Face Reading shows how someone handles money and life energy. Full, well-padded nostrils often stand for courage, entrepreneurial spirit, and a willingness to seize opportunities. A metal anchor in this zone can make visible that someone wants to assert themselves more strongly in exactly these matters.
In conversations, themes often arise here such as: “I no longer want to burn my money for others,” “I want more personal space in my profession,” or “I decide what I invest my energy in.”
Nasal root and inner drive conflicts
The nasal root is the area many people unconsciously massage or press when they have to make a difficult decision. In Face Reading, this is the zone of inner drive, concentration, and conflict processing.
A nose piercing rarely sits directly at the nasal root, but it energetically touches this area as well. If there is already an indentation or a sensitive point there, a piercing further down the nose can act like a visible answer: “This is where my own course begins, I strengthen my center.”
Some people report in conversation that they had a piercing done precisely at the moment when a professional or financial decision was pending. These time markers are often more revealing than the concrete motive that was expressed at the time.
6. Emotional level: fear, courage, and the breath of freedom
Nose piercings touch two major emotional themes.
On the one hand, fear around security: money, job, family belonging, social acceptance.
On the other hand, the courage to walk one’s own path: being visible, not pleasing everyone, and sometimes acting against expectations.
The nose stands between these in the rhythm of breathing. It lets air in and out, it decides how freely we breathe inwardly. A nose piercing can therefore also be seen as an image of one’s relationship with freedom. How much of it can I tolerate. How much do I allow myself. How much do I give myself.
7. Conclusion: there is nothing wrong with your nose
Whether you wear a tiny nose stud, a striking septum, several nose piercings, or none at all: your nose is not a judgment about you. It is a visible center of your inner drive and your way of dealing with resources.
A nose piercing does not change your value. But it can be a small, clear marker on your path. A sign that you have taken a piece of freedom for yourself or reminded yourself of an important decision.
When you look at your piercing, you may therefore ask yourself: What story does this small metal anchor tell about my path. And what would I like to learn from it today, without judging myself.
There is nothing wrong with your nose. It simply tells how you have found your path – and how you would like to continue walking it.
If you would like to dive deeper into Face Reading:
If you want to understand how the finest structures around the mouth and nose show closeness, expression, and inner movement, you will find a deeper look at the philtrum here.
If you are interested in how mouth shapes reflect your way of communicating and forming bonds, this article takes you deeper into the language of the face.
If you would like to learn why the region below the nose is often connected with hidden insecurity and inner stability, you can continue reading here.
If you are curious how unspoken themes show themselves in the face and why the eye area reveals so many inner states, you will find a calm and clear explanation here.
If you would like to see how facial signals can also be used in a professional context, you will find a practical and factual introduction here.
Video: a conversation about personality, empathy, and what faces reveal
In this episode of FlowGrade – For Life, I talk with Max Gotzler about what Face Reading can truly offer today. We go through the foundations – physiognomy, facial expression, and body language – and discuss how personality shows itself in the face, where the limits lie, and why empathy is the core of this work.
At the end, I read a few facets of Max’s personality from his face – in the form of a small speed reading, in a live analysis.
Free Face Reading Webinar – live every month
In my monthly live webinar, I show you how Face Reading works in practice.
You will learn how facial features are connected to personality, resources, and inner patterns – and how you can use this knowledge for coaching, communication, or your personal development.
The webinar is designed to be interactive and offers plenty of space for your questions.
Join for free here:
8. FAQ about nose piercings and Face Reading
Does a nose piercing hurt a lot?
Most people describe the piercing as a short, intense moment that quickly subsides. The septum can react a bit more strongly because many nerves converge there. What matters most is that you feel safe, calm, and well cared for in a professional studio.
How long does it take for a nose piercing to heal?
For the nostril, it usually takes several weeks to a few months for the channel to become stable. Septum, high nostril, and bridge piercings typically require several months. Even if the area feels fine after a short time, the tissue inside needs longer to fully mature.
What does a nose piercing say about me in Face Reading?
A nose piercing is not a label, but an indication. It shows that you wanted to mark or set something in motion in the area of money, profession, identity, or freedom. The side and exact position offer clues as to whether this was more about external structures or very personal themes. The true meaning always emerges in connection with your life story.
Can a nose piercing simply be a fashion choice?
Yes, absolutely. Many people choose a piercing because they find it beautiful or because it is common in their environment. At the same time, it can be interesting to look at the timing: In which phase of life did you get it, and what was important to you at that moment? Often, quiet inner motives appear that were not consciously named before.
Is a nose piercing a sign of problems with money or self-worth?
No. While the nose is considered the wealth palace 財帛宮 (Cái Bó Gōng) in Chinese Face Reading and identity in Face Reading, a piercing is not a diagnosis. It can indicate that you consciously wanted to change something in these areas or sought more freedom. Whether this reflects a crisis, a new beginning, or simply joy in body jewelry can only be understood through honest reflection and conversation.
