What To Know Before Getting A Nasallang Piercing

While it can easily be mistaken for a double nostril piercing, the nasallang piercing — also known as the tri-nasal piercing — is intense, and typically only those with a fair amount of piercing experience opt for one. As its name suggests, the needle actually goes through three parts of the nose: the first nostril, the septum, and then the other nostril. So, in terms of pain tolerance, the nasallang piercing isn't for the faint of heart. In fact, the jewelry blog All Things Jewelry, which extensively covers piercings, rates the piercing an eight out of 10 on the pain scale.

The piercing is rare, and if you haven't heard of it you aren't alone –- although you may have seen it in the wild and assumed it was a double nostril piercing, as the piercing is a bit of an illusion and looks quite simple externally. So, it goes without saying that this one isn't for piercing novices — or, really, the first-ever piercing you'd want to get. That said, if you're considering a tri-nasal piercing, you may just gain some respect from many in the piercing community due to its members knowing that this piercing is no joke. Before you book an appointment, though, you'll also want to consider healing time, researching an experienced professional who can safely do the procedure, high-quality jewelry, and price.

Not all studios do nasallang piercings, so you'll want to check around for referrals and find someone comfortable with this specific piercing. Furthermore, it's always a good sign if the piercer is certified by the Association for Professional Piercers. You'll also want to ask if they've performed nasallang piercings successfully in the past, even if they're willing to do one now. If they haven't, you might ask if they'll be supervised by a piercer who has. It's possible you may need to travel a short distance to visit a qualified piercer, but making sure you're in the right hands is well worth it.

You can expect to pay up to $100 for the piercing, though jewelry is typically a separate cost. Straight barbells that are long enough to allow some room for the swelling that comes with the healing process are key, with surgical-grade stainless steel and titanium being great jewelry material choices (via All Things Jewelry). This piercing will likely garner some nods of awe due to its high pain rate and rarity, so get ready to show it off and answer all the questions about the process. 

Important to note is that piercings come with risks, and proper care during the healing period is key. Recovery time for the nasallang piercing is longer than for other nose piercings because the needle goes through quite a bit of cartilage. Between four and six months is typical when it comes to this nose piercing healing time, according to Healthline, so long as the piercing is properly cared for. Scar tissue can be expected, and bleeding can occur on occasion. Moreover, it's possible that the septum could become damaged, leading to difficulty with breathing (via Piercing Is Life). As with all body modifications, following aftercare instructions carefully plays a big role in your healing process.

When treating your piercing (which is really an open wound), be sure not to "cleanse with harsh cleansers or acids–such as hibiclens, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, any other alpha/beta hydroxy acids," dermatologist Dr. Hadley King told Byrdie. "Harsh ingredients like these can kill the new cells that migrate to heal the wound, which will slow the healing process and extend the timeframe you are at risk of an infection." And again, if you love the look but aren't up for the pain and potential risks of the nasallang piercing, you can always opt for the double nostril piercing instead.