How to Put in a Nose Stud, Hoop, or Corkscrew Ring

Nose rings are a cute accessory, but it can sometimes be annoying trying to put them back in after you remove them. For this article, we interviewed professional piercer Stephanie Anders to teach you how to put in (and take out) all kinds of nose rings, including corkscrews, hoops, and studs. Plus, learn how to care for your piercing, wear your nose jewelry, and prevent infections.

Re-Piercing Your Nose When It Falls Out (Corkscrew Nose Ring)

Wash your hands and your piercing with warm water and antibacterial soap.
Clean and disinfect your corkscrew nose ring with saline solution.
Insert the end of the ring through your piercing hole.
Twist and push the ring through your nose, following the curve of the metal.
Keep going until the jewelry is flush against your nose.

Section 1 of 6:

How to Put in a Corkscrew Nose Ring

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Use antibacterial soap to clean and disinfect your hands and the pierced area before handling your jewelry and the piercing. Wash thoroughly with warm water and pat your nose dry with a clean paper towel. If you don’t wash your hands and the piercing site, you risk getting an infection.^{[1]
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Clean and disinfect your nose ring. Soak a cotton ball in saline solution and use it to clean your corkscrew nose ring thoroughly, removing any crust that may be stuck to the jewelry.^{[2]
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Research source} If your piercing is completely healed, optionally apply an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin to disinfect the corkscrew (the metal part that goes inside your nose) of your nose ring.
- Make sure that the upper part of the corkscrew, the part that will show, does not touch the ointment. This part needs to be clean and dry to ensure a tight grip.
- A corkscrew nose ring is made of a metal wire that is twisted into an odd shape, unlike normal nose studs or rings. The combination of straight and circular wire needs specific care to insert it without getting hurt.
- Anders advises to “use totally natural products on your body. We clean our piercings with the 0.9% sterile saline solution.”^{[3]
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In a clockwise motion, gently twist your ring into your piercing hole. Continue twisting until the entire curved metal part is inserted into your nose. Push inward as you tilt the ring slightly upward. Try twisting counter-clockwise if clockwise doesn’t work.^{[4]
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Twist in the remainder of your nose ring. Once the corkscrew has been inserted into your nose, your piercing will still be hanging down with the straight part of the wire visible. Use the same process to twist in the remainder of the straight wire until your jewelry is flush against your nose and none of the wire is visible.^{[5]
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- If you start to bleed while inserting the corkscrew, stop and clean your piercing. Contact your piercer or a healthcare professional if there is excessive bleeding or painful irritation.
- In general, wait a minimum of 2 months before changing your nose ring if the piercing is new, as it needs time to heal completely. Follow the instructions provided by your piercer for more details about when you can change your jewelry.

Section 2 of 6:

How to Put in Studs, Hoops, & Screw Rings

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Insert a nose stud straight through your piercing hole. Putting a nose stud (or flat back nose ring) back in your nose is much easier than reinserting a corkscrew nose ring, as the rod is straight. After washing your hands, your piercing, and your jewelry, slowly insert the rod into your piercing hole while holding the jewelry by its top. If it doesn’t go in smoothly, gently twist it in a clockwise motion. Then, secure the backing onto the rod through your nostril.
- The backing should be tight enough to keep your jewelry in place without being directly against the inside of your nose. You may also leave the backing off if you don’t need it to keep your jewelry in place.
- If the piercing has a ball, put the ball through your nose, then gently twist it into the hole while using the finger of your other hand to support it and guide it through. Use a bit of lubricant, if necessary.
After washing your hands and your piercing, pull the two ends of your hoop apart, using pliers if necessary. If there are any beads in the middle, remove them, then carefully insert one end of the hoop into your nose. Press both ends of the hoop to lock the ring back together.^{[6]
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L-shaped and screw hook nose rings are similar to corkscrew nose rings in that the metal rod is twisted. Insert the end of the nose ring, then twist gently following the curve of the metal until it is completely inserted and the jewelry fits snugly against your nose.^{[7]
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Section 3 of 6:

How to Take Out a Nose Ring

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Always wash your hands before handling a nose piercing, whether you’re putting jewelry in or taking it out. Use unscented antibacterial soap, then dry your hands with a clean paper towel. Having clean hands is important for preventing infections.^{[8]
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If your nose ring has a backing, remove it first. Then, recall how you put your nose ring in. Slowly twist and pull it out of your nose, following the curve of the metal as necessary. Some nose rings, like corkscrews, may require you to remove them in a counter-clockwise direction. The key is to be patient and remove the jewelry slowly.
Once you’ve completely removed your piercing, soak a cotton ball with saline solution and wipe around the inside and outside of your piercing to remove any debris, crust, and discharge. Pat the area dry with a clean paper towel. Grab another cotton ball and do the same for your jewelry.^{[9]
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Section 4 of 6:

How to Care for a Nose Piercing

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Remember that a piercing is a wound, and your nose piercing will need time to heal, like any wound. There will be some initial swelling that should disappear within a few days with proper care. You may experience a bit of pain, as well. If this becomes unbearable, however, contact your piercer and a healthcare professional.^{[10]
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Follow your piercer’s aftercare instructions. When you get your nose pierced by a professional piercer, they should verbally explain how to take care of it. They’ll also give you a printout of their instructions or explain where to find them on their website. These aftercare instructions will tell you exactly what to do to care for your new piercing, as well as what to do if you have any issues. Follow them exactly so your piercing heals properly, and reach out to your piercer if you have any questions.^{[11]
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- Anders says to find a high-quality, reputable piercing studio: “Do your research and find a reputable studio—[somewhere] you are able to go and do checkups.”^{[12]
  X
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  Piercing Specialist
  
  Expert Interview} It’s a great idea to choose a piercer near you so you can easily go back to the studio if any issues arise.
- Anders adds that it’s best to “be educated about the duration of a healing process. If the studio or piercer doesn’t provide you with this information, that’s probably a good sign that [they aren’t a reputable studio].”^{[13]
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Don’t touch a fresh nose piercing. Your piercing will heal better if it’s left alone, as touching it constantly can lead to irritation and infection. If you must touch your piercing, wash your hands thoroughly. Keep your hands and the pierced area clean before moving your stud, barbell, or nose ring. Do not let anyone else touch your piercing, especially if they haven’t cleaned their hands thoroughly.^{[14]
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- As Anders explains, “when your body is in the first stages of healing a piercing, it’s forming scar tissue and epithelial cells on the inside of the body around that piercing channel. So when you’re twisting and turning it, it’s tearing open all of those cells, which is completely detrimental to your healing process.”^{[15]
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Clean new piercings twice a day with saline solution. Follow your piercer’s instructions for cleaning your piercing, but in general, clean fresh piercings in the morning and at night. Soak a gauze pad or cotton ball in saline solution to clean the surface of your skin and the inside of your nose and gently remove any crust in the area. Pat—don’t rub—the piercing dry with a clean paper towel or tissue. Once the piercing is healed, it’s usually okay to clean it once a day.^{[16]
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- If you don’t have saline solution, it’s usually okay to use a gentle, unscented soap and water, but check with your piercer to be sure. Protex soap and Studex are two popular cleaning solutions for piercings.
- Don’t use mentholated spirits, alcohol swabs, peroxide, or alcohol-based cleaners to clean the piercing.
- If you don’t have saline solution, create your own by dissolving 1/4 tsp of salt in a cup of warm water.
- Be sure to remove crust from the jewelry as well as your nose. Failing to do so may cause your piercing to become inflamed.
EXPERT TIP

Stephanie Anders
Owner, Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing
Stephanie Anders is a jeweler and piercer based in Los Angeles, California. With over 10 years of piercing experience, Stephanie opened her first tattoo and piercing studio in 2016. With her experience in the body piercing industry and creative passion for fine jewelry, she later founded SXO Studios and created a fine jewelry line that is safe for piercing. Stephanie has also traveled and worked with clients all over the world, with her client list including such stars as Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sharon Osbourne.

Stephanie Anders
Owner, Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing

Use any type of mild cleaner on a healed piercing. When you have a healed piercing, there isn’t any fresh tissue and it isn’t an open wound. Cleaning with alcohol wipes or something will be enough for jewelry that’s being worn in a healed piercing.
Be gentle when putting on or taking off clothes that go over your head. If you’re not careful, you may accidentally knock off or pull on your jewelry. Similarly, if you’re using a towel to dry your face, avoid putting any pressure on your piercing so it doesn’t become irritated or inflamed.^{[17]
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Let your piercing heal completely before changing the jewelry. Try to avoid removing or inserting a nose ring if your piercing has not healed. When a piercing is new, there is fresh skin in your nose that is tender and damages very easily. Wait until the skin in your nose is not red, swollen, or tender before changing your jewelry. Healing time may vary, so remember to follow your piercer’s aftercare instructions.^{[18]
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American Academy of Dermatology
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- It may take about 4 to 6 weeks for a nostril piercing to heal, 1 to 3 months for a septum piercing to heal, and up to a year for a bridge piercing to heal.
- If you must remove your jewelry for medical or professional reasons, keep your piercing from closing by using PTFE or Bioflex jewelry.
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Contact a healthcare professional if there is any discharge. If you experience any discharge or feel severe pain or discomfort, go back to the studio that did your piercing and contact a healthcare professional. If your piercing is oozing yellow or green substances or is extremely swollen, it may be infected, so it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible.^{[19]
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American Academy of Dermatology
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- When you get a nose piercing, there should be minimal redness with only a small amount of discharge from inside your nose. If you remove or knock out your nose ring, you may also get a small lump called a “granuloma.” These are usually nothing to worry about, but contact your piercer if you have any concerns.

Section 5 of 6:

How to Wear Nose Jewelry

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Experiment with your jewelry to find the best type for you. There are many different types of nose rings, and because everyone’s anatomy is different, some shapes may work better for you than others. Try out corkscrews, flat backs, L-shapes, hoops, and any other types of nose piercings to determine which is the most comfortable for you.^{[20]
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- Consult your piercer if you have problems inserting new jewelry. They can help you figure out what you’re doing wrong or suggest a better option.
If you’re worried your nose stud or other jewelry will come out, apply a very thin layer of clear nail polish to the base of the ring. However, this is not recommended as a long-term solution, as the nail polish can irritate or infect your piercing if it comes in contact with your skin. If you do this, be sure to wash and disinfect your piercing thoroughly.
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Tape over your piercing when playing sports or sleeping. If you play sports or do any other activities that could rip out your piercing, place a gauze pad or another form of padding over your nose stud, then tape over it. This will help keep your piercing in place without damaging the jewelry. This method also works if you move around a lot in your sleep and want to make sure you don’t lose your jewelry.^{[21]
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- Taking your jewelry in and out too many times can delay your healing time and lead to infection, so taping is a good option if you are very active.
If you are in a professional setting, attending a function that doesn’t allow piercings, or simply don’t want to draw attention to it, swap out your jewelry for an invisible stud. These are regular nose studs that are clear or painted to match your skin tone, which makes them less noticeable. This is a great option if your piercing hasn’t healed and you can’t take it out yet.

Section 6 of 6:

How to Prevent Infections

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Remember, a fresh piercing is an open wound and can take weeks or months to heal completely. Even when your piercing has healed, nose piercings are susceptible to infection because the nose is full of bacteria. Use antibacterial soap to wash your hands before touching your piercing, and only touch it when you have cleaned your hands thoroughly. Don’t use specialty soaps with unknown chemicals, as this can lead to irritation.^{[22]
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Using the same cotton swabs more than once can lead to cross-contamination, which in turn can cause your piercing to get infected. Always use fresh cotton swabs for both the outside and inside of your piercing. Then, wipe off excess moisture from a fresh nose piercing with a new, dry cotton swab. Never use reusable bath or hand towels, as these are not sanitary enough.^{[23]
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In addition to cleaning your piercing in the morning and at night, make sure to rinse off all the soap and shampoo that comes in contact with your piercing when you take a shower. These soaps often contain additional ingredients that could irritate your piercing and lead to infection.^{[24]
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In addition to benefiting your general health, these vitamins help speed up the healing process because they help your body regenerate tissue. Having a healthy immune system also fights off potential infections.^{[25]
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Mayo Clinic
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Don’t pick at scabs or remove your jewelry too early. Picking and pulling at scams can form bumps around your piercing site and cause infections. If you remove your jewelry before your piercing heals, it will delay the healing process and may cause your piercing to close. Follow your piercer’s instructions to know when it’s okay to remove your jewelry.^{[26]
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- In general, don’t remove jewelry for over 10 minutes at a time for the first 6 months of your piercing. Your hole may close up in less than 10 minutes within the first 3-6 months of having it done.
- If your jewelry comes out and you can’t find it, place an earring or something sterile in its place until you can get a new piece of jewelry.
- Carry a spare nose stud in your wallet in case your jewelry gets knocked loose or falls out.
Makeup, lotion, hairspray, and some cleansers may contain ingredients that will irritate your piercing and lead to infection. Don’t apply anything directly to your piercing, and cover your piercing with your hand if you’re applying hairspray or any other sprays.^{[27]
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When choosing new jewelry, you may be tempted to go with the most affordable option, but cheap jewelry made of nickel or lead may cause irritation or reactions that can become infections. Make sure you know what your jewelry is made of before you purchase it, and try to choose a high-quality metal, like surgical stainless steel or titanium, to avoid potential issues.^{[28]
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Community Q&A

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I found a nosering on the internet which is made of surgical steel, is this good or not?

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Yes, surgical steel is designed to not harbor bacteria. It's the same material scalpels and other surgical equipment is made from.

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Read reviews for piercing studios before getting anything done.

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A piercing hole can close within 10 minutes in the first six months of a new piercing.

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Fresh piercings can easily become infected without proper care.

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Avoid using cheap jewelry that may irritate or infect your skin.

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