Nostril piercing is a body piercing practice often associated with India. In India the outside of the left nostril is the preferred position of the piercing as this is supposed to make childbirth easier. Nostril piercing has become popular amongst the industrialised nations, as have other forms of body piercing. Celebrities such as Madonna and Sinéad O'Connor have their nostrils pierced.

It was first performed in the Middle-East about 4,000 years ago. From there it spread out to India in the 16th century. Later on the piercing was introduced by the "hippie" culture in the 1960s and '70s. Afterwards "punks" and younger cultures in the '80s and '90s adopted this sort of piercing and even today, nostril piercing is still very popular among youth in the US and Canada.

A nasal septum piercing is less common than nostril piercings. The nasal septum is the cartilage dividing wall between the nostrils. Generally, the cartilage itself is not pierced, but rather the small gap between the cartilage and the bottom of the nose, typically at a gauge no smaller than 14ga (1.6mm). The nose has many nerves running through it and as a result, nose piercings can be painful, although it varies by individual. Septum piercing was popular among certain Native American peoples in history; the Shawnee leaders Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa, for example, had such piercings.

Yet another nose piercing is the bridge piercing. This piercing is a surface piercing through the small flap of skin at the top of the nose, between the eyes. Barbell-style body jewellery is the most common jewellery worn in this piercing.

Septum piercing was at one time performed on bulls in part of the process to break them for the farm.

See also

• Nose-jewels
• Body Piercing Aftercare