People get nose piercings for reasons that span over 4,000 years of human culture: to mark marriage, express individuality, honor tradition, signal a rite of passage, or simply because they like how it looks. The nose piercing is one of the oldest and most widespread body modifications on earth, and its meaning shifts dramatically depending on where you are, who you ask, and what type of piercing you’re talking about.
Cultural Roots Across Four Continents
Nose piercing originated in the Middle East more than 4,000 years ago. In ancient Egypt, it was worn exclusively by women. In the Bahariya region, a gold nose ring called the gatar or qatrah, crafted with delicate filigree, is still worn only by married women on the left nostril. Women there traditionally believe the ring prevents headaches and pain while it’s worn. In Nubian Egypt and Sudan, a similar ring called the zimam carries its own local significance.
The practice spread to Central Asia during Arab conquests, where nose piercings are called arawak or arabek. It reached South Asia by roughly the 10th century and was widespread across the region by the 1400s. Jewelry historian Oppi Untracht places its introduction to India in the 13th century through Muslim influence, and it quickly became embedded in local traditions. Today, nose rings are one of the primary ornaments associated with married women across South Asia, worn by both Hindu and Muslim communities in dozens of regional variations. Bengali women traditionally wore a specific style called the nathori as a visible sign of marriage.
The practice didn’t reach Western civilization in any meaningful way until the 20th century, where it shed most of its traditional symbolism and became primarily an aesthetic and personal choice.
Septum Piercings and Warrior Traditions
The septum piercing, through the cartilage wall dividing the nostrils, carries a completely different set of meanings. It has deep roots in warrior cultures and indigenous rituals. Many North American tribes used septum piercings as a rite of passage, marking a young man’s successful return from a solo journey in the wilderness. Shawnee leaders like Tecumseh wore septum rings.
In the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, septum piercings served similar purposes. The Asmat tribe of Irian Jaya wore large bone plugs made from the leg bones of pigs or the tibia bones of enemies killed in battle. The intent was deliberate: a bone through the septum created a fierce, intimidating appearance. Australian Aboriginal peoples used long bone septum jewelry for a different reason entirely, using it to flatten the nose as a form of beautification.
Ayurvedic Health Beliefs
In India, the left nostril piercing isn’t purely decorative. Ayurvedic medicine connects the left nostril to female reproductive organs, and piercing it is believed to regulate menstrual cycles, reduce cramps, and support easier childbirth by activating specific nerve pathways. This is one of the most enduring reasons for the piercing’s popularity among Indian women. There’s no modern clinical evidence backing these claims, but they remain a significant motivating factor, particularly in traditional communities where Ayurvedic principles guide health decisions.
Self-Expression and Identity
For most people getting a nose piercing today, the reasons are personal rather than cultural. Research published in PLOS One found that the most common motivations for body modifications like piercings are self-expression, a sense of identity, and the desire to feel unique. People use piercings to beautify their bodies, signal group affiliation, or construct an identity that feels more authentically theirs. The study confirmed that modifying physical appearance through piercings helps people achieve a stronger perception of their own individuality.
This tracks with how nose piercings function in practice. Unlike an ear piercing, which is so common it’s almost invisible, a nose piercing sits right on your face. It’s a deliberate, visible statement. For some people that statement is rebellious, for others it’s purely aesthetic, and for others it connects them to a cultural heritage they want to carry forward.
Types of Nose Piercings
The “why” often depends on the “where.” Each placement creates a different look and carries different associations.
- Traditional nostril: Sits at the crease where the nostril meets the face. This is the most common placement worldwide and the one most tied to cultural traditions.
- High nostril: Positioned above the traditional spot, closer to the bridge. Often chosen for stacking, a trend where multiple studs are placed along the nostril.
- Septum: Passes through a thin membrane of tissue (the “sweet spot”) below the cartilage dividing the nostrils, not through the cartilage itself. Popular partly because it can be flipped up and hidden.
- Bridge: A surface piercing that sits horizontally between the eyes. Requires specific anatomy, as not everyone has enough tissue in this area.
- Rhino: A vertical piercing through the tip of the nose, far less common and chosen purely for its striking visual effect.
- Nasallang: A single bar that passes through both nostrils and the septum. This is rare and one of the more intense options.
Stacked nostrils, where two or more studs are placed in a vertical line on one side, are particularly popular in 2025. The look borrows from the stacked lobe trend in ear piercings.
What the Experience Is Like
Nostril and septum piercings both rate around a 5 out of 10 on pain scales. Most people describe it as a quick, sharp pinch followed by moderate soreness during healing. The healing timeline varies by location: a nostril piercing takes 2 to 4 months to heal, a septum piercing heals in about 6 to 8 weeks, and a bridge piercing falls somewhere in between at 2 to 2.5 months. Even after those windows close, the piercing site can take up to a year to fully toughen up, so it remains somewhat fragile for a long time.
Between 10 and 20 percent of all piercings result in a local infection, so aftercare matters. Jewelry left in during the healing period should be implant-grade material. The Association of Professional Piercers recommends implant-grade titanium, implant-grade steel, or solid 14-karat or higher gold that’s free of nickel and cadmium. Gold-plated, gold-filled, or vermeil jewelry doesn’t meet their standards for fresh piercings. Nostrils vary significantly from person to person in shape, thickness, and tissue type, so a good piercer will assess your specific anatomy before choosing placement and jewelry style.
Why the Left Side?
One of the most common specific questions people have is which side to pierce. In South Asian tradition, the left nostril is the standard choice for women, tied to those Ayurvedic beliefs about reproductive health. In many Middle Eastern traditions, the left side is also preferred for married women. Outside of these cultural contexts, there’s no meaningful difference between left and right. Most people simply choose the side they think looks better on their face, or the side that complements their hair part or facial symmetry. Some people pierce both sides, and septum piercings bypass the question entirely.