To get my nose pierced?

[sandybeaches74]

So... bit of a debate...

I'm in a senior role at work in an organisation where there are few women at that level. My mum is 60 tomorrow and she's wanted her nose pierced for ages, I have too! I want to go and do it with her but I know... whether it's right or wrong, that eyebrows will be raised at work. It may even affect my ability to rise further up the ranks.

I am slightly rebellious underneath so I really want to do it but suspect I may regret it if it does impact my career...

So AIBU unreasonable to just do it tomorrow - or would you wait?

Do it! Had mine done at 18 and it's still by far my favourite piercing (I'm 35 now).

The only issue I ever had was with my boss at the time who thought that all piercings/tattoos etc were the work of the devil and 'scared customers'
So I wore a clear guitar string in the hole when I was working. (They probably did clear studs back then I didn't know about it, haha)

The downside (IMHO) is that it remains smelly. I cleaned my piercing every day for the 25yr I had it in my nose. I'm actually prone to dry vs oily skin, but it still stunk on occasion 😒 I also managed to catch a flat stud in a fluffy top a few times and it hurt like hell! Obviously not everyone's experience I'm just commenting on mine.

I'm 56 and have worn a small diamond stud in my nose for over 20 years. I love it. It's very unobtrusive, people who have known me for years sometimes say "oh you have had your nose pierced". I have only ever had once negative comment in a work setting and that was an older man looking for something nasty to say as he didn't like the fact that I had given him some constructive criticism. Go for it.

I got mine done last year at 40 - no-one at work even noticed it, apart from one person who asked 'have you always had your nose pierced'? For the first few days it will feel so prominent and obvious but people really aren't that observant!

I certainly don’t think anyone sensible would take a dim view of it.

I would love to have mine done (in my 40s) but my body rejected 2 naval piercings (not both at the same time, second one was trying again) and that puts me off.

StarlightLady Navels are notorious for rejecting if you're not built perfectly for it, because of the angle they go through the skin, the constant movement etc. Nostril piercings are much less likely to reject so I wouldn't let that put you off

I'd like mine done. I have a couple of questions: Sometimes everyone gets a big bit of crusty snot in their nose- how do you pick it?
Do the studs pivot on a 90' hinge on them or do they screw in?
My nose feels quite 'thick-skinned' will that be an issue?
If you lot can answer these questions, I think I'll get it done in the next couple of weeks!

Go for it OP. I got mine done at 40 and I love it. I agree that with a small stud many people won't notice it. Also love that your Mum is getting it done. There is an older lady in my local Co-op who has hers done and I think she looks great.

JanetandJohn500 If your nose gets really snotty you can just take the stud out to clean your nose.

You can get different types of stud, simple 90 degree angle ones screw in ones and ones which have a curled end (this is the type I use as they stay in better.

I don't see a thick skinned nose being an issue.

Do it - as head of financial planning for a conservative accountancy practice I did.

Hardly anyone noticed. I had it pieced with a discreet tiny diamond stud so it wasn't obvious.

I went for a job in an even more conservative company a few years later - I had intended to remove the stud for the interview process but completely forgot. Still got the job stud and all. It was never ever mentioned and I wore it every day

Nose piercings are dead sexy. Ditto, multiple ear piercings :-)

I had mine down and it took my mum months to notice, when I told her she said oh I thought it was always there! It isn't crusty or unhygienic. It is more painful the older you get though, apparently the cartilage in you nose hardens as you age.

Do it! I have a tiny 1.2mm diamond which I love and people rarely notice it.

I have a nose piercing, a septum one and have a professional job. Don’t think anyone even notices it and I don’t at all now. Had it over 10 years and don’t feel it’s ever raised eyebrows in a professional manner ever.
Go for it!

@AScarecrow I had my tragus done a couple of years ago, I found lobe piercings a lot more painful. It just took a lot longer to heal (almost a year).

Just check visible piercings are allowed at work first? Pointless if you’ve to take it out the next day.

Yes clear retainers exist but I still wasn’t allowed to wear them (same risk of it catching or being pulled or falling out) and you shouldn’t fuck about with a fresh piercing, changing jewellery etc, for a good few weeks depending on its location.. think it’s like 6 weeks for a nose piercing. Could be longer.

@AScarecrow I have my tragus done too. It looks great with a small jewel in it.

Can I derail slightly please and ask where some of you got your teeny tiny diamond nose studs from? I'd like a real diamond if possible but they seem to be very expensive for essentially a tiny chip.

@sandybeaches74 I'm hoping you're convinced now!

I think I got mine off eBay but it's 10 years or more ago.

It's a 1mm diamond chip in 18ct gold. It's much more substantial that the cheap ones and will see me out.

Decent body jewellery is expensive unfortunately.

@JanetandJohn500

I had a cold recently and I was still able to blow my nose with my stud in. If it is a case of crusty bogies, then I just slip the stud out - have a good clear out and put it back.
Funnily enough, I now seem to get less bogies up my pierced nostril than my un-pierced one!

I started off wearing the corkscrew studs as I felt more confident that they wouldn't fall out, but I did find that it was sometimes visible up the nose. I have been wearing the L shaped ones now for about a year and haven't lost a single one and they feel much more comfy up the nose.
When they pierce it they will probably do it with a corkscrew, so see how you get on.
Again, I say, go for it!

So, @sandybeaches74 ....have you had it done yet?!

I think it looks naff

Thanks @Elphame. I think I'll have to suck the price up and buy a decent one. I guess it's worth it when you wear it every single day.

If people have been "inwardly cringing" at me since I was a child, those are not the people I wish to associate with anyway

For me it's not cringing in a judgemental way, it's an involuntary reaction. Seeing face piercings makes my eyes water. I wish it didn't. I think perhaps that's what the pp meant.

I have mine done (male), I have a really thin silver ring in mine. I work in a professional environment, it’s never caused any problems.

I've got such a small stud it is barely noticeable. I think hoops are more obvious, if you're really concerned. Get it done!

Go for it!

I had my seconds redone today and a helix piercing. I'm 48. Planning on getting my nose done again too, dont care what people think I love them.

As pp's have said you can go for a clear retainer once healed.