Jewelry calls attention, especially when it’s big. But jewelry in your septum doesn’t need to be a certain size to be prominent. Its placement is already bringing spotlight, even when you’re wearing a simple little hoop to enhance your look. And jewelry that takes centerstage can be alluring.
If you’re looking to get a septum piercing, like the countless celebrities (from Rihanna to Zendaya) who have but are not sure about your pain threshold, maybe a fake one would work.
Is There Fake Septum Piercing?
When your pain tolerance level doesn’t match up with the devil-may-care attitude of an edgy jewelry, fake septum piercing is an option. The “piercing” part here is misleading because fake nose rings don’t require you to be pierced. Hence, the absence of pain you’ll get from a needle.
A fake nose ring doesn’t lock or close up like a septum ring. It looks like this:
So you just place it in with the two ends merely holding onto the thin wall between your nose. It stays there without you having to take a needle through your septum. The tribal design of this septum ring set gives you an edge without the commitment of the real thing.
What does the real thing look like?
Most septum rings look like earrings, but they go on your nose. The piercing is done at your septum, which is a thin cartilage running down the center of your nose and separating your nostrils. But here’s the thing: experienced piercers know not to prick through this cartilage. Instead, they’ll find a softer space beneath your septum. They refer to this as the “sweet spot” because you should only feel a slight discomfort and not searing pain.
The level of pain you experience during a septum piercing will depend on your threshold for pain.
A piercing at your septum may make you tear up, but this is only a physiological reaction versus an emotional response to something uncomfortable. It’s like when you get your nose pinched the wrong way and your eyes well up.
The pain is probably not the only factor that’s discouraging some people to choose fake septum piercings.
Are Septum Piercings Dangerous?
Piercings, in any body part, will come with all sorts of risks. And septum piercings are no exception.
The piercing could get infected when bacteria enter the skin. Scarring could cause keloids. In extreme cases, septal hematoma could develop when your piercer damages a blood vessel and tissue. The result is blood collecting between the two, and you will feel pain and see swelling occur.
When your septum piercing isn’t done right, the split-second of discomfort from the needle going through could mean lengthy and pricey complications.
A septum piercing could also pose some danger when you get into a fight; someone could easily grab at your nose hoop and yank it off, tearing your septum. The nose ring could also get caught in something and cause a tear.
Does it all mean fake nose rings are free and clear of any problem?
Are Fake Septum Rings Comfortable?
Faux septum rings, compared to real septum rings, are comfortable — so long as you choose the right one. You buy them the way you’d buy any jewelry.
You consider the:
- Material (silver, gold, titanium)
- Size (18 gauge, 24 gauge, 26 gauge)
- Features (hypoallergenic, customizable, easy to take off)
Choose the right material, one your skin won’t react to; the right nose ring size, so the stud or ring hoop doesn’t overpower your face, and pick the one with the right practical features. When you do, your fake septum ring will be so comfortable, you may not even feel it’s on your face.
The beauty of fake nose rings is telling them apart from the real thing isn’t easy. A faux nose ring hoop looks and hangs the same as a real septum ring hoop. Other fake piercings reveal themselves quickly; for example, a fake plug doesn’t stretch your earlobe the way a real plug does. So straight away, a keen observer would be able to tell if you were wearing a fake.
A fake nose stud can also look like the real thing because no one can tell if your septum ring is pierced or merely glued on. Unlike other fake nose rings, the stud may be tougher to secure. The skin glue you use may not work for you as well; maybe you get allergies from it. The sweat on your skin is also likely to move the stud from its place, making it fall off your nose.
Types of Nose Piercings
If you want a piercing other than the one at your septum, you’ll have several options. Your choice will depend on the style of nose ring you’ll likely get. For instance, a nose hoop would look better in your nostril than on the bridge.
What nose piercing types can you pick?
The Third Eye
Located where your supposed “third eye” would be. It’s just right above the bridge of your nose and a bit close to your forehead.
The Bridge
Ideal for nose barbells, the bridge piercing is a dermal piercing. You may have to deal with infection if this isn’t done properly. Also, you may want to rethink it if you wear glasses.
The Austin Bar
This type of nose piercing goes straight across the tip of your nose.
The Rhino
Similar to the Austin Bar, except this nose piercing is vertical.
The Nasallang
If you want something a bit more complex, the Nasallang would be it because it goes in one nostril, through your septum and out the other nostril.
A lot can go into a tiny piercing, especially when it goes wrong. So fake nose piercing definitely looks like a good option if you still want a bit of bling in the center of your face.
Is it OK to Wear Fake Piercings?
Septum piercings have that “look at me!” vibe; it’s not a body piercing worn by those who’d rather blend into the background. So most of the celebrities you’ll see wearing one are trailblazers and chameleons, the non-traditionalists who instead of wearing a classic diamond ring will put on a bejeweled vintage ring.
Some celebrities who’ve had septum rings are Rihanna, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Evan Rachel Wood, Pink, Lenny Kravitz and, of course, Lady Gaga.
It’s unclear if these celebs have authentic septum piercings (Lenny Kravitz, Pink and Evan Rachel Wood, definitely have the real thing) since most wouldn’t go out without being styled by a professional. A crucial part to styling is the accessory, and stylists have been known to rely on faux ones to create the perfect look without making the celeb commit to a permanent fashion.
Although celebs may do it, is it OK for you to do a fake piercing?
A septum piercing is one of the more common body piercings in tribal history. It’s not something that people just recently caught onto. Piercing at the septum has its roots in North American Indian tribes, particularly the Tecumseh. Nose rings were also a big part of Kangi tribes in New Guinea, Bengalis in India, aboriginal peoples in Australia and some tribes in Africa.
Every piercing represented a different meaning for every tribe. Women in Bangladesh, for instance, wore a gold nose ring to signify their status as a married lady. In New Guinea, boys with septum piercings signified their journey toward adulthood. In Australia, some aboriginal peoples wore a septum ring to flatten their noses because that feature was most attractive.
For the most part, septum piercings are part of warrior culture because it does throw someone off. The ring is especially significant if the ring itself were made from the bones of the enemy.
Why did we just go down this frightening lane in septum piercing history?
Although piercings have an aesthetic purpose attached to them, a septum piercing can come with deep meaning. In tribal history, it symbolizes more than what is attractive.
Nothing is wrong with getting a fake septum piercing. But it’s good to know the background of this facial enhancing jewelry before sporting one. Because to bear a septum piercing for ancient cultures is a way of life, not a mere accessory. So honor that history.