How to Put a Hoop Nose Ring in

Co-authored by Karissa Sanford

Last Updated: April 29, 2024

Putting a hoop ring into your nose piercing takes careful maneuvering, but with a little practice, you can make the process a habit. The procedure will vary depending on the type of nose ring you choose, but you should pull the ring apart gently and reattach with ease by using a bead, segment or pushing the ends together. Just make sure you use a freshly disinfected ring and wash your hands thoroughly before handling it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Captive Rings

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You might be able to do this by hand if the ring is fairly thin, but for 14 gauge rings and thicker, you might struggle to open and close the ring. If that happens, you can use captive ring opening/closing pliers. Softly pick up one side of the ring with your pliers and hold the other side with your hands, then bend and twist carefully.^{[1]
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2
Remove the bead. The bead or ball of a captive ring is held in place using nothing but pressure. When you release the pressure on both sides of the bead, it will fall out. Hold the ring on either side of the bead. With your hands or pliers, gently pull both sides of the ring in opposite directions, pulling them apart.
- Avoid stretching the ring open too far, since this could make it difficult to fit the ends back together.
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After you remove the bead, twist the ring into a semi-spiral shape, so you can easily fit it into your piercing. Turn one end clockwise and the other counterclockwise, but do this as little as needed. If you twist the ring ends too far apart, you might have difficulty twisting them back together again.
Feed one end of the ring into the piercing hole on your nose. Gradually wind the ring further into the hole until the center rests inside the piercing and the opening lies directly below it.
The bead should have small dimples on either side. Fit the ends of the ring into these dimples by placing one side of the bead onto one end of the ring. Carefully twist the two ends toward each other again until they line up evenly. Then, push the second end onto the other side of the bead. Once the bead is snug and secure, the nose ring is set in place.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Seamless Rings

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1
Twist the ends of the ring with your hands. Captive ring pliers may distort the shape of this ring. Locate the split in the ring and grab the metal on either side with both hands. Move your right hand clockwise and your left hand counterclockwise so that the ends twist away from each other in a subtle spiral.
- Only twist the hoop open enough to create a gap around the pierced portion of your nose.
- Do not pull the ends apart sideways, since it will be nearly impossible to squeeze the ends back together again.
Glide one open end of the hoop into the piercing hole. Slide the rest of the ring through the hole, until the bottom of the hoop is centered in the piercing and the opening lies directly below it.
Use your fingers to gently twist both ends of the ring back toward each other, until they are brought together. Make sure the ends are brought as close as possible. This will keep the hoop secure, and the edges of the ends from scraping your nose.^{[2]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Segment Rings

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1
Push the segment to the side. The segment is held in place with prongs and pressure. By pushing it to the side, you ease the pressure off, freeing the prongs and making it easier to detach. Hold the hoop with the segment positioned on top. Grab the segment with your index finger and thumb of one hand, while steadying the bottom of the ring with the other hand. Gently push the segment to one side until it pops out.
- Do not try to yank the segment straight out. If you try to remove the segment without releasing the pressure first, you may snap the prongs off.
Feed one end of the main hoop through your nose piercing. Continue feeding the hoop through the hole, until the bottom is centered inside the piercing and the opening lies directly below it.
3
Ease the segment back onto the ring. Push one end of the segment onto one end of the ring, while gently twisting the other end of the ring to the side. Widen the gap as you twist. Once one end of the segment is secure, twist the unattached end of the ring back towards the segment.
- Remember to make the opening a little larger. If not, you may not be able to snap the segment on completely or evenly.
- Do not pull the ring apart sideways.
- Do not twist the ends apart any further than necessary to snap the segment back in place.
Push the prong in to completely secure the segment. Once this is done, the hoop should be safely tucked into the piercing and ready to wear.
Placing the segment back on is much more difficult than taking it out. You might find it easier to use your hands with smaller gauges, like a 20 or 18 gauge. For 16, 14 and thicker gauges you may need to use opening/closing pliers.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Can you start with a hoop nose ring?

Karissa Sanford
Body Piercing Specialist
Karissa Sanford is the Co-owner of Make Me Holey Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the San Francisco Bay Area that specializes in safe and friendly body piercing. Karissa has over 10 years of piercing experience and is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP).

Karissa Sanford

Body Piercing Specialist

Expert Answer

Make sure your piercing is healthy and stable before you switch to a hoop, which can take 6 months or more after you get your piercing.

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Question

What happens if you don't clean your nose piercing?

Community Answer

It can get infected, and your body may start to reject the piercing. Red bumps could appear if you don't clean the area consistently.

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How much would it cost to get my nose pierced?

Community Answer

It differs based on where you live and where you go to get it done. For me, it cost $30

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Warnings

Avoid wearing nose hoops/rings until the location of the piercing has fully healed, which can take 12 to 24 weeks.

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Clean the pliers if you need to use them. Soak a cotton pad in a commercial or homemade saline solution and vigorously scrub any part of the pliers that may touch your jewelry.

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Clean the piercing, as well. Even after your piercing has healed, you should periodically clean it with a mild antiseptic, like benzalkonium chloride, bactine, or liquid antibacterial soap. Doing so will reduce the risk of infection.

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Always clean the nose ring before wearing to prevent infection. Soak the ring in a saline solution made with 1/4 tsp (1.25 ml) salt and 8 oz (250 ml) distilled warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. Alternatively, scrub the entire hoop with this solution using a soft cotton pad.

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Do not wear a nose ring in a fresh piercing. Leave your initial stud in for the first eight weeks.^{[3]
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