Nostril Ring

If you don’t have a hoop to measure, you can take a reference measurement beside your nostril.

1. Look straight into a mirror with your face relaxed.
2. Hold a small millimetre ruler beside your nostril, without pressing into the skin.
3. Look at the distance from the centre of the piercing to the nostril edge where you expect the hoop to pass.

Keep that number as a placement reference. It does not fully account for nostril thickness, the piercing angle or the curve of the ring, so it is not automatically the inner diameter to order.

Do not put paper, a ruler or another object into your piercing. There is no universal “add 1mm” rule that guarantees the fit.

For your first hoop: ask a piercer to check the fit around your nostril and write down both the recommended gauge and inner diameter. The measurement above can help you explain your placement, but it cannot tell you the wire thickness.

A smaller inner diameter makes a smaller circle. Whether it fits depends on your piercing’s position, nostril shape and thickness.

An 8mm hoop can sit close on one nose and leave a gap on another. A larger hoop may be needed to fit someone’s anatomy comfortably, rather than to create an oversized look.

Choose the fit around your own piercing. A model’s size, or a size described as “popular”, is not a reliable starting measurement for you.

If you have no previous hoop size, use the placement check above and arrange a fitting before choosing a number by appearance alone.

If you don’t know yours, first check your piercing record, previous order or the specification of your current jewellery. Look for G / gauge or a measurement labelled wire thickness.

If you cannot find it, a piercer can measure your jewellery. An ordinary ruler or wearing photo cannot reliably distinguish these small differences.

Fine-looking does not automatically mean right for your piercing. Do not force a thicker wire through, or assume a thinner one will solve a fit problem.

A snug hoop should follow your nostril comfortably, without pulling the hole down, pinching or digging into the skin when your face moves.

A little visible space is not proof that the size is wrong. Your piercing position affects how the ring sits.

If it leaves an indentation or pulls your nostril out of shape, have the fit checked. Do not keep sizing down just to make the visible gap disappear.

You’re welcome to show us the look you want, even if you don’t know your size. A clear front and side photo with your face relaxed can help explain whether you want the ring closer or roomier.

Tell us whether you currently wear a stud or hoop, and whether there is pulling, pinching or an indentation. Include any measurements you have — it is fine if you don’t know them.

Camera angle and scale change how large a hoop looks. We may need to suggest an in-person measurement before we can help you compare sizes responsibly.

Someone else’s wearing photo can explain a style, but their size may not give you the same fit.

Comfortable, but you want less visible space? Find its current diameter first. Compare a nearby diameter while keeping the gauge the same, so you are changing one measurement at a time.

Pressure, pinching or an indentation? Ask your piercer to assess the fit rather than treating discomfort as a styling adjustment.

Reducing the diameter by 1mm does not mean the visible gap below your nostril shrinks by exactly 1mm. The whole circle changes size, and its position matters.

First check the original order: it may already list the gauge and inner diameter.

If your piercing is fully healed and you can comfortably change the jewellery, place the ring flat beside a millimetre ruler. Measure across the widest inside opening, from one inner edge to the opposite inner edge.

Do not measure around the curve, use the outside edges or bend the ring open to measure it.

For example, an 8mm inner diameter with 1mm wire is approximately 10mm across the outside. Ordering a 10mm inner diameter would give you a larger ring.

A 6mm stud does not mean you need a 6mm hoop. The stud passes through the nostril; the hoop must also curve around its edge.

Wait until the piercing is fully healed and your piercer confirms it is ready. Looking settled on the outside, or reaching a calendar date, is not enough on its own.

Tenderness, crusting, swelling or a bump are reasons to have it assessed before changing. STEPOY seamless hoops are for fully healed piercings.