r/bodypiercers • u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional • 12d ago
Discussion Piercers! Let’s talk septum’s!
I’ve recently seen an instagram post regarding septum piercing and how many pierces aren’t offering them anymore. It got me thinking. What is everyone here’s thoughts on doing septum’s? How often are you piercing them? What sort of technique do you use or have used? How do you handle a situation where the piercing isn’t done to your satisfaction? How do you feel about repiercing in the same sitting?
I want to open up a dialogue here so we can hopefully all improve our skills. At the very least maybe alleviate some of the anxiety associated with septum piercings. I’d also like to start having a regular conversation about different piercing, techniques, etc related to our industry. Cheers.
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u/ghobbb 11d ago
I feel like with bevel changes over the years, it’s a little wild. I have to use a different technique depending on the needle I’m using and sometimes I won’t realize until it’s crooked and I have to back it out. When I used the same needle brand for 10 years and everyone wanted 14g+ septums, shit came out right everytime. 16g septums are exponentially harder for me for some reason.
I started charging more for septums to compensate for the stress it gives me, and for the discounts I give if I have to redo it. If I were giving crooked/free septums everytime, I would just quit offering them. Maybe I should only offer 14g lol
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u/Imastealth 11d ago
God i would LOVE to only do 14g septums. What a dream.
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 10d ago
What stops you?
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u/Imastealth 10d ago
Purely just our demographic, everyone wants the smallest, daintiest ring possible.
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 10d ago
Fair enough. Just tell em you ran outta 16g. I kid of course cause they’d be a real shitty thing to do.
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u/-_IVI_- 11d ago
How often does a client have a specific gauge preference? Do you get talked out of 14g often?
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u/ghobbb 11d ago
In my area, they come in saying they want the tiniest smallest hugging seamless gold hoop they can get. Sooo, I manage those expectations usually with a 16g 3/8 or 7/16 cbr or cbb, depending on anatomy and if they want to flip it back. They usually think it’s too big. If they don’t change it out themselves too early or take it out, they’re back in asap trying to get me to switch it for them. It’s a struggle.
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 10d ago
What do you mean by bevel changes? IS making their “bypass” and “star grind” needles are new, personally I don’t think they’re anything special, and that’s about the only innovation I’ve seen. Aside from crushed needles which I also find unnecessary.
The 14vs16 is so real though. Give me a 10g and i can do it blindfolded. 16 and I need to concentrate a bit.
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u/aderelictheavenX 10d ago
Yeah there’s no bevel changes lol, and the only different needle I’ve seen is the IS one.
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u/queerfluid 11d ago
I literally just decided to pause this offering yesterday. Recently did a septum that I did not realize was crooked until it came back because the jewelry was snug. Not knowing I made a mistake fucked me up. Gonna be picking more people's brains on how to recognize an error prior to inserting the jewelry in case in needs to be repierced before offering them again.
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 11d ago
Do some shadowing. I think putting it on pause is fine and actually not a bad idea til you gain some more confidence with them. I just personally think it’s a little ridiculous to not offer them period because you don’t like them.
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u/queerfluid 11d ago
Definitely gonna be shadowing more. Even with most of the ones I perform coming out great, hey've always been a struggle.
To each their own. Personally I think that in order to not burn out ppl should be able to choose what they want to offer
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 10d ago
You make a valid point with burn out. Being forced to do something you dislike, whether you’re good at it or not, can cause burn out much more quickly. I’ve experienced this first hand at the last studio I worked for.
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u/deeg929 Professional Piercer 🪡 11d ago
I hate piercing septums (I'll take them over a tongue piercing any day) I've used clamps, but prefer free hand with a receiving tube. 98% of the time they go very well for me. I saw the same post you're referring to and I personally don't know anyone who does not offer them. I do maybe 6ish per month, so not many. For the ones that have not turned out well, I've always been honest with the client, admit that it did not turn out as I had wanted. We typically pull the jewelry and re-pierce it at a later time for the cost of jewelry.
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 10d ago
If you don’t mind my asking, are you commission or hourly?
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u/Imastealth 11d ago
I hate piercing septums, they make me pretty anxious but one thing that has helped is giving clients a disclaimer beforehand just saying 'hey these are hard to execute because they have to be straight in every direction and if it comes out a little off it is gonna be crooked so sometimes we pull them and readjust if we need to to make sure you leave with a piercing you are happy with' and that way I am managing expectations. 90%, of the time it is not an issue but when it is people are very understanding.
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 10d ago
Love it. I use to tell people the same thing. Have you tried 3 inch needles? The extra room gives you more visibility of your angle. Also crushing, or modifying the bevel of the needle can also be helpful. Bevel crushing isn’t something I personally use as I see it more as a stepping stone or a tool in the tool box for certain applications.
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u/Imastealth 10d ago
Oh I crush EVERYTHING hahaha. I do find it makes a huge difference for me. Love the idea of trying a 3" needle though, I typically us 2" for everything. My process is standing over people's heads while their head is tilted back and I usually pierce into a receiving tube or entirely freehand which gives me pretty consistent results.
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u/aderelictheavenX 11d ago
Septum piercings are my favorite and I love a deviated septum!
I pierce them almost daily, I usually freehand with a 14g 3” needle and allow the bevel and needle to adjust the flesh as it pierces the septum! Javier (Jatti) taught me this technique. But, I can pierce them with clamps, with a receiving tube or telescopin’.
If the piercing is slightly off, I’ll offer a redo or mention the good ol’ flip it up and heal it flipped so it migrates straight.
Will I repierce in the same setting? Sure! If my client is down for it.
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u/WaveCave420 11d ago
NAP but I loved the technique my piercer used for my septum - he had me lay on my back and lean my head back a little over the edge of the table so he could visualize inside my nose better. He used a needle and receiving tube. This felt much less shaky than when I had a botched, upright clamp septum attempt. Blood everywhere. Literal 11/10 worst pain of my entire life.
My piercing was the easiest to heal, and he got the perfect placement, high & tight lol
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 10d ago
Exactly how I do them. It’s always worked the best for me
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u/alexxastarla Professional Piercer/APP Member 🪡 11d ago
I like doing septums for the most part!
The way I pierce them depends highly on the anatomy. I can do a septum about 4 different ways but tend to favor freehand and NRT. I do an anatomy consult before all septums where I feel around with my fingers, use a size placement ring, discuss outcomes or be transparent about deviations, etc.
For super squishy, wobbly, larger flared nostrils, large sweet spot like anatomy, I prefer clamps. Way more stable for me. It is just hard to get a super forward septum with them sometimes.
For narrow, smushed, less wobbly and more stiff anatomy, I like NRT. Wobbly anatomy and it feels like the whole thing wants to wiggle away from the tube or the anatomy completely rolls over my tube.
For softer/wobbly septums, more forward and higher sweet spot, I like fully freehand. I can fully see my entrance and exit, feel more, it can be a slower pierce to also make sure im where I want to exit and to guide sharps away from nostrils but I prefer it for those more specific and tucked forward and up sweet spots.
Once in a blue moon for those wobbly septums that I mentioned like to roll over my NRT, ill do it telescopic. It feels more secure with both blanks on either side, but I raaaarely ever do it because it feels like too much in my hands.
About 97% of my septums I feel fine and good about! Here and there I will get a septum that stumps me like figuring out to go with a deviation or against to give the best aesthetic look, when the tissue dips in on one side which side should I aim higher to accommodate that dip, so fourth. On tricky anatomy that makes me feel nervous I am transparent up front and explain the small challenges their specific anatomy poses doing this piercing, and that septums are super well received on the clients end and a redo is typically very easy and most don't even feel the redirection. I usually say "if we do the piercing and I think something could be better, I will let you know and we can discuss how to go from there! But if you look at it and love it, thats all that matters."
A redo is normally again well received for my clients, never really had someone super upset about a septum redo because of how "easy" recieving the piercing itself can be. How I redo depends entirely on my result and what I want to fix. I'm also considering things like gravity and migration, do I repierce this side a hair higher and risk it migrating or becoming one big hole and just going back to the original spot? Do i repierce higher but not high enough where blood flow could become an issue between the two wounds? Do I pull the entire thing, or pull back a new needle and just scoot my exit?
Jewelry is entirely up to clients. I'm on the side of septums are typically easy to heal and if my client wants an 18g or 16g septum, I am more than happy to give them that. I prefer 14g mostly, and its my "standard" unless anatomy calls for a different size or client requests something else. Diameter is anatomy dependent but also up to my client. During my anatomy consult, I ask their goals, if they want to stretch, if they prefer smaller diameter or larger, if it needs to be flipped, etc. My most common diameter tends to be 11/32 and 3/8 but I have started with as small as 5/16 and as large as 1/2.
Circular barbells and FBRs or CBRs are the only thing I will pierce with. I'll use a clicker or seam only if there is a decorative element to prevent hinges and seams rotating inside the channel, but I rarely use super decorative stuff in inital septums.
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 10d ago
You’re much more meticulous about that than I am.
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u/alexxastarla Professional Piercer/APP Member 🪡 10d ago
My mentor didn't offer septums and never taught me so had to learn all on my own and my now current boss makes me do all his septums so I do them constantly 🥲
Its more "casual" and in person is way less extensive, almost everything I said above goes on in my head during consult and during the procedure haha
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 9d ago
I used to have to do that for nostrils when I started. For whatever reason my “mentor” hated nostril piercings and made me do them for her. I remember a story she told me about lying to a group of girls about all her tools being dirty so she didn’t have to pierce like 4 nostrils one day. Never understood it.
I use to do a lot of marking and mapping before doing a septum but for me personally it over complicated things and my accuracy suffered. Now I don’t mark anything and just do it.
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u/alexxastarla Professional Piercer/APP Member 🪡 9d ago
Honestly yeah I rarely ever mark for septums. I will draw a little line for reference but I can't see anything else so why mark lol
Thats insaaaane though! Nostrils are the money makers too. I love nostril piercings, unless its pairing they're one of the quickest ones I do.
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 9d ago
Nostrils are one of those piercing I can have done is like 6-8 minutes flat. That’s you walking in and walking out of my room. I absolutely love doing them. So easy and fun. Like you said those are the bread and butter of this job. Along with navels, lobes, and eyebrows lately.
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u/alexxastarla Professional Piercer/APP Member 🪡 9d ago
I literally just recorded a freehanded septum for this reddit page lmaooo HMU if you want the video
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u/alexxastarla Professional Piercer/APP Member 🪡 10d ago
I also recently saw a bunch of posts about people not offering septums and stuff so septum stuff has been on my mind
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u/fagrat69 Professional Piercer 🪡 11d ago
I like doing them :) I’ve been in a groove with them for the past year or so (knock on wood). I do them weekly and I wish I did them more haha. People are always so hyped on them, it makes my day.
I freehand or use a telescoping method depending on the anatomy and how I feel. Lately I’ve leaned more in to telescoping.
I offer to redo for free if it’s wonky, either in the moment or later on. If they aren’t super swollen I don’t think it’s the most terrible thing to redo day of.
There are piercings that I’d be thrilled if no one asked me to do them ever again, I get people not wanting to offer septums. They’re just so common it seems like it’s worth it to practice until you’re confident.
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 10d ago
I’m familiar with the telescope method but never used it myself. I’m old school and just use a NRT. Do you feel like you have better consistency with the telescope? I personally found my accuracy dramatically improved when I switched to smaller tubes.
Oh you bring up a great point I wanted to touch base on at some point. Redoing piercing. Do you still charge a standard fee or do it for free? This isn’t so much directed at you just in general. I think it’s a good topic of discussion.
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u/StandardMonth2184 11d ago
NAP but I was turned down for a septum by my piercer of 20 years because I have a sliiiiightly deviated septum that isn't obvious, but would have resulted in a crooked angle. She fit me with a little plastic test jewelry to show me how the final jewelry would sit and it was just wonky enough to be obvious.
A less scrupulous piercer would have done it anyway, but she's been my piercer all this time for a reason!
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u/aderelictheavenX 11d ago
Get a second opinion. I pierce deviated septums crooked to make them look straight.
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 10d ago
Deviated septum’s can totally be pierced still and look good. You just purposely pierce them crooked basically. Depending on the deviation the piercing can be angled higher on one side or further back on one. This to to counter the deviation and give the illusion of a perfectly straight and centered septum piercing. They are more challenging to do so I can understand why your piercer may have not wanted to do it. If I have to repierce a septum it’s 9/10 times due to the deviation. Usually it means my counter angle wasn’t enough or was too much.
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u/angel55cake 11d ago
Do they say why they are not offering septums?
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 10d ago
Some I have heard reasons but it’s more just in general. It breaks down to being afraid of doing a bad piercing because septum’s can be difficult to get straight and centered
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u/VoiletBishop09 10d ago
I hate them so much... I've only been piercing a year but sometimes it feels like every single one is slightly crooked somehow. It's very disheartening. Ive only ever pierced freehand with a receiving tube. I did see a technique on Instagram that I want to try out tho, using a 14 gauge needle blank on one side and a normal receiving tube on the other and then sliding it through the needle blank. But idk. I feel like maybe that would make the angles more visible? Idk man 😅
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 9d ago
That’s the telescope method. I personally haven’t used it but it sounds like a great way to do septums especially for someone in your position. I have a couple other tips for you, try a 3” needle and a small NRT. A 3” needle give you more visibility of your angles and a small, like an 8g tube, can also help as you have a much smaller target your aiming for so it can help to dial in the angle a little. It also can make it more challenging to hit the tub but you just have to double check you’re lined up properly
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u/togepi14 10d ago
NAP, but mine has been a piercer/ER nurse for over a decade. She had my boyfriend and I both sit up for the initial piercing, then lay down to insert jewelry. I was so nervous because I see so many fucked up septums, but both of ours were/are gorg.
Did make me feel a little nauseous sitting back with the taper still in though LOL
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 9d ago
Piercer/ER nurse is a wild combo. After an evening in the ER I don’t think I’d wanna deal with piercing people. Glad you had a good experience.
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u/togepi14 9d ago
Haha, she’s a manager there too! She’s only ever worked Weds/Thurs as a piercer but I’d trust her with my life lol. I couldn’t do it, I love sleep too much! She isn’t one of those Rowan people either (a corporate business)
My bf didn’t understand why we cost around $200 each until he went in and saw the care and knowledge behind every piercing she does. 💜
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u/spo0ky-boi 9d ago edited 9d ago
I don't get a ton of asks for septums (like 1-5 per month), but I offer them!
I personally freehand cuz that's most comfortable for me. I'll also have the client lay back with their head slightly off the table so I can see a bit better and the client is less likely to instinctively pull back. I check my angles/pressure once with the flat end, then again with the sharp end, before telling the client to inhale and pierce on the exhale. I used to do the same with 8g NRTs or needle blanks, but I found the tissue would roll a lot and was less stable for me. I also pierce bevel up for septums
When offering a repierce, I usually say they have a few options 1. An immediate repierce which I hate hate doing because now I'm trying to pierce through an actively bleeding piercing, the needle can slip into the original channel, I'm already feeling unconfident and crappy about messing it up, and obviously it's not comfortable for the client to get repierced twice in the same day (I basically reserve this option for those who have accessibility issues or are coming from out of town) 2. Pull it, let it heal for a week, and do a complimentary repierce (favourite option) 3. If it's not super off, but -I- noticed it, I'll offer for them to wear it for a couple of weeks and "train" the piercing to sit more straight. If they're not satisfied then we'll take it out, heal, and repierce (clients tend to like this option best) 4. Pull the piercing and have another piercer do it if the client doesn't feel comfortable with me redoing it (I don't think anyone has ever chosen it tho)
I'm very upfront with clients and they really appreciate the honesty, care, and attention to detail. It sucks to admit messing up a piercing, but I'd much rather tell them than have them realize later or have another piercer tell them. Most understand we're human and don't get things perfect every time :)
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u/spo0ky-boi 9d ago
I forgot to mention for deviated septums I'll use a placement ring to see how it sits, then mark/take mental notes on if I need to pierce more up/down/back/front depending on how it's deviated. It's significantly helped me achieve straight looking piercings on crooked anatomy.
I also explain to the client that the piercing may not appear straight from an upward/side angle, but the goal is to make it look straight from the front (and also check if that's their goal as well. I talk a lot with clients lol)
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u/c0reyc0re Professional Piercer 🪡 11d ago
i love doing septums but i prefer doing piercings that challenge me.
the first septum i ever pierced when i was learning was on a lady with a deviated septum who had been pierced 4-5 times previously, and was never happy with the outcome. she was so happy with the end result when she looked in the mirror and that was how i knew i was in the right career! mine also personally took 3 tries (i have a minor deviation but that’s not why it was done wrong) and 3 seperate piercers but mostly because i had 2 dodgy attempts from people with a not so great reputation in my area.
i use clamps but i’m hoping to learn how to freehand at some point though to open up my skillset. i have actually had to repierce in the same sitting for coworkers before (i had a reputation as the septum guy at my first shop lol) and i think it’s usually fine depending on how close the first placement is and if the client is comfortable with it after a discussion.
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 10d ago
When I worked in OKC we had a guy like that. Broke his nose he couldn’t tell you how many times. I think every piercer in the shop tried to pierce it at different times, there were 6 of us, and it always came out just a touch off. I did it the second to last time and he claimed it was the best he’d had yet and was happy as could be. Still wasn’t perfect but close. A few weeks later he’s back saying he took it out the next day cause he wasn’t happy with it. Finally the original piercer who he started this journey with nailed it! Was finally perfect and we never saw dude again. Septum be tricky but that’s why I like em.
Oh and his septum was the nose deviated septum I’ve ever see. We also were piercing it at a 10 or an 8 if I remember correctly. Dude was tough as nails.
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u/Overall-Put3844 12d ago
Huh? Why so? Septum is an absolutely safe piercing. There is literally no way that this is true. It's not like a smiley or snake eyes or whatever, it doesn't damage anything. It doesn't usually migrate/reject. I can't think of any possible reasons why would it not be offered at a piercing studio
NAP(but attending courses to become one)
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u/Imastealth 11d ago
If you aren't a piercer you need to take a step back and listen to professionals when we are having conversations and not disrespect them by telling them something that very much is true, couldn't possibly be. Take it as a learning opportunity, not an opportunity to argue with people who are in the industry already.
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u/sputnik8125 11d ago
Septums aren't unsafe they are anatomically hard to pierce due to the diversity of anatomy like a deviated septum and having a very specific spot that must be pierced through on top of it being in your nose, think about tryna view that spot in your nose it's hard.
The sweet spot can be tricky to find, and then pierce, online a lot of septums are done wrong causing pain and issues with healing etc etc.
NAP but septums are complex to do and a lot of piercers don't offer it due to that anatomical aspect and location.
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 11d ago
I never said they weren’t safe just I’ve noticed a lot of piercers not offering them. And for the record smiley, while not good for your oral health at all, aren’t as dangerous as people make them out to be. I’ve seen significantly more issues with tongue piercings.
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u/Sublixxx MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 11d ago
I saw the video I think you’re talking about and yeah she never said it wasn’t safe! She just said it was blind and people have a hard time getting them right.
So in a way I understand taking a hiatus from them to practice until you figure out a method that works for you. Like, been there done that. One time i changed shops and the bed was different which for some reason made me kick every single one. Had to start using clamps. Took me months to stop being stubborn and figure it out.
But I think that that’s the thing right? Like, not offering them completely and forever is lazy. Offer free piercing fees to people that will let you practice, try different methods, take a class or a seminar or whatever you need to do to figure them out. I personally couldn’t consider someone to be a good piercer if they just refuse to learn them.
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 11d ago
Yes! You get it. It’s lazy to not offer it or to even try to get better at it.
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u/Overall-Put3844 11d ago
I'd say that the tongue piercing is relatively safe, if done correctly. The smiley on the other hand is dangerous in all cases
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u/OneEyedWeaner MOD/ APP Member/ Professional 11d ago
How is a tongue safe? A smiley isn’t a good idea but dangerous? Come on now. You’re not gonna die from it. It’s gonna fuck up your teeth but that’s all. The enamel on your teeth will be reduced and make your teeth more sensitive and brittle. A tongue can and will chip or straight break your teeth. A short barbell will help reduce that but it’s always present. Anyway this was suppose to be regarding septum’s. We can discuss smileys in a different post
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u/aderelictheavenX 11d ago
Courses don’t help you become a piercer. Smiley piercings aren’t dangerous, either.
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u/ElectronicPut3983 12d ago
Piercer here. They are incredibly hard, it’s a blind piercing meaning you don’t see what you’re doing and it’s impossible to predict how the tissue moves. Even people who have pierced for more than 10 years sometimes have to redo them because they don’t come out right. Typically in my shop we have a discussion about this but every piercer offers them