The Different Types of Nose Studs

A nose stud is a small stud worn in a nostril piercing, held in place by a back that sits inside the nostril. Most nose studs are labret-style studs, and what separates one from another is how the decorative front attaches, the shape of the back and the front itself. The main types are the internally threaded stud, the threadless (push-pin) stud and the fishtail.

Nose studs in our range are made at 16g (1.2mm), the labret-style standard, while fishtails run to the finer nostril gauges. The gauge has to match your piercing, so if you are replacing a stud, check the thickness of the post you already wear before anything else — the front and the back are a matter of taste, but the gauge has to fit.

What is an internally threaded nose stud?

An internally threaded stud is the most common type by far. The post has a threaded hole at the end, and the decorative front screws into it, so the bar that passes through the piercing is completely smooth and only the front comes off. It is secure — the top will not work loose on its own — and it is the fitting almost all our nose studs use, in silver, gold and black titanium. If you want one stud you can re-top with different fronts, this is it.

What is a threadless (push-pin) nose stud?

A threadless stud, also called a push-pin, has no screw thread. The decorative front has a small pin that pushes into a hollow post and is held by tension against a slight bend in the pin. There is nothing to screw, so it is quick to change and the hold is firm once seated. Our push-pin labret posts and some threadless studs, such as the moss agate design, use this fitting.

What is a fishtail nose stud?

A fishtail is a straight stud with a long, plain post that your piercer bends to the exact length and angle of your nostril, so it ends up shaped to you rather than to a standard. It gives the closest fit of any stud because nothing about it is pre-set. Ours are set with opal, and they run at a finer gauge than the labret-style studs.

What backs do nose studs come with?

The back is the part that sits inside the nostril, and the shape changes how the stud feels. A flat disc is the most common and the lowest-profile — it lies flat against the inside of the nostril so there is nothing to catch. A cone end is a small tapered back, and some studs use a shaped bac

k such as a heart. For most people the flat disc is the comfortable default, and it is the back on the bulk of our range.

What decorative fronts are there?

The front is where the choice really opens up. The simplest is a plain disc or ball. Beyond that, our nose studs come set with CZ stones in clear, red, black and green, with opal, and in a very large range of shapes — stars, crescent moons, crosses, daggers, snakes, skulls, snowflakes and more. Dangle studs add a small hanging charm, chain or spike below the front. Because the front is interchangeable on a threaded or threadless post, you can change the look without changing the stud.

Which gauge are nose studs?

The labret-style nose studs are made at 16g (1.2mm), which is the standard for this kind of stud. Fishtails run finer. Gauge is the thickness of the post, not the size of the front, and it has to match your piercing — so match the stud to the post you already wear rather than choosing on looks alone.

Which material should a nose stud be?

All our nose studs are ASTM F136 titanium — implant-grade, hypoallergenic and a good choice for sensitive skin. Titanium is light, which matters on a small stud where you want the jewellery to feel like nothing, and it holds a colour finish, so the studs come in silver, gold and black.

How do I choose a nose stud?

Start with the gauge — 16g for a labret-style stud, finer for a fishtail — and match what you already wear. Then pick the fitting: internally threaded for a secure everyday stud you can re-top, threadless for the quickest change, or a fishtail for a bespoke fit shaped by your piercer. Choose a flat-disc back unless you have a reason not to, and then the front is yours — plain, a CZ or opal stone, a shaped top or a dangle.

Browse the full range in our nose piercings collection, or see the wider nose piercing jewellery range for hoops and rings too.