If a small nose hoop is the look you want, it is worth mentioning that before your piercing appointment. Your eventual jewellery choice helps guide the conversation about placement, but the jewellery you wear at the start may be different from the piece you wear once healed.
At The Viper Pit in Irlam, a stud is generally used for initial nostril piercing healing. A hoop can be considered later, once the piercing is fully healed and the fit is suitable. Here is what to discuss before booking.
Why does starter jewellery matter?
A new piercing needs jewellery chosen for its placement and your anatomy. Size, style, material and finish all matter; choosing purely by appearance can overlook the practical fit.
The Association of Professional Piercers explains that jewellery for a fresh piercing must be appropriately sized and suited to the area being pierced. The look you want is part of the discussion, alongside the requirements of the new piercing.
Chris will assess your nostril and explain the starter jewellery being fitted. Tell him if you have sensitivities to particular metals or questions about the available options.
Tell us if your goal is a hoop
A hoop follows a different shape from a stud. Show us a reference photo of the look you like: a close-fitting ring and a larger, looser ring are different choices.
Placement and jewellery size need to work together. A photograph is useful for explaining your preference, but copying another person’s exact ring size is not a reliable way to choose jewellery for your own nose.
We can discuss your preferred side, the position and the eventual style before marking the piercing. You do not need to decide everything on your own beforehand.
When can you change your nose stud to a hoop?
There is no single date that suits everyone. A piercing can look settled on the surface while still healing internally, so appearance alone does not establish that it is ready for a change.
Ask your piercer to assess it before switching. Persistent tenderness, irritation or crusting are reasons to seek advice rather than force a jewellery change. Do not treat a jewellery check or a change to a shorter post during healing as permission to switch to a decorative hoop.
If the starter jewellery needs adjusting, contact the studio. Changes during healing should be handled by a qualified piercer.
Choosing a hoop once the piercing is ready
Once a hoop is suitable, its diameter, thickness and material still need consideration. A ring that looks tiny in a product photograph may fit very differently on your nose.
Bring your preferred look to the jewellery discussion and ask what size works with your placement. Avoid forcing jewellery into a piercing or repeatedly swapping pieces to try different fits.
What does a nostril piercing cost at The Viper Pit?
Our booking page currently lists nose/nostril piercing at £35, with suitable starter jewellery and aftercare guidance. Check the current listing when booking, and ask about any optional jewellery choices separately.
The piercing is performed with a sterile, single-use needle. Jewellery is fitted separately; we do not use piercing guns.
Book a nose piercing near Salford and Urmston
The Viper Pit is based at 84 Liverpool Road, Irlam, M44 6FN, welcoming clients from Salford, Eccles, Urmston and the Trafford Centre area.
Browse our piercing menu, or read about visiting us for piercing near Urmston. If you are unsure which appointment to choose, contact the studio before booking.
Book your nose piercing at The Viper Pit and let Chris know if a hoop is your eventual goal.
Further reading: Association of Professional Piercers: jewellery for initial piercings and piercing aftercare. Studio booking details checked on 12 October 2026.