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What is a Nasallang / Tri-Nasal Piercing? Required Anatomy, How to Heal, and Alternatives

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As one of the more unusual piercings, the nasallang (or tri-nasal) piercing is relatively unknown. If you are interested in getting something truly unique, the nasallang could be a great option for you. In this article we will discuss what a nasallang piercing is, if it is a good option for you, and what the healing process is like.

Anatomy of a Nasallang Piercing

A nasallang piercing pierces horizontally through both nostrils and the septum (this is where the name “tri-nasal” comes from). A straight bar is worn through the nasallang so it gives the appearance of having a double nostril piercing with studs in and the septum piercing is not visible. Nasallangs can vary where they are placed based on anatomy, so it is best to visit your piercer to get an estimate of what it will look like on you.

Nasallang vs Double Nostril

Many people who are interested in a nasallang instead decide to settle with double nostril piercings. On the outside, a nasallang looks exactly like a double nostril with studs. A double nostril also allows you to swap your jewelry into rings if you get bored with studs. Also, the third piercing through the septum is very tough on the body and lengthens the healing process. Add in that not many piercers will pierce a nasallang, and a double nostril piercing becomes a very attractive alternative.

Can You Have a Tri-Nasal and a Septum at the Same Time?

Because the tri-nasal pierces through the septum, many people wonder if they can also support a septum piercing. Obviously this is anatomy dependent, but most people can support both piercings. If this is important to you, it’s a good idea to mention it to your piercer before you get either pierced. This will allow your piercer to place the piercing in a position to be able to accommodate both piercings.

Jewelry for a Tri-Nasal Piercing

Nasallang piercings can only accommodate one type of jewelry: straight barbells. You can change the ends on your barbell if you get tired of the look. If you’re interested in making a unique piercing even more interesting, you could fit a nostril chain to the ends of the bar. Keep in mind that, especially with a piercing as invasive as the tri-nasal, it is vitally important to wear a safe material such as implant grade titanium.

Pain During the Nasallang Piercing Process

As expected, the nasallang is one of the more painful piercings. Piercings that pierce twice (such as industrials) are painful enough. The nasallang piercers through three separate tissues at the same time. While it is not in a particularly sensitive area for most people, the triple piercing increases the pain a great deal. Pain varies from person to person, but a nasallang is typically around a 8-9 on the pain scale.

How Long Does it Take to Heal a Nasallang Piercing

Like all cartilage piercings, the nasallang takes at an absolute minimum, six months to heal. However, because it pierces through three separate tissues, the nasallang takes a good bit longer. To fully heal a nasallang, expect to wait about twelve months. Luckily the nasallang doesn’t typically get easily bumped, so the healing process itself is not too painful.

How to Find a Piercer That Will Pierce a Tri-Nasal

Unfortunately it can be difficult to even find a piercer who does nasallangs. Because they are so rare, it can be hard for an apprentice piercer to find one to shadow and therefore, few piercers are trained in how to pierce nasallangs. Even if you are able to find a piercer that does nasallangs, you may find that they are unwilling to pierce you if you haven’t received many piercings or if you have a history of poorly healing piercings. This is because the tri-nasal is very invasive and difficult to heal, so they want to make sure you know how to properly heal a piercing so you don’t get injured during the healing process.

If you have healed a decent number of piercings, check out the APP website to search for piercers who pierce nasallangs near you.

Conclusion

Nasallangs (or tri-nasals) are incredibly unique piercings. They pierce through three pieces of tissues which can make them painful and hard to heal. It can also be very difficult to find piercers that will pierce a nasallang for you. Double nostril piercers may be a good alternative for you if you like the look but don’t want to go through the pain and healing process.