The septum is the most concealable facial piercing available — bar none. A hoop or horseshoe can be flipped up inside the nostrils in under five seconds, making it completely invisible from the front, side, and above. This is the single biggest reason the septum has become so popular: it is a bold statement when visible, and it disappears entirely for school, work, or any situation where it is unwanted.
Here is exactly how to do it, what jewellery works best for concealment, and what to know during healing.
To hide a septum piercing: hold one end of the horseshoe or circular barbell and rotate the ring upward into the nostrils until both ends are inside and invisible from the outside. Clicker rings can be opened and removed entirely. Retainers (clear or flesh-toned) are the most discreet permanent option. Avoid flipping repeatedly during the first 6–8 weeks of healing.
How to Flip a Septum Piercing Up: Step by Step
• Step 1. Hold one end of the horseshoe or circular barbell firmly between your thumb and index finger.
• Step 2. Rotate the ring upward — away from your lip and toward your nose.
• Step 3. Continue rotating until both ends are inside the nostrils.
• Step 4. Check in a mirror from straight-on and slightly below — the ends should not be visible.
• Step 5. To flip back down: reverse the rotation, pulling the ring downward from inside the nostril.
The motion becomes second nature very quickly. Most people can flip their septum in under 3 seconds after a week of practice.
Which Jewellery Is Best for Concealment?
| Jewellery type | Concealability | How to hide | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circular barbell / horseshoe | Excellent | Flip upward into nostrils | The classic concealable option. Both ends must be small enough to sit inside the nostril. |
| Clicker ring | Good | Open and remove, or wear a smaller diameter inside | Cannot be flipped — must be removed or downsized to a small ring worn inside the nostril. |
| Seamless hoop | Moderate | Wear a smaller diameter (7–8mm) inside the nostril | Requires a small enough diameter to sit fully inside; 10mm+ will protrude. |
| Retainer (clear/flesh-toned) | Excellent | Worn as-is — designed for invisibility | The most discreet permanent option. Plastic or bioplast. See below. |
| D-ring / half-ring | Good | Rotate flat side up against the septum | Sits more discreetly inside the nostril than a round ring. |
Retainers: The Most Discreet Option
A septum retainer is a piece of jewellery designed specifically to be invisible. Available in clear acrylic, bioplast (flexible medical-grade polymer), and flesh-toned PTFE, a retainer fits inside the nostril with minimal or no visible protrusion.
Types of Retainer
• Staple retainer — a U-shaped clear or flesh-toned bar that sits inside the septum and nostrils. Completely hidden from the outside.
• Circular retainer — a flesh-toned ring that sits at the level of the nostrils. Less visible than a metallic ring but not as invisible as a staple.
• PTFE tape — in some situations, professional piercers temporarily use PTFE tape wound around the bar ends to make them flesh-toned. Not a permanent solution.
Can I Use a Retainer During Healing?
If you need to conceal the septum during the healing period, do not simply remove the jewellery. The channel can close within hours. A retainer is the correct tool — it maintains the channel while concealing the piercing.
Switching to a retainer during healing should be done by your piercer or with their guidance — particularly in the first 3 months, when the channel is still forming. A poorly inserted retainer can damage the forming tissue.
Hiding During Healing: Important Caveats
• Do not flip up repeatedly in the first 6–8 weeks. The horseshoe rotation moves the jewellery through the healing channel which causes the same micro-trauma as twisting. Flip it up when necessary, but not as a daily habit until the initial healing phase is complete.
• Once flipped up, leave it alone. Do not flip up and down multiple times per day.
• Continue cleaning even when flipped. Saline rinse applies regardless of the jewellery position.
• Do not remove the jewellery entirely during healing. A healing septum channel closes faster than you expect.
Septum Piercings for Work and School
One of the most common reasons people choose a septum over a nostril is the workplace or school concealment requirement. A septum flipped up is undetectable not just subtle. Provided your workplace does not require you to turn out your pockets and look inside your nostrils, a flipped septum is invisible.
A nostril piercing, by contrast, requires a specific very small flat stud to be inconspicuous it is not as reliably hidden. For anyone in a profession or education environment with strict appearance policies, the septum is the most practical facial piercing available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you flip a septum piercing up during healing?
Yes, but not repeatedly in the first 6–8 weeks. Flipping requires rotating the jewellery through the healing channel, which causes micro-trauma if done frequently. Flip when necessary, but not as a daily routine during early healing.
How do you flip up a septum piercing?
Hold one end of the horseshoe barbell and rotate the ring upward into the nostrils. Both ends should sit inside the nostril, invisible from the outside. The motion takes seconds once practised.
What is the most invisible septum jewellery?
A clear or flesh-toned staple retainer is the most invisible option. For metallic jewellery, a horseshoe with small bead ends (3mm or smaller) flipped into the nostrils is the next most discreet.
Can I get a septum piercing if I work in an office?
Yes. A septum with a horseshoe can be flipped up to be completely invisible during work hours. It is the most workplace-friendly facial piercing available.
How quickly does a septum piercing close if I take it out?
Even a healed septum can start to close within hours and shrinks significantly within days. Never remove a healing septum to conceal it use a retainer instead.