For individuals with pierced noses, it can be difficult to find an appealing nose stud. Unfortunately, many piercing businesses offer a limited selection of nose studs and it can be hard to find the right stud by shopping online, as it's difficult to get an idea of the stud's exact size, profile and precise appearance. Making a homemade nose stud is ideal for cases when a stud or nose ring is accidentally lost and an immediate trip to the nearest retailer isn't possible. (Leaving a nose piercing without a stud or ring will result in closure of the piercing hole, sometimes in a matter of hours in the case of a newer piercing.) But fortunately, it's fairly easy to make a nose stud from traditional stud earrings.

  • Gold or Silver Stud Earrings
  • Two Pairs of Needle-Nose Pliers
  • A Fine-Grain Metal File
  • A Pierced Nose
  • Ruler or Tape Measure
  • Rubbing Alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide

Creating Your Own Nose Stud

Select the stud earrings that you'd like to turn into a nose stud. The studs should be gold or silver to avoid irritating the sensitive skin of the nose. Pay attention to the profile of the earrings; studs with a large stone and large setting will protrude from the nose. The best nose studs are made from earrings that are small, with a low profile when viewed from the side. They should be lightweight; a large, heavy gem will pull out of the nose instead of resting flush against the skin.

Use a fine-grain metal file to smooth the edges at the end of the earring post. This portion of the earring will be located inside the nostril, so it's important that it's smooth to avoid irritation.

Starting at the bottom of the stud setting, measure 1/5 of an inch down the stud post.

Grasp the stud post with two pairs of needle-nose pliers positioned on either side of the point located in Step 2 -- a point on the earring post that's about 1/5 inch down from the bottom of the setting.

Use the needle-nose pliers to slowly bend the earring post into a 90-degree angle, creating an "L" shape. The bend should be about 1/5 of an inch down the post.

Position one pair of pliers at the very tip of the earring post, which is now the horizontal part of the "L." Position the other pair of pliers on that same horizontal portion of earring post, right before the bend.

Use the pliers to gently bend the lower, horizontal portion of the earring post (the bottom part of the "L") into a half-circle, curling upward.

Place the new nose stud into a cap full of rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide for two full minutes to sterilize the stud before inserting it into the nose piercing.

  • If the visible portion of the nose stud sags and pulls away from the skin instead of sitting flush, this may be due to a stud gem that's too heavy. This can often be remedied by positioning the 90-degree bend slightly higher on the earring post. For a more subtle look, opt for gold instead of silver. Gold tends to blend with skin better than silver, which offers more contrast.