Everything you need to know about the spiritual, social, and cultural meanings of a left nostril piercing

Ah, the age-old question… What side of your nose should you have pierced, and what does it mean? If you’ve been thinking about piercing your left nostril but want to ensure you know exactly what doing so might mean, you’re in the right place! In this article, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of all the possible meanings of having your nose pierced on the left side so you rest easy and make your decision with confidence!

Things You Should Know

  • Piercing the left nostril was thought to indicate one’s sexuality, but this is untrue, as piercing location ultimately comes down to personal preference.
  • In Ayurvedic medicine, the left nostril is associated with the female reproductive system. Pierce your left nostril to ease menstrual cramps and birthing pains.
  • People often pierce the nostril on the side of their face they like most. Pierce your left nostril if your left-side profile is your go-to for selfies and group photos.
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Sexual Orientation

  1. A left nose piercing may relate to one’s sexual orientation. While you should never speculate on someone’s sexual orientation based on which side of their nose they have pierced, some people on TikTok pierce the left side to indicate they are heterosexual or bisexual. That said, regarding sexuality, the significance behind piercing one nostril over the other has lost its specificity and can mean whatever you want.[1]
    • Don’t overthink it. If you’re wondering if someone’s nose piercing means anything relating to their sexuality or if you’re considering getting a nose piercing for yourself, go with whatever you think suits you best and makes you feel confident.
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Ayurvedic Fertility & Pregnancy

  1. A left nostril piercing is thought to make childbirth less painful. Ayurvedic practices believe that the nasal cavity has multiple nerve endings that, when pierced, help to relieve pain in other areas of the body. Because the left nasal cavity is associated with the female reproductive system, birth-giving people have chosen to pierce the left side of their nose to help aid them through a more comfortable birthing process.[3]
    • If you’re a birth-giver hoping for a less painful birthing experience, getting your left nostril pierced might help to manage or minimize the pain during labor.
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Association with the Hindu Goddess, Parvati

  1. A piercing on your left nostril honors the Goddess of marriage, Parvati. In Hindu culture, having your nose pierced on the left side is considered a mark of beauty, honoring Parvati, the Goddess of motherhood, power, energy, nourishment, and marital bliss. The Goddess Parvati herself is depicted as wearing a left nose piercing, or “nath,” forever connecting her to this deeply significant and ancient cultural practice.[7]
    • If you’re of Indian heritage or a practicing Hindu, piercing the left side of your nostril is a beautiful way to honor the Goddess Parvati and traditional Hindu culture.
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About This Article

Savannah Vold
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Savannah Vold. Savannah Vold graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2020, earning her B.A. in English with a specialization in Literature and Culture of Information. Passionate about accessibility and fostering a love for the arts, she started her literary, arts, and culture-based website, The Executant. At wikiHow, Savannah feels fortunate to learn about new and exciting topics daily and is driven to empower anyone, anywhere, by providing accurate and engaging knowledge. This article has been viewed 3,400 times.
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Co-authors: 5
Updated: March 13, 2023
Views: 3,400
Categories: Nose Piercing
Article SummaryX

Usually, a piercing on the left nostril is simply a matter of personal preference. Most people get a piercing on the side of their face that they consider most attractive. However, sometimes people pierce the left side to indicate something about their sexuality—for example, they may use it to signal that they are straight or bi. Some people may also pierce the left nostril for cultural or medicinal reasons. For instance, in Ayurvedic practice, the left nostril is thought to be connected to childbirth and fertility, so left nostril piercings are used to reduce pain from childbirth or menstrual cramps.

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