The septum piercing — from tradition to trend
The septum is probably the most historic facial piercing in the world. Practiced for thousands of years in tribal cultures from New Guinea (asaro, imapul), India (Adivasi culture), Africa (Maasai) and South America (Amazonian tribes), the septum was originally a symbol of courage, maturity and warrior status. Traditional jewellery was made of bone, wood, feathers or bamboo tubes. At Funky Tattoo in Piața Romană, Bucharest, we honour this tradition through impeccable technical execution, but use modern jewellery made of ASTM F136 titanium or 316L surgical steel.
In tribal culture, the septum was reserved for men who had gone through initiation rituals — in Maasai culture, young warriors (morani) received the septum after their first lion hunt. In the asaro culture of New Guinea, the septum with a large clay ball was worn to impress enemies. This symbolic load has partially survived in the modern collective mind, which is why the septum is still perceived as a "courageous" or "non-conformist" piercing.
Modern popularity exploded after 2010, when celebrities like Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Zoe Kravitz, Bella Thorne and Post Malone began wearing the septum publicly. Between 2015 and 2025, the number of septums performed at Funky Tattoo increased by over 400%, becoming the second most requested facial piercing after the nostril. The septum has become mainstream in punk, goth, emo subcultures, but also in high-fashion — fashion houses like Jean Paul Gaultier, Maison Margiela and Alexander McQueen have included the septum in runway shows.
The unique advantage of the septum is that it can be completely hidden by flipping the jewellery up inside the nostrils. For clients working in strictly dress-coded environments (corporate, hospitals, schools, military), the septum is our main recommendation. We use for the piercing a horseshoe-shaped jewellery (circular barbell) or a septum retainer — both flip up instantly and become invisible from the front and profile. Thus, the septum offers the unique flexibility of being "on" on weekends and "off" at the office — an advantage that no other facial piercing offers.
Aftercare for the septum
The septum is a "clean" piercing compared to other facial piercings — it is not exposed to hands (like the nostril), not exposed to the mouth (like the lip) and not exposed to the eyes (like the eyebrow). But it has two specificities: it requires double cleaning (external and internal) and must be protected from mechanical trauma to the nose. At Funky Tattoo we offer a written protocol, adapted for the septum, with three main components.
External cleaning is done with sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) twice a day: applied on a soft paper tissue or with a saline spray, soak crusts for 2-3 minutes, then gently remove. The outer face of the septum (visible) is easy to clean. Avoid alcohol, betadine, peroxide, antibacterial soaps — these destroy newly formed tissue.
Internal cleaning is specific to the septum and requires attention. Inside the nostrils, around the jewellery, dried mucus accumulates that can irritate the tissue. We recommend internal cleaning 1-2 times a day with diluted betadine (1 drop of betadine in 10 ml of saline), applied with a thin cotton bud on both faces of the septum. Diluted betadine is a mild antiseptic that does not irritate the nasal mucosa — use only the diluted version, pure betadine causes burns. Alternatively, you can use exclusively saline, without betadine, if you prefer a 100% natural approach.
No aggressive nose blowing in the first 6 weeks — forceful blowing can displace the jewellery, cause bleeding and prolong healing. Blow gently, one nostril at a time, without covering the other. Avoid wiping your nose with your hand — use soft paper tissues. Avoid cleaning the nose with a finger (common habit) — it transfers bacteria that can cause infection.
Other recommendations: no pools, sauna, baths with soap in the first 6 weeks. No jewellery change in the first 8 weeks — we do it free at the first check-up. Flip-up for hiding is allowed after 4 weeks, not earlier — the tissue is still fragile. For any concern (redness, increased pain, yellow-green discharge, breathing difficulty), call +40 731 525 808 or write to contact@funkytattoo.ro. Funky Tattoo is a DSP-authorised studio in Piața Romană, Bucharest, and post-piercing consultation is free and unlimited in the first 6 months. Our main piercer has over 8 years of experience with septums, and the risk of hitting the cartilage instead of the sweet spot is practically zero.