The nostril piercing takes around 4 - 6 months to fully heal. It’s always a good idea to talk to your piercer before stopping aftercare practices or changing your jewelry. Healing times vary from person to person, and sometimes the interior of your piercing takes much longer to heal than the exterior. Cartilage piercings have a tendency to form piercing bumps if you don’t adhere to proper aftercare practices, so it’s important to make sure that you treat the nose piercing very carefully during the first six months. Jewelry style is important. You can choose either a stud or a hoop as your initial jewelry, but the hoop will cause the piercing to heal with a slight curve, so it’s recommended that you start with a nose stud. You can always switch to a hoop later. Studs come with a variety of prong styles; the one you choose will come down to personal preference. It’s important to note that your first jewelry will need a longer prong in order to accommodate swelling. The longer prong might itch or poke the inside of your nose, but once you’re fully healed, you can get a better-fitting nose stud that will be more comfortable.