I wanted an ear piercing, my mom negotiated a nose piercing!

Ruthu Sreebashyam, California USA

Ruthu is a co-conspirator for the brand name 'NaakNook', way back in 2017 when she and Jeena met over some really good wine and unending conversations about our passion for nose piercings, and how they help us express how we feel!

We are excited to kick off 'My Nosering Story' series with this badass woman!

When did you decide to get your nose pierced, left or right, and what inspired you to do it?

RS: I didn’t decide actually. Funny story, this was a barter for getting my second and third ear piercings. My mom said she’d approve only if i got my nose pierced and the almost teenager said yes to more piercings.

What's your go-to nose ring style, and why do you love it?

RS: It has changed depending on the phase of my life. When I first got it done, it was a tiny gold string in the form of a ring because it helped heal faster, then i graduated to the standard college girl silver ring because it looked cooler. People started to recognise me as the girl with the nose ring both at college and during my first job because not a lot of people were still open about non-traditional nose pins/rings but it was only those “fast” girls which I was totally comfortable being labeled as 😀. However, as I grew older, I really started to fancy tiny stud bone style nose pins because they were dainty enough and looked really nice with anything traditional wear or non-traditional. More recently though I’ve learnt to experiment a lot more and depending on the occasion and my mood, it changes but the nose pins with tiny stones are my go-to if I can’t make up my mind. 

Do you remember the experience of getting your nose pierced?

RS: It was funny that it started out as a barter with my mom about what all I am going to get pierced. I literally went through piercing my second tops, third tops, my nose and then one side of the cartilage but got so tired with all the piercing that I decided to come back later which i never did so my dream of getting the cartilage one pierced was adhoora (hindi: incomplete). I was more thrilled about my second ear piercing than the nose but i’ve grown to love my nose piercing a lot more than the ear piercings.

Share a fun or adventurous story related to your nose ring journey.

RS: The backdrop to why my mom actually saw the opportunity and asked me to pierce my nose was that she always loved how Lambaadi women(Telangana regional tribe) had even their tiniest of baby’s nose pierced with a cute little ring. When I was 6 months old, my mom wanted to get my nose pierced and her brothers screamed at her so she really held on for the longest time I can tell to make her dream come true.

Have you ever had a funny or awkward situation related to your nose ring? How did you handle it?

RS: The one thing that is yucky but I get why people ask is how do you clean your nose! The younger me would just display the process infront of them and they would never ask again. The older me would offer to show the process and they would politely and sometimes not so politely decline.

Have you ever been surprised by how others react to your nose ring? Tell us about it!

RS: Never been surprised but surprised at the names they would come up with. My colleagues at HSBC for instance used to call me ‘Kaanta laga’ because the girl in the video had a nose ring in the song.

For the Newbies, any advice for someone who's considering getting their nose pierced for the first time?

RS: Enjoy the pain and the pleasure that comes with it! 

For the Newbies, what's one thing you wish you knew about nose rings before getting one?

RS: Nothing actually. I’ve loved everything I’ve discovered along the way and I feel like i found the right ones at the right time!

For the pros who already have a nose ring, what's one unique or daring nose ring style you'd recommend they try out?

RS: Septum!!!! My first one was again gifted by my mom but I have not had the courage to try it yet.

If your nose ring could talk, what do you think it would say about your adventures together?

RS: Naak uncha kar diya mera! (Hindi for 'Makes me proud' or Raised the bar,')

Entwined Hearts

Buy Now