Septum Clickers and Retainers
The septum has its own family of jewellery built around one idea: it can be a statement or invisible, on demand. Hinged clickers make the statement, horseshoe circular barbells flip up to hide it, and retainers conceal it completely. This guide covers the pieces made for the septum and how the hiding works, so you can pick the right one for your life.
Vanhess sells piercing jewellery in Coquitlam; we do not perform piercings. Get pierced at a professional studio, then use this guide to choose your septum jewellery.
Clickers for the statement
A hinged clicker is the most popular septum piece: a segment ring that snaps shut for a clean, secure look, worn plain for subtlety or gem-lined for a bold sparkle right under the nose. Clickers are easy to put in and take out, which makes them a practical everyday choice. A gem-lined clicker centred in the septum is one of the most flattering, eye-catching pieces of face jewellery there is, and it is the reason many people get the piercing.
Horseshoes and retainers for hiding
When you need the septum out of sight, two options do the job. A horseshoe (circular barbell) can be flipped up inside the nose so only bare metal, or nothing, shows. A retainer goes further: a clear glass or biocompatible piece, or a plain metal staple shape, that sits hidden in the nostrils and is essentially invisible. Retainers are popular for workplaces with a no-visible-piercings rule. Both let one piercing be a statement on the weekend and disappear on Monday.
Gauge and size
| Style | What it does |
|---|---|
| Hinged clicker | Statement ring, snaps shut, plain or gem-lined |
| Horseshoe (circular barbell) | Flips up inside the nose to hide |
| Captive bead ring | Classic ring, bead feature |
| Retainer | Clear or plain piece that hides the piercing completely |
Our sizing and gauge guide explains these numbers.
Styling
The septum's whole appeal is range. A gem-lined clicker is a bold centrepiece; a thin plain ring is subtle; a flipped horseshoe or a retainer vanishes. Because clickers are easy to swap, many people own a statement piece and a discreet retainer and switch to suit the day. Coordinating the metal with other face and ear jewellery keeps the look pulled together.
What to check when buying septum jewellery
Before you buy, confirm a few things so the piece fits and heals well:
- Gauge match. Buy the same gauge as your piercing, usually 16G or 14G for a septum. Too thin and it moves in the channel; too thick and it will not fit.
- Smooth through the piercing. Choose threadless or internally threaded jewellery so nothing rough passes through the channel. Externally threaded posts drag screw threads through and irritate it.
- Material. Implant-grade titanium (ASTM F-136) or solid nickel-free gold only. Skip anything plated or unmarked.
- Ring diameter. Fit the diameter to your anatomy; a horseshoe or retainer needs enough room to flip up or sit hidden.
- Finish. The piece should feel glass-smooth, with no rough edges or casting pits that can snag tissue.
Style and gemstone options
Septum clickers come plain, beaded, and gem-lined, from cubic zirconia to genuine diamond, in yellow, white, or rose solid gold and implant-grade titanium; thicker 14G reads bolder. Retainers come in clear glass or biocompatible materials for full discretion. For a fresh septum, use a safe metal fitted by your piercer, and save frequent swaps and retainers for a healed piercing.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Changing too early. Swapping jewellery before the piercing is fully healed is the top cause of bumps and setbacks. Wait for your piercer's go-ahead.
- Cheap or plated metal. Nickel and worn plating cause most "my piercing is reacting" problems. Stay with implant-grade titanium or solid gold.
- The wrong size. A post or ring that is too long, too short, or the wrong gauge moves, snags, or presses. Match your gauge and get the length or diameter right.
- Over-cleaning. More than a twice-daily saline rinse, or using alcohol and ointments, slows healing rather than helping it.
- Sleeping on it or knocking it. Pressure and snags are a common cause of irritation, especially in the early weeks.
Aftercare in brief
Whatever you wear, a healing piercing needs the same simple routine: clean it once or twice a day with sterile saline, keep your hands off it, do not twist or remove the jewellery, and leave it in until a professional says it is healed. Stay out of pools, hot tubs, and lakes, and avoid knocks and sleeping on it in the early weeks. Most trouble comes from cheap metal or the wrong size rather than too little cleaning, so the jewellery you choose matters as much as the routine. Our aftercare guide has the full method, and our guide to bumps versus infection covers what to watch for.
Key Takeaways
- Septum jewellery ranges from statement clickers to hideable horseshoes and clear retainers.
- A hinged clicker is the popular everyday choice, plain or gem-lined.
- A horseshoe flips up to hide, and a retainer conceals the piercing completely.
- Choose a safe metal fitted to your anatomy; save retainers and swaps for a healed septum.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you hide a septum piercing?
Two ways: flip a horseshoe (circular barbell) up inside the nose so it does not show, or wear a retainer, a clear glass or biocompatible piece that sits hidden in the nostrils and is essentially invisible. Retainers are popular for strict workplaces.
What is the best jewellery for a septum?
A hinged clicker is the most popular for everyday wear, plain or gem-lined, because it looks clean and is easy to change. For hiding, a horseshoe or a retainer. For a fresh septum, use what your piercer fits in a safe metal, and switch styles once healed.
What is a septum retainer?
A piece designed to make the piercing invisible: usually a clear glass or biocompatible staple or U-shape that tucks up inside the nostrils. It keeps the piercing open while hiding it, which is why it is popular for workplaces that do not allow visible piercings.
What gauge is septum jewellery?
Commonly 16G or 14G, with a ring diameter fitted to your anatomy. A horseshoe needs enough diameter to flip up comfortably. Match the gauge and diameter your piercer used, and use implant-grade titanium or solid gold.
Sources
- Association of Professional Piercers — Jewelry for Initial Piercings
- Association of Professional Piercers — Aftercare
General information, not medical advice. See a professional piercer for the piercing itself. Reviewed 20 July 2026.
Visit Vanhess
We stock septum clickers, horseshoes, and retainers in implant-grade titanium and solid gold at 2929 Barnet Highway, Unit 2424 in Coquitlam. Browse our piercing jewellery, or call +1 (604) 653-6449. See the septum placement guide next.