The gauge is the width of the stem that goes into your nose. The two most common gauges are 20g and 18g, Even though it might seem wrong at first, the smaller the number the larger the wire (stem). It's because wire can only get so big before it stops really being wire, but it can get almost infinitely smaller, needing more numbers. If you don't know your gauge, you can call your piercer if possible and see what they pierce at, or take a current nose stud to a piercing shop or jeweler and have it measured.

This is the one with a loop on the end that you'll see in most of my photos. It's the most popular shape and my personal favorite.
Pros: Very secure, comfortable, and painless to put in and take out. There's also a little extra metal to work with in case it doesn't fit right and you need it adjusted as well.
Cons: Learning how to put one in can be a little tricky at first, and if you have a very small nose or if it fits you a little loosely a some people can have the loop turn and show a bit under their nose. If you have one that does this you may just need it to fit more snugly. Measure you current one in millimeters and we'll figure out what length you need :)

I make all my pieces out of solid sterling silver or gold. I never use any plating, and nothing in my shop will ever contain nickel as I am allergic to it ;) I pride myself in the quality of my work, so I would never use inferior materials. This business is my passion, my full time job, and my livelihood so I take it very seriously.

Yes! I turned my love for sculpture into passion for jewelry making. I hand sculpt and carve all my little animals from scratch. I do not buy charms and pretend that I made them, these are the real deal, and only available through me! (unless you see them at a store I wholesale with :P ) If you go to my website (http://www.puccoonraccoon.com) you can find a lot more info and pictures on my process. Follow my on Facebook or Instagram to keep up on my newest pieces and deals on pre-ordering!

Unfortunately, no. Silver is only for well healed piercings, and you need to leave your original stud in for at least 3 months. This is due to the fact that sterling silver can tarnish through a process called oxidation (a reaction from being exposed to air) A fresh piecing, or an infected/ irritated piercing can hasten the oxidation process and cause various chemical reactions. A side effect to this can be a dark mark left on the surface of your skin.

A very simple shape that looks like the capital letter L
Pros: Extremely easy to get in and out. Very little metal inside you nose so it's low profile and unlikely to show.
Cons: The ease of getting the stud in your nose means it also easy for it to come out again. If you've had problems losing your studs in the past, you might want a more secure stem.

This is a short straight stem with a tiny fixed ball on the end that you pop through your nose.
Pros: Secure, with practically no metal in your nostril so there's nothing to turn or tickle the inside of your nose.
Cons: The ball is meant to be bigger than your piercing, so it can be fairly uncomfortable to get in and out. You need to make sure your gauge is correct as too big will prevent you getting it in, and if it's too small the stud won't fit securely and it can easily come right out. Also if you need longer than my standard 6mm length it won't go all the way through the piercing and this will make your nose really annoyed with you, causing irritation and bad feelings all around.