I got my nose pierced two weeks ago. Yes, to those of you who haven't seen it or think that spec on my nose in my recent pictures is just a bug or a huge zit, I actually went and paid someone to stick a needle through my nose and insert a stud. It's actually all too common these days.

Now, it seems like everyone and their mother has their nostril pierced, but it's not just a simple one-day procedure. Getting your nose pierced is a serious commitment. It requires work and constant observation to heal, and it limits you from doing many things you take for granted. While it might seem like a simple aesthetic modification to your face, it has many pros and cons that go along with it. Here are some things you need to know before you decide to get your nose pierced.

The first thing to do is research. By research, I mean do more than look up pictures on Instagram of girls with their cute little nose studs. Go to actual piercing websites (yes, they exist and are full of useful information) and figure out if this is something you really want to commit to. I thought about piercing my nose for almost two years before I actually did it, and I researched periodically that whole time -- especially the night before the big day.

Here's some general information.

Go to a very nice, very clean place to get it done. I had mine done at a tattoo parlor, and the whole environment was really sterile and great. (Shoutout to anyone in the Montgomery, Alabama area: Outlaw Custom Tattoo is great and I highly recommend them).

Nostril piercings can take anywhere from three to six months to heal completely. Most piercers will recommend that you not change out your first stud for at least three months. I have read cases for both, but the general first piece of jewelry you'll want is a rod with a stud. It works a lot like an earring except, you know, for your nose.

Nostril piercings do hurt, but it depends on your level of pain tolerance as to how bad the pain will be. I went with a friend and while she felt almost nothing, I would rate my pain as about a six out of ten. It hurt, but only for about a second.

Yes, it will bleed. It will bleed for up to three days after the initial piercing depending on how much you move your nose on a daily basis, and the position of the piercing. And, yes, you will have to clean it. I clean mine twice a day with a simple saline solution and purified water using pointed cosmetic cotton swabs. Some people will suggest you use tea tree oil or coconut oil, as well, but I personally wouldn't oil my piercing. You cannot submerge it in pool, lake or ocean water (or any water that isn't purified). Showering is fine, but you have to clean it right after.

OK, clinical stuff aside, what is it really like to have a nose piercing? Well, frankly, a little annoying. I love my nose piercing, I think it's super cute and every time I see myself with it becomes more and more a part of who I am, but it's a tough place to get pierced. Your nose is literally the center of your face. And having a nose piercing, at least for the first six months or so, is essentially having an open wound in the center of your face. You have to be careful with soaps, makeup and your hands. I can't tell you how many times I've rubbed my face and nearly ripped this thing out since I got it. Luckily, and by the grace of God, I haven't gotten any sort of infection. But my point is, don't think it's as simple as getting an earlobe pierced. It's so so easy to accidentally touch it or twist it, and neither one of those things are good for the healing process. You can't sleep on it, and you really can't pick your nose without other tools for the first few months (and trust me, stuff builds up in there when there's a rod blocking the exit).

There's also the issue of judgement. As a person who until recently was job hunting, this was something I was very afraid of. While having metal in my nose in no way says anything about me as a person, other than the fact that I like having jewelry in my nose, I was afraid that it made me less presentable as an employee. However, I've faced little to no judgement since I did the thing. A few old ladies shooting me disappointed looks, but no negative comments or judgement of my character. Even my family liked it and agreed that it was "something I would do."

So now on to the good things. The best thing about my nose piercing is that I love it. It's really that simple. No matter what anyone else in my life or on the streets thinks of me or it, I love the way it looks and I'm proud of myself in that I actually went through with getting something I've wanted for so long. It's so much a part of me now that I feel like I'm more like myself than I was before I got it. It's an outward extension of my personality and I can't wait to be able to customize it more. In some ways, it's even helped me to overcome some of my natural social anxieties.

So, if you're considering getting a nose piercing, or any other big image change, I say go for it. The most important thing about any change you make to your body is the fact that it is your body. If you think a certain change, like a tattoo or a piercing, is good for you and will make you happy, then do it. Of course, research and think deeply about what you're doing, but don't let what others think hold you back from anything. Do what makes you happy, and live according to your own standards of beauty. To me, my nose piercing is beautiful. Not just because it's cute and sparkly, but because I love it and it's genuinely become a part of me in the short time I've had it.