For those with more materialistic concerns, noserings bring other hazards. Employers--especially those of the Wall St. variety--are not known for their fondness of excess facial jewelry.

Taylor, for instance, says she was once told in a job interview that if she wanted the job, she would have to remove her nasal adornment.

Despite the drawbacks, nosering bearers insist that many concerns by non-wearers are simply overblown.

Contrary to popular belief, wearers say, noserings are not cold against the skin in the winter. They do not fly out when the wearer sneezes. And they are not annoying, even with a runny nose, wearers said.

"You get used to it," Taylor said. "I never, ever notice it, except when I look in the mirror. It's really not that big a deal."

Of course, that doesn't mean noserings are right for everyone.

"I think they look really good on some people and really horrible on some others," Holdt says. "I knew someone in high school who pierced his nipple. I'm not quite that crazy. I had a diamond nosering and I really liked it but I lost it. I like small flat ones. I wear one all the time."

Even Holdt--who has worn noserings for nearly three years--says she runs into trouble every once in a while.

"Someone brought me back a nosering from India," she says. "But it was threaded like a corkscrew and really painful. If anyone can tell me how to wear it so that it doesn't hurt, I'd be really grateful."

And there's always the problem of connotations. Shehabuddin, whose favorite nosering is a tiny pearl, says she worried about sending the wrong messages by piercing one of her nostrils.

"The right one used to be associated with prostitutes on the Indian subcontinent," says Shehabudding. "There's less of a stigma attatched to the left one."

Most of the time, however, Taylor says people should not worry about the connotations when they ponder getting a nosering.

"I don't think there should be any symbolism attached," Taylor says. "It doesn't mean you're a punk rocker or a rebel--it just is."

On balance, most nosering bearers seem happy, as they wear broad smiles below their sparkling gems.

"I think it's a great thing. I think it's really fun," Gammons says. "If you're into piercing, then I highly recommend it. I never take it out except to change it."

So it's little wonder that Nester advises the curious to try the feat for themselves.

"It was painful, but I think it was worth it," Nestor says. "I would say if you want it, you should do it."