TitanAir Nasal Strips: what they are, how to use them and who they suit

TitanAir Nasal Strips are drug-free external nasal dilators: adhesive strips with flexible spring-loaded bands that sit on the outside of your nose and gently pull the sides outward while you sleep. Titan designs them to be worn on the soft part of the nose just above the nostril flare, and to pair with its mouth tape. This guide covers what Titan says about the strips, how to put them on and take them off, how they fit with mouth tape, and who should check with a doctor first.

It's a product guide, not a review. We haven't tested or rated the strips ourselves, so every product detail below is Titan's own description.

What are TitanAir Nasal Strips?

TitanAir Nasal Strips are external nasal dilators sold by Titan Recovery. Titan describes them as drug-free, with flexible spring-loaded bands. That puts them in a well-defined category. The FDA's rule for nasal dilators describes an external dilator as one or more layers of material with a spring attached and a skin adhesive that sticks to the nose, acting "with a pulling action to open the nares", the nostrils.

The FDA says nasal dilators are meant for temporary relief of breathing difficulty from structural causes or passing congestion, and that they decrease airway resistance and increase nasal airflow. Nothing is absorbed. When you take the strip off, it stops working.

Here is what Titan says about the strips.

Why does placement on the soft part of the nose matter?

Placement matters because the strip can only lift the part of your nose that can move. The bony bridge higher up doesn't flex, so a strip placed there has little to pull on. The soft, flexible sides just above the nostril flare are where the nose is narrowest and most likely to draw inward when you breathe in.

That narrow area has a name. Cleveland Clinic describes the nasal valve as the passageway that filters the air you breathe through your nostrils, and says that when it narrows or collapses, air can't flow freely and breathing gets harder. It notes that breathing strips can help manage the symptoms of nasal valve collapse, though many people with significant collapse need surgery. Our page on nasal valve collapse explains more.

What does the research say about nasal strips?

The research on external nasal strips is small but fairly consistent: they help people breathe more easily through the nose, and some snorers snore less. TitanAir strips weren't used in any published study, so this section covers external strips in general.

A 1998 study in the European Journal of Medical Research tested an external nasal strip on 30 people with habitual snoring in a sleep lab. Maximum snoring intensity fell on the second night with the strip in 22 of the 30, and the effect was clearest in snorers without sleep apnea. Seventeen of the 30 said they needed some time to get used to the strip.

A 2016 meta-analysis in Pulmonary Medicine pooled 14 studies of nasal dilators. Its conclusion was that dilators have improved nasal breathing but haven't shown improvement in obstructive sleep apnea outcomes. So strips are a reasonable tool for a stuffy or narrow nose and for some kinds of snoring, and they aren't a sleep apnea treatment. The NHS lists nasal dilators or strips among the options when snoring comes from blocked or narrow airways in the nose. Our nasal strip research roundup has the fuller picture.

How do you put on a TitanAir nasal strip?

Putting on a TitanAir strip takes about half a minute. These steps follow Titan's directions.

1. Wash and dry your nose. Skip moisturizer, sunscreen or face oil on that spot, since Titan says oils stop the adhesive from gripping.
2. Find the right spot. Run a finger down your nose until you feel the bone end and the soft part begin, just above the flare of your nostrils.
3. Peel the backing and center the strip on the soft part of your nose, not the bony bridge.
4. Press both ends down along the sides of your nose so the adhesive makes full contact.
5. Hold the ends for a few seconds, then breathe in through your nose. You should feel the sides lift slightly.

Our general guide to applying nasal strips covers fit problems, such as a strip that lifts at the ends overnight.

How do you take a TitanAir strip off?

Titan says to loosen the strip with warm water and peel it slowly from the ends inward. In practice, wash your face as normal or hold a warm, damp cloth over the strip for a few seconds, then lift one end and peel toward the middle while supporting the skin with a finger. Repeat from the other end.

Pulling a strip off fast and dry is what tends to leave skin sore, especially if you use strips every night. If your skin stays red or irritated, give it a night off and see our guide to nasal strip skin irritation.

How do TitanAir strips pair with mouth tape?

TitanAir strips and mouth tape do two different jobs, which is why Titan designs them to be used together. The strip helps the nose stay open; the tape keeps the lips closed so your breath goes through the nose. The NHS table of snoring causes reflects the same split: strips or dilators for blocked or narrow nasal airways, and other devices for a mouth that falls open during sleep.

Put the strip on first, breathe through your nose for a minute to check it feels easy, then apply the tape. Mouth tape is only for people who can breathe comfortably through the nose, so if your nose still feels blocked with the strip on, leave the tape off that night. Titan sells the two together as the Titan Sleep System, covered in our Titan Sleep System guide, and our article on pairing mouth tape with nasal strips explains the reasoning.

Who do TitanAir nasal strips suit?

TitanAir strips suit adults whose nose feels narrow or stuffy at night, people who snore more when their nose is congested, and mouth tape users who want extra help breathing through the nose. In the 1998 study, the strip helped most in snorers without sleep apnea. If you've tried tape alone and found your nose wasn't quite enough on some nights, a strip is the natural next step.

They also suit people who want a drug-free option. Titan says the strips work mechanically, with nothing absorbed, so they act from the outside of the nose rather than on the lining inside it. Our page on nasal strips vs nasal spray compares the two.

Who should skip strips or see a doctor first?

Most adults can try a nasal strip, but some signs mean you should see a doctor first. The NHLBI lists breathing that starts and stops during sleep, frequent loud snoring, gasping for air and daytime sleepiness among the common symptoms of sleep apnea. The NHS says to see a GP if you feel sleepy during the day, stop and start breathing, or make gasping or choking noises in your sleep. Strips don't treat sleep apnea. Our sleep apnea warning signs page explains what to look for.

If your nose has been blocked for weeks, see a doctor to find the cause rather than relying on strips. Skip strips on broken, sunburned or irritated skin. If you're pregnant, ask your midwife or doctor before adding any new sleep product.

The mouth tape half of the routine has its own rules. We don't recommend mouth tape for children. Sleep Foundation says people with nasal congestion or blockage, untreated obstructive sleep apnea, or anxiety or panic disorders shouldn't tape their mouths.

Our pick (paid partner): TitanAir Nasal Strips

TitanAir Nasal Strips are the nasal strips we recommend. We haven't tested or ranked strips ourselves. This recommendation rests on how Titan describes them against what matters for nightly use.

Titan says they're drug-free external dilators with flexible spring-loaded bands, worn on the soft part of the nose where the lift counts, and removed gently with warm water. Titan also says they're third-party tested and certified PFAS-free, designed to pair with its mouth tape, and backed by a 30-night guarantee.

If you already use mouth tape, or plan to, the Titan Sleep System bundles the strips and tape together.

Read next

• Nasal strip buying guide
• How nasal strips work
• Titan Bamboo Silk Mouth Tape: what it is and how to use it

* This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition. Talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your health.