Hidden in Plain Sight: A Guide to the Best Hidden Piercings

Many people love getting body piercings, but sometimes they’re not suitable for certain settings like work or religious events. Even though most people today accept piercings, they can sometimes affect job opportunities or break school and work rules.

If you want a piercing but worry about what others might think, choose one that’s easy to hide. Check out our list of the top hidden body piercings for a stylish yet discreet look.

1. Septum Piercing

Horseshoe septum ring

The septum piercing goes through the cartilage in between the nostrils and is quite hard to miss since it’s smack dab in the middle of your face. This piercing looks great, but unfortunately it’s not always appropriate for work or school. Once you get a septum piercing done, it shouldn’t be removed for at least 6-8 weeks. So that basically means that for that period, you’re stuck with it.

horseshoe ring circular barbell with opal
Horseshoe Nose Ring. See it here.

The good news is that it’s actually possible to hide this piercing altogether!  All you have to do is flip your jewelry back upwards into your nose whenever you want to hide the piercing and no one will ever know you got one! The best jewelry for this would be circular or curved barbells since these don’t form a full ring, leaving you the space to flip them into your nose whenever you want.

Although clicker rings can look gorgeous, you might want to avoid wearing them because you’ll find they can’t be flipped up and hidden.

2. Frenulum Piercing

frenulum piercing hidden piercing

This piercing is also known as the tongue web piercing and is a perforation of the frenulum underneath the tongue.

The frenulum is a strip of connective tissue which connects two parts of the mouth together: the tongue and the floor of the mouth. Having this piercing done can feel rather strange at first since you’d have to get used to having something under your tongue all the time.

However, it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a body piercing that’s easy to hide. You don’t have to put a lot of effort into hiding it and the best part about this piercing is that it remains hidden unless you’d want to show it off deliberately.

Just keep the jewelry as small as possible as this will make it easier to hide and won’t cause you any discomfort. You can decide to make it visible or not, the choice is entirely up to you!

3. Belly Button Piercing

Belly button piercing

This is one of the easiest piercings to hide especially if walking around with your belly button exposed is not your thing.

The belly button piercing passes through the rim of your navel and although it’s typically done right above the navel, on the top ridge, it can also be done anywhere around the navel. You can have this piercing done wherever you find a fold or a ‘lip’ around and outside the navel.

Wearing loose clothing will easily hide the bump formed by the jewelry so it won’t be easily seen. It’s perfect for work because no one would know it’s there and when you want to feel a little sassy and sexy? Out comes the piercing!

4. Helix Piercing

Helix piercing good for hidden piercing
Helix piercing hoops. See this here.

Ear piercings are classy, stylish and generally easy to hide although the ears themselves are quite visible. Located on the cartilage of the outer upper ear, the helix piercing can easily be hidden if you have long hair since you can set it in such a way that it covers the ears.

Covering your head with a scarf or wearing a hat also works. Go for simple jewelry, such as tiny studs as these will be much less noticeable than larger jewelry like hoops and barbells.

The smaller and less complicated the jewelry, the easier it is to conceal. For most men who prefer to keep their hair short however, hiding this piercing can be a bit of a challenge.

5. Tongue Piercing

Girl with hidden piercing

Tongue piercings are quite popular and can be an exciting and fun way of making a fashion statement. These can be difficult to hide especially since they are located in such a visible area, right in the middle of the tongue, but it is still doable.

If you want to hide your tongue piercing, avoid opening your mouth too widely when you laugh or talk with other people. Try picking a clear plastic ball or a flesh-coloured tongue piercing barbell as this will be less obvious than flashy metal jewelry.

And you might want to avoid going for ice cream with the people you want to hide your piercing from!

6. Nipple Piercing

Nipple piercings are a cool and stylish trend and you can always hide them easily with clothing. The best kind of jewelry to wear with this piercing is smaller and less conspicuous nipple jewelry so that it won’t be seen poking out too visibly through your bra or top.

If you’d rather wear large jewelry, try wearing thicker clothing such as sweaters or denim clothing that can hide it easily. The same goes for men but remember to keep your shirt on at all times if you want to hide it.

Some Tips to Consider:

retainer flat back studs
Retainer flat back studs. See it here.

There are many options available on the market for hiding body piercings such as retainers and neutral-colour or clear jewelry that are tougher to notice.

Retainers are perfectly safe and easy to use as they keep your piercing open but can be kept discreet at the same time. If you decide on wearing a retainer, make sure to clean the area carefully since they can encourage bacterial growth and can increase the risk of getting an infection. Special attention should be given to oral piercings since they are at a high risk of infection as well.

If all else fails, a small, circular bandaid can be used to hide your piercing, especially if it’s still healing and you can’t use a retainer. While it’s quite obvious that you’re covering a piercing with your bandaid, at least you won’t be breaking any dress code policies this way.  

Just make sure that the bandaid is safe to use around your piercing and won’t cause any irritation. Whatever you do, do not keep taking out your jewelry and putting it back in especially if it’s still in the healing phase because this is a sure ticket for infection.

If you really want to have a body piercing done, there’s no reason to let anything hold you back as it’s your decision to make. There are many ways you can conceal your piercing when you need to and flaunt it when you’d like so the decision is up to you.

Wrapping Up

Hidden piercings let you mix personal style with discretion. Whether you’re in a professional space or considering cultural views, these piercings keep things subtle. Explore concealed piercings and discover one that fits your style and needs.

Dani Rhys

Dani Rhys has worked as a writer and editor for over 15 years in the jewelry niche. She holds a Masters degree in Linguistics and Education. She has always been interested in expression through fashion and accessories, and her extensive experience in the field has made her a respected voice in jewelry trends and education. As the chief editor of Jewelry Shopping Guide, she not only leads the content strategy but also shares her insights through engaging articles. Her passion for storytelling is reflected in every piece she curates, exploring the intricate relationship between jewelry and personal identity.

Jewelry Guide
Logo