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An eyebrow piercing is one of the most common facial piercings although it’s a relatively new style of piercing. It is a unisex fashion statement and is quite popular among both women and men nowadays.
Eyebrow piercings are a relatively new addition to the realm of piercings and doesn’t appear to have any cultural or tribal ties to it. It was actually introduced as a part of the fashion realm back in the 1980’s during the ‘Punk’ era and since then, has become a staple piercing style for those who want an uncommon and eye-catching piercing.
If you’re considering getting an eyebrow piercing done, you may want to put some thought into it first as it will permanently scar your face and healing the scars can be very difficult and expensive to do. Take a minute to read our complete guide to eyebrow piercings and find out whether getting this is the right piercing for you.
What is an Eyebrow Piercing?
This piercing is a perforation of the skin that rests just under the skin and goes anywhere along the ridge of the eyebrow. The most common location for an eyebrow piercing is from the outside corner of the eye at a 35-degree angle, which can be done as a single or double perforation. The great thing about this piercing is that there are a number of variations that you can try out to get the look you desire.
Types of Eyebrow Piercings
- Vertical Eyebrow Piercing
This is the standard eyebrow piercing style and is a vertical piercing that can be done at any point along the ridge of the eyebrow. It is one of the most commonly seen piercings and while some people prefer to have one piercing done, others choose to have multiples which can reach up to 10. If you’d like to have just a single piece of jewelry looped through your eyebrow area, then this is the piercing to go for. This can also be done at a slight angle for a different look.
- Horizontal Eyebrow Piercing
Like the vertical piercing, this too is a standard option and is pierced horizontally in the most popular location towards the outside corner of the eye. Both the vertical and horizontal piercings can be dressed up and given a unique look by using creative jewelry options and picking placement that suits your style.
- Multiple Eyebrow Piercing
Multiple eyebrow piercings, like this unique one, are the trend right now and are a combination of vertical and horizontal piercings or just vertical ones. A type of piercing that always stands out is the T eyebrow piercing in which a vertical and horizontal piercing overlap, resulting in the creation of a ‘T’ shape.
- Bridge Piercing
This piercing is one of the first that actually ventures off the eyebrow itself. To find the exact location of this piercing, trace the ridge of the eyebrow down to the bridge of the nose and you will find it right there. The piercing is horizontal, with the jewelry visible on either side of the nose and right between the eyes. If you’re opting for this piercing, it is important to make sure that you have the right facial characteristics for it, as the area needs to be quite fleshy for this piercing. If the skin is too tight in this area, the piercing can easily shift about. This is sometimes classified as a nose piercing too.
- Anti-Eyebrow Piercing
This piercing is located opposite the eyebrow, below the eye and the same distance from the eye as a standard eyebrow piercing. The exact placement can be anywhere along or just below the ridge under your eye.
Best Eyebrow Piercing Jewelry
Eyebrow piercings are usually done using a 16G needle. When choosing jewelry for your eyebrow piercing, you need to take a few factors into consideration such as the shape, the size and the type of metal. There are a few types of jewelry that work best for this type of piercing:
Curved barbell
The jewelry of choice for eyebrow piercings, the curved barbell is designed in a way that fits well on the eyebrow and is typically recommended and used for the initial piercing. Unlike hoops, it won’t pull at your piercing and cause other issues during the healing process.
Straight barbell
This type of jewelry is also quite popular for eyebrow piercings. The barbell is a straight rod with beads on both ends. There are many unique and vintage straight barbell designs available on the market for you to choose from according to your preference.
Captive bead ring
This is also known as the ‘bead closure ring’ and is a universal piece of jewelry which can be worn with almost any type of piercing. These rings come with a ball or a small bead which fits into an opening in the circle of the ring. They are quite popular among the piercing community as they are convenient to use and for eyebrow piercings, they fit well without causing discomfort. It is also used as initial piercing jewelry.
Twister ring
Add an interesting twist to your piercing with a twister ring which comes in the shape of a spiral road. These come with playful and colourful end beads so you can have fun choosing what suits you.
Eyebrow Piercing Pain – Can I Handle It?
An eyebrow piercing is a simple procedure that involves a single needle and is considered to be one of the less painful piercings, so it falls lower on the pain scale than other types of piercings. Unlike ear, nasal or lip piercings, there are less nerves on the eyebrow so the experience should be relatively comfortable. However, pain is subjective and everyone’s pain threshold is different. Here’s what one piercee says about the eyebrow piercing:
Amanda – “I’ve had mine done for a year now and it has been by far the easiest piercing I’ve had. It didn’t hurt at all and the only drawback I’ve experienced is that you have to be very careful to not get clothing/towels caught in it. It becomes second nature after a while though.”
While some people may feel a lot of pain, others may not feel any at all. Therefore, we cannot say exactly how painful this piercing is likely to be but it’s safe to say that it won’t hurt too much.
Eyebrow Piercing Aftercare
Eyebrow piercings usually take around 2 to 3 months for the primary healing process and up to 4 months to heal completely. During the healing process, it’s important not to change or move your jewelry around even if you want to hide it since the skin in this area is delicate and soft and movement can cause jewelry rejection and scarring.
Adhering to the following aftercare rules is crucial when it comes to letting your eyebrow piercing heal since healing depends on how well you take care of it.
- Be careful when getting haircuts: although this may seem like a strange tip, eyebrow jewelry can get caught easily in combs. Since the skin is so fragile, the risk of tearing your new piercing is very likely and can lead to many complications so watch out for this when going for a haircut. If possible, try to avoid getting a haircut until the piercing has healed.
- Avoid using makeup and face wash: using these during the healing period is not recommended as chemicals or foreign substances of any sort should not come into contact with your new piercing. While this can be a challenge, it is of vital importance in order to avoid skin irritation and other issues.
- Go for precious metals: jewelry rejection and migration (moving from their original position) are some of the biggest issues that come with eyebrow piercings. One of the main factors that contribute to this is the usage of cheaper metals which are more likely to be rejected by your body. Therefore, try to choose precious metals such as 14k gold for your piercing.
- Do not wax your eyebrows: like makeup and face wash, wax is a foreign substance that can cause complications if it comes into contact with your piercing. If needed, you can pluck the hairs around the piercing but remember to be extremely gentle to avoid the piercing getting irritated. Don’t forget that this is a very delicate piercing so try your best to keep it as safe as you can.
- Don’t touch or move the jewelry: although it can be tempting to keep touching and playing with your new eyebrow piercing, avoid doing so since it can cause complications such as infections. If you must touch the area, wash your hands thoroughly first. Otherwise, keep them away from your piercing. Every time you touch your jewelry and move it around, you’re interrupting the healing process and it could take a longer time to heal.
- Eat, sleep and rehydrate: make sure you get enough sleep, eat well and drink enough water since this will all contribute to a faster healing process.
The bottom line is, if you take excellent care of your eyebrow piercing, it is likely to heal faster and you will be safe from the complications that result from inadequate aftercare. Keep an eye out for signs of infection such as green or brown puss, redness and warmth around the pierced area or swollen lymph nodes under the jaw. Fever is an indication of a serious infection so be careful and seek medication attention immediately if you experience any of these signs.
Eyebrow Piercing Cost
The typical cost of an eyebrow piercing can be anywhere from $20 to 70 depending on the piercer and the cost of the jewelry used. Horizontal and anti-eyebrow piercings general cost about $30 – $80 but this also depends on the cost of the jewelry that is used for the piercing.
If you’re going for an eyebrow piercing, make sure you find an established and reputed piercer since this is a piercing that permanently scars your face and you don’t want to leave room for mistakes. So it’s best not to let the price affect your decision and choice of piercer.
Pros and Cons of Eyebrow Piercing
If you’re not sure whether or not the eyebrow piercing is right for you, weighing the pros and cons first could help you to decide.
Eyebrow Piercing Pros
- It is less painful than other piercings.
- It looks good on both men and women.
- It looks stylish and attractive.
Eyebrow Piercing Cons
- Jewelry can get trapped which makes it risky.
- It scars the face permanently.
- Jewelry migration and rejection is a high possibility.
- Facial piercings can affect employability.
Getting an eyebrow piercing done is your choice and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have it done if you really want it. However, before you go ahead, consider how convenient or otherwise it will be for you. When you’re that it’s the right choice for you, get it done and enjoy the new version of you!
