The Different Types of Piercings and What Each One Entails
Piercings have become a popular form of self-expression and body adornment, with each piercing having its own unique style and symbolism. From earlobe piercings to dermal piercings, the different types of piercings available can seem overwhelming, especially if you're new to the piercing world. In this blog, we'll take a closer look at the different types of piercings and what each one entails, with a focus on Samma Charles Art, one of the best piercing studios in Boston.
Earlobe Piercing: The most common type of ear piercing, the earlobe piercing involves creating a hole through the soft tissue of the earlobe. This piercing is usually done with a single-use needle, a guide pin, and a threadless labret with jewelry. Typically one of the nicer piercings to get and a common first piercing for a lot of people, ear lobes are a great starting point in your piercing journey.
Helix Piercing: The helix piercing is located on the upper/outer cartilage of the ear. It starts when the cartilage starts forming in your upper lobe area and does cover the extent of your upper ear. Some helix piercings have different names depending on the placement of the piercing within the helix area. For example, the Flat Helix is located in the area located in the middle of your upper ear. Your Forward Helix is located on the inner side of the ear, along with the piece of tissue that connects your temple to your ear. It is a common misconception that Helix piercings can be done with a ring straight away, now in some cases, this has gone correctly however that does not mean it will go right every time, and sometimes that person just got lucky. Helix piercings should never be done with a ring, barbell, or curved barbell and always be done with a flat back internally threaded or threadless labret.
Conch Piercing: The conch piercing is one of the most popular piercings at the moment due to being able to use larger pieces of jewelry or multiple piercings in the area. It goes straight through the middle part of the ear and seems like it would be one of the more painful ones, however it is actually one of the nicer cartilage ones to get! It is very quick and even though you might hear a slight popping noise, it is over and done with before you know it!
Rook Piercing: Getting your rook pierced is always a very fun way to tie in an interesting piercing! It will be performed with a single-use needle going through the outer ‘shelf’ part of the cartilage above your conch. This piercing has to have a curved barbell in it to being with but once healed, looks very cute with a little ring!
Daith Piercing: There is a lot of misinformation out there about the Daith/Darth piercing. The most common is that it can help cure your migraines. Now I hate to be the party pooper however, it is not a proven fact and there is not scientific evidence to suggest it is correct. Some clients have said that it helps, and others have said that it hasn’t. I think it is more of a placebo effect but if it doesn’t work, at least you have gained a pretty new piercing! The piercing again must be preformed with a single-use needle and either a curved barbell or a larger diameter ring.
Tragus Piercing: Tragus piercing is located on the small, round cartilage in front of the ear canal. It can only be done with a flat back labret and can take anywhere from 6 months to a year to heal. This does depend on the client as everyone heals at different rates.
Industrial Piercing: Industrial piercing involves connecting two piercings with a single barbell. It is typically done on the upper cartilage of the ear and can take up to a year to fully heal. This piercing requires very specific anatomy and does require a very good piercer to perform properly. There are many things that can go wrong with this piercing if performed incorrectly and on incorrect anatomy.
Nose Piercing: The nose piercing is a popular piercing that involves making a hole through the nostril. It again has to be done with a flat back labret, this ensures that it will have a successful heal and allow you to size down or change to a snug hoop once healed. Healing can be anywhere from 6 months to a year.
Septum Piercing: One of my favorite piercings to perform and just in general, the septum piercing is an adorable addition to your face! Using a single-use needle, a hole is created in what we call your ‘soft spot’ in your nose, this is the slightly squishy part of your nose that connects your septum to the front of your nose. The septum piercing can be performed on people who have a deviated septum, it is definitely a little more tricky for the piercer however, it is still achievable. (subject to change depending on your piercer's opinion) a Horseshoe ring or Hinge ring can be used in this piercing.
Lip Piercing: Lip piercings come in different styles and locations, such as labret, vertical labret, or medusa piercings. The healing time can range from 6 months to 12 months depending on the location and type of piercing. All Lip piercings should be performed with a single-use needle, guide pin, and a flat back labret or curved barbell to minimize any damage to your gums and teeth.
Eyebrow Piercing: The eyebrow piercing involves creating a hole through the eyebrow, and has to be done with a curved barbell. Healing time can range from 6 weeks to a year. It is important with eyebrow piercings that you look after them and ensures a smooth healing process.
Navel Piercing: The navel piercing involves making a hole through the skin around the navel. The correct anatomy is also very important for this piercing, this piercing cannot be performed on ‘outies’ and only when the navel has enough space to allow the piercing to sit correctly can it be performed. I see a lot of navel piercings performed on people that do not have the correct anatomy and once they have gotten it done they realize they have just had their stomachs pierced instead of their navel. It has to be done with a curved barbell, it can take anywhere from 6 months to a year to fully heal.
Piercings are a popular form of self-expression and body adornment, and the different types of piercings available can seem overwhelming. However, by understanding what each type of piercing entails, you can make an informed decision about which piercing is right for you. Samma Charles Art in Boston is the perfect piercing studio to help you achieve the look you desire. With their commitment to cleanliness, safety, and professionalism, you can trust their team to provide a piercing experience that is both safe and enjoyable. So if you're in the greater Boston area and looking to get a piercing, be sure to check out Samma Charles Art for a top-notch piercing experience.
