Eyebrow piercings are one of those things that seem to slip seamlessly in and out of style. It's a strangely timeless piercing; if it's not in vogue today, just wait a few months for it to come back into fashion.

Popular among both men and women, the eyebrow piercing is truly a unisex fashion statement. It can be placed anywhere along the eyebrow, but it's typically located just past the arch of the eyebrow.

WHAT IS AN EYEBROW PIERCING?

The eyebrow piercing is a piercing that appears along the eyebrow. Because it sits perpendicularly to the skin and has a separate entry and exit point, it's technically a surface piercing. This means that it's also a bit more prone to piercing rejection, so you need to find a reputable piercer who can conduct the piercing properly in order to minimize this risk.

There are a few more things that you should consider before getting your eyebrow pierced. Here's everything that you need to know about the eyebrow piercing.

DO EYEBROW PIERCING HURT

In general, the eyebrow piercing falls lower on the pain scale than other piercings. You will feel a pinch and some pressure, but it shouldn't be anything unbearable.

You might feel more discomfort and experience more swelling immediately after getting your eyebrow pierced than you might with other piercings. None of this is anything you need to worry about; it should go away on its own. To encourage healing, stay away from blood thinners, use a cold compress, and get plenty of rest.

If you see any of these symptoms in excess, play it safe, and see a doctor.


Getting eyebrow pierced

EYEBROW PIERCING HEALING TIME

The eyebrow piercing takes around 2 - 3 months to heal. During this time, you shouldn't change or move your jewelry, even if you want to hide it. The skin in this area is soft and delicate, and moving the jewelry can cause scarring and jewelry rejection.

Eyebrow piercing aftercare rules

You should adhere to standard aftercare practices while letting your eyebrow piercing heal: clean with a piercing aftercare saline solution 2 - 3 times daily per your piercer's instructions. The fragility of the skin around the eyebrow means that you need to be extra careful as it heals. Eyebrow piercing jewelry is susceptible to migration and rejection. If you mess with your jewelry too much, jewelry rejection will be a certainty.

Here are some tips specific to healing an eyebrow piercing.

Don't wax your eyebrows during healing. You need to keep foreign substances away from your piercing during healing, including wax. If you have bushy eyebrows to maintain, you can gently pluck the hairs around the piercing. Some might tell you that it's okay to wax as long as you keep the wax away from the piercing site, but we say it's better to be safe than sorry, especially with such a delicate piercing.

Be careful with face wash and makeup. No foreign substances beyond your aftercare products should come near your new piercing, including face wash and makeup. While this can be a challenge, it's imperative; the chemicals in these products could irritate the skin and cause scarring and other issues.

Be careful with your bangs. If you have bangs, they can get in the way of your piercing. Take care if you get them cut while your new eyebrow piercing is healing, and consider letting them grow out a bit so that you can pull them out of the way. Your hair can introduce bacteria to the piercing, or it might snag the jewelry and cause trauma to the piercing site.

Opt for precious metals for your eyebrow jewelry material. One of the biggest issues with eyebrow piercings is jewelry rejection and migration. While many factors contribute to this, cheaper metals are more likely to be rejected by your body. Put yourself on the right track and choose quality metals like 14k gold or titanium.

Don't move the jewelry. Moving the jewelry around irritates the skin and causes complications. You might be tempted to hide your new eyebrow piercing for work or other more conservative events. Unfortunately, during healing, this is almost impossible.

Covering a healing eyebrow piercing with a bandage will put pressure on the jewelry that could lead to rejection. Taking out the jewelry can damage the piercing, and the hole could close before you're able to put it back in again. Once the piercing heals, you can purchase piercing retainers for a subtler look, but if you choose to get an eyebrow piercing, you must be prepared to let it be seen.

Eyebrow piercing styles

EYEBROW PIERCING JEWELRY

The eyebrow piercing is usually done using a 16G needle. You should choose a lightweight curved barbell for your initial jewelry . The curved barbell won't pull at your piercing like a hoop might, reducing the risk of embedded jewelry, migration, or other issues during healing.

After healing, you can stick with the curved barbell or opt for a hoop style, like a seamless ring or a captive bead ring. Although you will need a larger jewelry piece during healing to accommodate any swelling, once your piercing has healed, you can choose smaller options for a flusher fit. Just be sure that the jewelry doesn't tug against the piercing holes.

Because the eyebrow piercing has separate entry and exit points, you may have a difficult time changing the jewelry. Rather than forcing the jewelry in, risking damage to the piercing, consider having a piercer change the jewelry for you. They can also show you techniques to change the jewelry on your own.

POSSIBLE EYEBROW PIERCING SIDE EFFECTS

The location of the eyebrow piercing depends upon the anatomy of your face as well as your personal preference. Sometimes people don't have the right face shape to pull this look off. Be honest with yourself, talk to a piercer you trust , and make sure that this is the piercing for you.

Eyebrow piercings can easily be rejected. This can be encouraged if you touch your jewelry too much during healing. If you're the type to absentmindedly mess with your new jewelry, then you might want to think about another piercing type.

Piercing bumps are another common side effect of any piercing. These usually form due to poor aftercare practices or trauma to the piercing site. If you choose an unreputable piercer, bumps may also form due to poor placement. If the bumps are due to the former issue, they are likely to go away on their own. If they form due to the latter issue, you'll need to see a reputable piercer to determine whether the piercing can be saved.

A note on keloids: Keloids are a commonly misdiagnosed and misunderstood problem in the piercing world. While this term is often used to describe piercing bumps, this attribution is incorrect. Keloids are actually a serious medical issue that only affects around 10% of the world's population. They are serious growths that can only be removed surgically. If you have never had a keloid grow on an injury before, and you don't have a history of keloids in your family, then the piercing bump that appears on your eyebrow piercing is almost certainly not a keloid.

HOW MUCH IS AN EYEBROW PIERCING

The eyebrow piercing can cost anywhere between $20 - $70, not including the jewelry. As always, opt for the piercer with experience rather than cost.

Eyebrow piercings require a certain level of expertise. We've mentioned a few times that eyebrow piercings tend to migrate; this risk is elevated when the eyebrow is not pierced deeply enough. Choose a piercer who is experienced in eyebrow piercings, specifically.

EYEBROW PIERCING VARIATIONS

Since the eyebrow piercing can take place anywhere along the eyebrow, there are tons of piercing aesthetics to choose from.

Multiple eyebrow piercings consist of more than one piercing. Most popular are double eyebrow piercings, but some people have even gotten piercings across their entire eyebrow. If you choose this option, it's best to get one piercing at a time to simplify the healing process.

Horizontal eyebrow piercings are basically the same as a standard eyebrow piercing, but they run horizontally instead of vertically. These are usually placed above or below the eyebrow.