If you are looking for a unique piercing without all the hassle that comes with cartilage or dermal piercings, then an eyebrow piercing is the way to go. Eyebrow piercings are not only very unique, but they are not very complicated and have fast healing times.
MOST COMMON EYEBROW PIERCINGS
An eyebrow piercing or “brow piercing,” as some call it, is a surface piercing that has some relation to the eyebrow with both an entry and exit point. There are multiple different types of eyebrow piercings, but the three most common ones are:
Vertical
Horizontal
Anti
VERTICAL EYEBROW PIERCING
The vertical piercing is considered the classic eyebrow piercing where the piercing starts beneath the eyebrow and exits on the top side of the eyebrow.
HORIZONTAL EYEBROW PIERCING
The horizontal piercing is a piercing located on top of the eyebrow ridge and instead of having a more traditional top to bottom piercing, it is a horizontal or left to right piercing.
ANTI EYEBROW PIERCING
The anti piercing—otherwise known as the “butterfly” or a “teardrop” piercing—is one of the rarer piercings that you can get. As the name suggests, this piercing is not located on the eyebrow but directly opposite and below the outer end of the brow on the upper cheek below the eye.
THE STANDARD GAUGE AND STRETCHING
Typically, all three types of eyebrow piercings use a 16 gauge (1.2mm) needle and jewelry. If you want to wear larger gauges of jewelry, then it is possible to stretch the piercing. However, the skin that an eyebrow piercing goes through is not very elastic.
Because of that, you won’t be able to dramatically stretch the piercing like you would be able to with, for example, an earlobe piercing. In fact, you may find that a 14 gauge (1.6mm) is the maximum gauge that you can stretch your eyebrow piercing to.
As with all stretching, taking it slow is critical. If you feel any pain at all, stop. You may end up causing scarring which will prevent you from stretching any further. So, if there is pain, then your piercing is not yet ready to be stretched.
You could also try adding a layer of tape to your piercing so as to more gradually increase the size of the piercing. Lastly, never try to stretch your piercing before it is healed as it may result in scarring.
THE PROS AND CONS
The pros of eyebrow piercings are that they are not overly expensive and the healing time is relatively short. Plus, if you are going for a unique look, then a brow piercing is the way to go as it is one of the rarer types of piercings.
On the other hand, if you get a brow piercing, there is really no way to hide it while it is healing. Putting a covering over it increases the risk of rejection and trauma. These types of piercings have also been known to migrate which may result in the need to abandon the piercing to try again.
POPULARITY
When it comes to popularity, the vertical eyebrow piercing is by far the most popular brow piercing and is often accompanied by hoop jewelry. Anti-eyebrow piercings are rarer and only a few public figures have them.
EYEBROW PIERCING PRICE
Eyebrow piercings are one of the least expensive piercings that you can get. The eyebrow piercing price can range from $20 to $70 depending on the piercer and location. In Pittsburgh, for example, it may cost you around $50 whereas in Minneapolis it will probably cost $35.
Believe it or not, because of the location and type of piercing, a brow piercing can “migrate” over time to a different location if the piercing is not deep enough. So, paying a little more for an experienced eyebrow piercer is worth the investment.
PAIN AND SWELLING
Thankfully, since brow piercings are only surface-level piercings and there are no major nerves in the brow area, they tend to not have too much pain associated with getting one. In fact, you are more likely to feel the pressure more intensely when getting a brow piercing than you would the pain.
The swelling, on the other hand, tends to be a bit more pronounced. However, the swelling is short lived and there won’t be any major pain associated with it. It will also be tender to the touch, but that should fade as the swelling fades.
HEALING TIMES AND AFTERCARE
The standard healing time for the horizontal and vertical eyebrow piercings can range from two to three months. On the other hand, for the anti-eyebrow piercing, it can take around six to eight weeks to heal. During that time, it is important to clean the piercing two to three times a day with a saline solution. Ultimately, your piercer should know best and may advise various cleaning methods that you should use to protect against infection.
While it may be tempting to touch and mess around with your jewelry, it is important that you do not while the piercing is still healing. If you do, scarring, migration, and infection could ensue.
Probably the most difficult task when caring for your piercing is keeping away any unwanted chemicals that can come from makeup, face wash, or even some shampoos. The chemicals in these products can irritate the piercing and result in longer healing times and could cause scarring.
Unfortunately, your hair may also become your enemy when you get an eyebrow piercing. Don’t worry, there’s no need to be bold and cut it all off, but you’ll want to be careful that your bangs do not snag the jewelry or rest on or near the piercing as it could introduce bacteria or, if snagged, result in trauma to your piercing.
While your piercing is healing, it is best to only wear quality jewelry such as 14k gold or titanium. Your body can be pretty picky and is more likely to reject poor-quality materials. But, look on the bright side, this is an opportunity and excuse to treat yourself to great jewelry.
If you get an eyebrow piercing, be prepared to wear it wherever you go during recovery. Taking the jewelry out is likely to lead to rejection or the piercing closing itself off before you can put the jewelry back in. It can also result in trauma and scarring. Also, you shouldn’t cover a piercing while healing as the covering will put pressure on the piercing and may result in rejection.
Lastly, if you find that there is some swelling around your piercing and it is tender to the touch, it may be infected. It is best to play it safe and have your piercer take a look to see if it needs to be treated.
CHANGING OUT JEWELRY
While you may be tempted to change out your jewelry, it is important to refrain from doing so during the healing process. Ultimately, it is when your piercing has healed that you can at last change out your jewelry. So, that may take around two months for a vertical or horizontal piercing and seven weeks for an anti-eyebrow piercing.
TYPES OF JEWELRY AND MATERIALS
Eyebrow piercing jewelry can consist of a curved barbell or a hoop. However, a hoop is more likely to move around; so, it is best to stick with the curved barbell during the healing period.
Since brow piercings travel a longer distance through the skin from the entry to the exit point, inserting hoop jewelry can be tricky. If you do not have much experience, then you may risk puncturing or scaring the piercing. So, it may be best to have your jeweler put them in for you or ask your jeweler for advice on how to safely insert hoop jewelry.
Eyebrow piercing jewelry is made up of many different types of materials. Titanium is always a safe bet for a quality and safe material to use. If you are looking for something a bit more lightweight, then you can wear acrylic jewelry, but you should wait until the piercing has healed, or else you may risk rejection.
CELEBRITIES WITH EYEBROW PIERCINGS
There are a number of celebrities with these attractive piercings. Justin Bieber, for example, has a vertical eyebrow piercing. Other celebrities with brow piercings include people such as:
Keke Palmer
Kirstin Maldonado
Amy Lee
Olivier Dahan
Dilana Robichaux
The brow piercing is known to pop in and out of style and it is only a matter of time before a celebrity brings it back into style.
DO YOU CHOOSE AN EYEBROW?
All in all, eyebrow piercings are a relatively painless and easy piercing to deal with. They also provide a unique look without being overly showy unlike a nose or lip piercing. Which version of an eyebrow piercing would you like to have? Maybe all three? Try one of these fancy piercings as your next face piercing.