Piercer-written · Medically reviewed · Independent

The independent guide to every piercing.

Pain scores, real healing times, what it costs, how to look after it, what to do when something goes wrong, and the jewelry that will not wreck it. Written by working piercers and checked by medical professionals. We do not own a studio or a store.

Start with the ear chart Something wrong with a piercing?

Browse by placement

Ear piercings

Lobe to helix, conch, daith, tragus and rook.

Nose piercings

Nostril, septum, bridge, high nostril and more.

Face & lip piercings

Eyebrow, labret, medusa, snake bites, dermals.

Oral piercings

Tongue, smiley, frenulum and what piercers refuse.

Body piercings

Belly button, nipple, surface and dermal piercings.

Intimate piercings

Clinical, illustrated guides.

Piercing guides

Anti-Tragus

Anti-tragus piercing guide: the small ridge above the earlobe, 5/10 pain, 6-12 month healing, $35-90 cost, and why the anatomy check matters here too.

Pain 5/10Heals in 6–12 months$35–90

Belly Button

Navel piercing guide: the anatomy you need, 4/10 pain, 6-12 month healing, $40-90 cost, 14g curved barbell, rejection signs and pregnancy.

Pain 4/10Heals in 6–12 months$40–90

Conch

Conch piercing guide: inner vs outer conch, 5/10 pain, 6-12 month healing, $35-90 cost, why the hoop has to wait, and what headphones do to it.

Pain 5/10Heals in 6–12 months$35–90

Daith

Daith piercing guide: the inner fold above the ear canal, 5/10 pain, 6-9 month healing, $35-90 cost, and the truth about the migraine claim.

Pain 5/10Heals in 6–9 months$35–90

Dermal

Dermal piercing guide: how a single-point anchor works, 4/10 pain, 1-3 month settling, $70-100 cost, rejection rates and why removal needs a pro.

Pain 4/10Heals in 4 weeks – 3 months$70–100

Earlobe

Earlobe piercing guide: 2/10 pain, 6-8 week healing, $20-40 cost, needle vs gun, second and third holes, and piercing a child's ears safely.

Pain 2/10Heals in 6 weeks – 2 months$20–40

Eyebrow

Eyebrow piercing guide: 3/10 pain, 2-4 month healing, $30-70 cost, curved barbell sizing, and the migration risk nobody warns you about.

Pain 3/10Heals in 2–4 months$30–70

Helix

Helix piercing guide: placement, 4/10 pain, 6-12 month healing, $30-80 cost, 16g flat-back jewelry, and how to stop the irritation bump everyone gets.

Pain 4/10Heals in 6–12 months$30–80

Industrial

Industrial piercing guide: two holes joined by one barbell, 7/10 pain, 9-12 month healing, $50-100 cost, and the ear shape it requires.

Pain 7/10Heals in 8–12 months$50–100

Labret

Labret piercing guide: center lower-lip placement, 3/10 pain, 2-3 month healing, $30-70 cost, flat-back sizing, and protecting your gums and teeth.

Pain 3/10Heals in 2–3 months$30–70

Medusa (Philtrum)

Medusa piercing guide: center of the philtrum, 3/10 pain, 2-3 month healing, $30-70 cost, the anatomy that decides depth, and protecting your upper gum.

Pain 3/10Heals in 2–3 months$30–70

Nipple

Nipple piercing guide: 6/10 pain, 6-12 month healing, $40-80 cost, 14g barbell, bra and exercise practicalities, and breastfeeding questions answered.

Pain 6/10Heals in 6–12 months$40–80

Nostril

Nostril piercing guide: 4/10 pain, 4-6 month healing, $30-70 cost, 18g jewelry, why nose bones and L-shapes are a bad start, and the bump everyone gets.

Pain 4/10Heals in 4–6 months$30–70

Rook

Rook piercing guide: the anatomy that decides whether you can have one, 6/10 pain, 6-12 month healing, $35-90 cost and curved barbell sizing.

Pain 6/10Heals in 6–12 months$35–90

Septum

Septum piercing guide: it goes through the sweet spot, not cartilage. 5/10 pain, 2-3 month healing, $40-90 cost, and how to hide it completely.

Pain 5/10Heals in 2–3 months$40–90

Smiley

Smiley piercing guide: through the upper lip frenulum, 2/10 pain, 4-8 week healing, $30-50 cost, and why it rejects more often than almost anything else.

Pain 2/10Heals in 4 weeks – 2 months$30–50

Tongue

Tongue piercing guide: 5/10 pain, 4-8 week healing, $30-70 cost, the swelling nobody warns you about, and how to protect your teeth long term.

Pain 5/10Heals in 4 weeks – 2 months$30–70

Tragus

Tragus piercing guide: the flap in front of the ear canal, 4/10 pain, 6-9 month healing, $30-80 cost, and why earbuds are the enemy.

Pain 4/10Heals in 6–9 months$30–80

Vertical Tragus

Vertical (surface) tragus guide: 3/10 pain, 2-4 month healing, $35-80 cost, and the migration risk a standard tragus does not have.

Pain 3/10Heals in 2–4 months$35–80