The Wild World of Piercings: A Raw Guide for Rebellious Spirits

March 21, 2025

The Naked Truth About Piercings That No One Dares to Tell You

Let me tell you straight: piercings aren't for the faint of heart. Anyone who has experienced a new "upgrade" to their body knows what I'm talking about. Society may have normalized little sparkles on the earlobes, but we know that piercings are much more than just an accessory - they're a walking political manifesto, a declaration of war against oppressive normality, a way to reclaim your body in a world that constantly tries to tell us how we should appear.

Girl with multiple piercing - unsplash

Girl with multiple facial piercing - Tamara Gore via unsplash

And yes, every piercing comes with its challenges: from momentary pain to daily care, to the healing process that requires patience and dedication, or even complications that can arise or infections go wrong.

Piercing the skin is never without risk. I’ve seen metal rip through flesh under the weight of heavy jewellery, tiny wounds turn into oozing infections from unsterile needles, and nickel allergies swell sleek contours into grotesque, burning lumps. In the worst cases, botched placements have led to nerve damage, prolonged bleeding, or keloid scars that refuse to fade.

But it's precisely this journey that makes the experience so meaningful. In an era where comfort is worshipped as the supreme virtue, where entire industries are dedicated to eliminating every minor discomfort from human life, there's something radically subversive in the deliberate choice of pain. Piercing is an act of rebellion not only aesthetic but philosophical.

The Tribal Essence of Modern Body Modification

Apatani tribal women with nose piercing during a wedding celebration in the Hija village at Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India – Doniv79 via Wikimedia

Pierced lipped girl from the Yanomami, South America – Sam Valadi via Flickr

Pierced nose and ears Adivasi from the Kutia Kondh tribal group in Orissa, India

Mursi girl adorned with multiple piercings

Ataye Eligidagne has the largest lip plate in the world – Daily Mail

Apatani tribal women with nose piercing during a wedding celebration in the Hija village at Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India – Doniv79 via Wikimedia, Yanomami girl with pierced lips from the rainforests and mountains of northern Brazil and southern Venezuela – Sam Valadi via Flickr, pierced Adivasi from the Kutia Kondh tribal group in Orissa, India – Wikimedia, Young Mursi girl adorned with multiple piercings – Carmen Soler via Pexels, Ataye Eligidagne with the largest lip plate in the world – Daily Mail.

Before diving into the contemporary delirium of piercings, let's take a step back. Or rather, let's take a temporal leap of thousands of years. While we modern urban rebels believe we're at the cutting edge, indigenous tribes around the world look at us and laugh at our presumption.

The Mursi of Ethiopia with their lip plates that can reach 15 centimetres in diameter. The Kayapo of Brazil with their ear discs that look like miniaturized vinyl records. The Apatani of India with their impressive nose plugs. These people weren't trying to shock their parents or get more likes on Instagram - they were participating in thousand-year-old rituals that defined their cultural identity.

Our modern obsession with metal in flesh is little more than a pale echo of these ancestral practices, but it carries with it the same primordial instinct: that of transforming pain into beauty, of overcoming physical limits to reach a kind of enlightenment through controlled trauma.

And believe me, every piercing is a small trauma. A trauma that you choose, that you control, that you transform into art. In a world that inflicts unwanted traumas at every corner, there's something deeply liberating in saying: "This pain is mine, I chose it, and I will transform it into something magnificent."

Not-at-all Comprehensive Guide to Piercings

Chapter One: The Ear

Ear Lobes: The Gateway Drug of the Piercing World

Ear piercings map – Hubpages

Ear piercings map – Hubpages

If you're reading this guide, you've probably already moved past the "lobe" phase. But for completeness, and for those novices who are just beginning their journey into the world of body modification, let's talk about it briefly.

Lobe piercing is like marijuana in the world of drugs - the classic entry point, relatively harmless, socially accepted, even grandma might have one. It's the piercing that parents allow their twelve-year-old daughters to get, often in some aseptic mall from a "professional" who received half an hour of training and a piercing gun.

My advice? If you want to do things right, avoid piercing guns like you would avoid a drink offered by a stranger in a dark alley (you would avoid it, right?). Find a professional piercing studio, someone who uses sterile disposable needles, and start your journey on the right foot.

Helix Piercing: How to Care for the Ear Cartilage Piercing

The helix piercing punctures the upper outer curve of the ear. It's often the next step after the lobe, relatively simple but definitely more painful. Cartilage heals slowly and gets irritated easily.

Expect months of attention, some blood spots on your pillow, and moments of terror when brushes or hats come dangerously close to your new metal decoration. Perfect for those who want to start exploring the world of cartilage piercings.

Tragus Piercing: Pros and Cons of the Front Cartilage Piercing

Tragus and other ear piercings – Tribu London

Tragus and other ear piercings – Tribu London

The tragus is that small flap of cartilage that protrudes in front of the ear canal. Compact and prominent, it offers a unique opportunity for adornment. The pain is surprisingly intense when pierced, but brief.

The real challenge comes after: trying to use earphones becomes a feat worthy of tribal rituals. Perfect for those who want a discreet but impactful piercing, with a touch of originality that more common piercings can't offer.

Daith Piercing: Healing of the Inner Ear Piercing

The daith passes through the innermost fold of ear cartilage, creating a surprising effect due to its unusual position. It has gained popularity not only for its unique aesthetics but also for its alleged migraine-relieving properties.

Healing is particularly challenging due to the position that's difficult to clean. Don't expect miracles against migraines, but you'll definitely get a piercing that few have the courage to face.

Industrial Piercing: The Perfect Suspended Bridge

And here we arrive at the industrial, the Moby Dick of ear piercings, the white whale that many desire but few have the anatomy or endurance to truly conquer.

The industrial isn't technically a single piercing, but two perforations connected by a single metal bar that crosses the upper part of the ear. It's the piercing equivalent of an ambitious engineering project, requiring millimetre precision and a good dose of courage - both from the piercer and the client.

A good piercer will assess your anatomy before proceeding. Not all ears are suitable for an industrial. You need sufficient space, correct orientation, and adequate cartilage thickness. Ignoring these factors means condemning yourself to months or years of problems.

Chapter Two: The Nose

Septum Piercing: Guide to the Nasal Septum Piercing

Septum piercing on Ryo – Dan Thomas Photography for Psylo septum and labret piercing on Max Xaelem @xaelem.x for Psylo

Top/left: septum piercing on Ryo – Dan Thomas Photography for Psylo. Bottom/right: septum and labret piercing on Max Xaelem @xaelem.x for Psylo

The septum passes through the nasal septum and transforms anyone into a punk version of a bullfighting bull. A true septum piercing doesn't pierce the hard cartilage, but a thin membrane of soft tissue called the "sweet spot".

Its great versatility allows it to be easily hidden by flipping it inside the nostrils. Healing is relatively simple, but you'll face unique challenges: problematic colds, risky sneezes, and meals that require new strategies to avoid unpleasant incidents.

Nostril Piercing: Guide to the Nose Ring and Its Proper Healing

Nose and septum piercing

Nose and septum piercing

The nostril piercing is probably the most socially accepted facial piercing after those on the ear. Positioned in one of the nostrils, typically on the left according to tradition, it can host rings, studs, or gems. The pain is moderate and healing relatively simple. In Ayurvedic tradition, it's associated with female reproductive health, while in the West it has travelled the road from a symbol of rebellion to a mainstream accessory, still maintaining an alternative charm.

Chapter Three: The Mouth

Labret Piercing: Choosing and Caring for the Under-Lip Piercing

Woman with labret piercing - Wikimedia

The labret, positioned under the lower lip, transforms common faces into magnetic presences. The pain is modest, but the real challenge is discovering how much your teeth naturally hit that spot.

Variations include the side labret and vertical labret that create the illusion of a floating gem. All share the same enemy: food. Prepare to develop new eating techniques and endure a persistent metallic taste in the first few days after insertion.

Medusa Piercing: All About the Philtrum Piercing and Its Healing

Medusa piercing – Tribalik

Medusa piercing – Tribalik

The medusa pierces the philtrum, that groove between the nose and upper lip. Central and impossible to ignore, this piercing makes a bold statement. The pain is significant but brief, the healing relatively simple. The central position creates a symmetry that draws the eye and frames the lips. After this piercing, oral hygiene becomes a top priority: plaque is enemy number one and mouthwash your best friend, despite the initial burning.

Chapter Four: Forehead and Eyebrows

Bridge Piercing: How the Piercing Between the Eyes Works

Bridge, nose and septum piercing on @Sannduck for Psylo

Bridge, nose and septum piercing on @Sannduck for Psylo

The bridge piercing horizontally crosses the bridge of the nose between the eyes, creating a dramatic effect at the centre of the face. It's not for the timid – impossible to hide and requires a specific anatomy with sufficient soft skin. Being a surface piercing, it has higher risks of rejection. However, as long as it lasts, it completely transforms the balance of the face with a visual impact that few other piercings can match.

Eyebrow Piercing: Everything You Need to Know

Eyebrow piercing – Wikimedia

Eyebrow piercing – Wikimedia

The eyebrow piercing has maintained its iconic status for decades. Positioned on the eyebrow arch, it can be horizontal or vertical, single or multiple. It's relatively painless but, being a surface piercing, risks migrations and rejections.

The exposed position makes it vulnerable to accidental bumps, particularly for those who practice contact sports. It remains popular for its perfect balance: noticeable enough to be seen, not so extreme as to dominate the face.

Anti-Eyebrow Piercing: How to Get and Maintain the Piercing Under the Eye

Anti eyebrow piercing

Anti eyebrow piercing – Wikimedia

The anti-eyebrow is positioned where there isn't an eyebrow: on the high part of the cheekbone or under the eye, creating a specular curve to the eyebrow arch but in the lower part of the eye. The effect is surprising, drawing attention to a part of the face often neglected. Like all surface piercings, it has limited duration and requires special care, but offers unique aesthetic possibilities that are difficult to replicate with other piercings.

Chapter Five: Surface, Microdermal, and the Future of Body Modification

Microdermal below the eye - Matthew Gunn via Flickr

Microdermal below the eye - Matthew Gunn via Flickr

While traditional piercings go through the body from one side to the other, surface piercings and microdermals represent a conceptual evolution - no longer "through", but "inside".

Surface piercings use an L or U-shaped bar that allows both ends to emerge from the skin while keeping the central part under the surface. It's like planting a metal seed in the soil of your body and watching the ends bloom. Positioned on the collarbone, neck and wrists, they create decorative lines that seem magically suspended on the skin.

Microdermals, or anchors, represent a further step forward. A flat base is inserted under the skin through a small incision, leaving visible only a single exit point where various interchangeable jewels can be screwed in. It's the piercing version of the nail planted in the wall - the base stays, the pictures change.

I witnessed the insertion of a microdermal on a friend's cheekbone. The procedure had something surgical in its precision. The piercer, sterile gloves and surgical mask, created a small pocket under the skin using a microscopic scalpel needle, then inserted the anchor with precision tweezers. The blood was minimal, the result extraordinary: a small gem that seemed naturally integrated into the face, as if it had always been part of his anatomy.

But beauty has its price. Surface piercings and microdermals have significantly higher rejection rates than traditional piercings. The human body is relentless in its mission to expel foreign objects, and these modern wonders of body modification fight a constant battle against human biology.

If you decide to venture into this territory, know that you are entering into a fixed-term contract with your body. These are not "forever" piercings. They are temporary experiences, chapters in the history of your body. When (not if) they begin to migrate to the surface, you'll have to say goodbye and take with you only the memory - and perhaps a small scar as a souvenir.

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