Eyebrow piercings are a fashionable and expressive way to enhance your appearance. With a variety of styles and placements available, you can tailor your piercing to reflect your unique personality. This article provides a detailed overview of eyebrow piercings, covering different types, the piercing procedure, aftercare, and potential issues.
Eyebrow piercings offer a diverse range of options, each with its own distinct aesthetic. Here's a breakdown of the most popular types:
The vertical eyebrow piercing is the most common type. It involves a piercing that runs from just above the eyebrow to just beneath it. The piercing can be oriented straight up and down or angled slightly to either side. The standard jewelry for this piercing is a curved barbell, typically in 14g or 16g sizes.
Horizontal piercings are usually placed above the outer tail of the eyebrow. A 16g surface bar is the recommended jewelry for this type of piercing.
Despite its name, the anti-eyebrow piercing is not located on the eyebrow itself. Instead, it is placed beneath the eye, just above the cheekbone. Healing time for this piercing can range from 6 to 12 months or longer. Initially, a flat surface barbell with flat discs is used.
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A bridge piercing runs horizontally between the eyebrows, across the bridge of the nose. This piercing is highly anatomy-dependent, requiring a sufficient ridge of skin to support the jewelry. Typically, a surface bar is used, but subdermal anchors can also be implanted under the skin.
The center brow piercing is a vertical eyebrow piercing located in the center of the brow.
Multiple vertical piercings involve placing vertical piercings in pairs or groups along the eyebrow.
This variation is designed specifically for spiral-shaped jewelry.
A T-shaped piercing involves a horizontal piercing intersected by a vertical piercing, creating a T shape. This type of piercing requires a skilled piercer and is highly dependent on the individual's anatomy.
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While not technically an eyebrow piercing, a single piercing in the center of the forehead is worth mentioning. A piercer creates space with a needle and inserts a flat piece called a subdermal anchor under the skin. The visible jewelry is then screwed onto a post on the anchor.
These are vertical piercings placed closer to the inner eyes.
Before getting an eyebrow piercing, a consultation with a professional piercer is essential. During this consultation:
Eyebrow piercings are anatomy-dependent, meaning that the success of the piercing relies on the individual's unique brow structure. People who have hardly any tissue over their brows, or very flat brow ridges, may not be suitable for eyebrow piercings. Folks who are assigned male at birth and have their initial development primarily affected by testosterone will usually have larger more protrusive brow ridges. Folks assigned female at birth and are more affected by estrogen often have a more vertical brow ridge with less protrusion and definition. It can be more likely not to have anatomy for eyebrow piercings for AFAB clients, and if you do have suitable anatomy, you may find more struggles with healing and irritation.
The most common needle sizes for eyebrow piercings are 14g or 16g. Piercers typically use slightly longer jewelry initially to accommodate swelling. They may provide instructions for a follow-up appointment for "downsizing," which involves switching to a shorter barbell once the swelling subsides.
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The appropriate jewelry plays a crucial role in the healing and appearance of an eyebrow piercing.
A curved barbell is a half-moon-shaped bar with balls on either end. This type of jewelry is commonly used in vertical eyebrow piercings.
Surface bars are straight bars that are used for horizontal, bridge, and anti-eyebrow piercings.
Initial jewelry for an eyebrow piercing is going to be a curved barbell. Simple ball ends can be the easiest for healing and keeping clean, but depending on anatomy more decorative pieces can also be used initially such a gemstones and opals. Large pieces and spikes, which are snaggy, just increase the risk of this occurring.
Hoops can be a fun look once fully healed, but are a bit too problematic for most folks in fresh piercings.
Proper aftercare is essential for preventing infection and promoting healing. Here are some guidelines:
Like all piercings, eyebrow piercings carry some risks. Being aware of these risks and taking appropriate precautions can help minimize complications.
Eyebrow piercings generally take 3-6 months to heal. Some folks, due to anatomy medical conditions, lifestyle, climate, or jewelry choice may find that it takes a full year or even a little longer for this piercing to be fully healed and comfortable. Side sleepers, people who wear helmets and headgear at work, and folks who are just clumsy and catch and snag things easier are all going to probably have a trickier time healing this.
You’ll know your eyebrow piercing is fully healed when there’s no more irritation, swelling, redness, or discharge.
Eyebrow piercings are not permanent. Most eyebrow piercings will eventually migrate or move to the surface of the skin.
Eyebrow piercings were popularized during the 1970s and were often associated with punk and alternative lifestyles. Today, they continue to be a popular form of self-expression, with various placements and jewelry options allowing individuals to create a unique look. Eyebrows dropped in popularity for a little bit, but these days they are soaring back into fashion, particularly with the advent of unique brow placements.
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