Star Piercing

A helix piercing is an ear cartilage piercing that sits on the upper, outer edge of the pinna. It is one of the most popular ear piercings and can be pierced once or multiple times (e.g. double or triple helix).

Jewelry
Usually a small ring or a labret plug.
Pain
As it is pierced through the cartilage, it is slightly more painful than an earlobe piercing.
Healing time
3 to 9 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Do not twist or touch the piercing excessively.

A lobe piercing is the classic earlobe piercing and one of the most commonly worn piercings.

Jewelry
Plugs, rings or pendants - many variations possible.
Pain
Hardly painful, as the earlobe is soft and supplied with blood.
Healing time
4 to 8 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Do not twist or touch the piercing excessively. Avoid pressure and friction.

A tragus piercing sits on the small piece of cartilage in front of the ear canal and is a popular ear piercing.

Jewelry
Usually a small labret plug or a ring.
Pain
Moderately painful as it pierces through firm cartilage.
Healing time
3 to 9 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Do not twist or touch the piercing excessively. Avoid pressure and friction.

A daith piercing is located in the inner cartilage arch of the pinna, directly above the ear canal.

Jewelry
Usually a small ring or a curved barbell (banana).
Pain
Moderate to strong, as it pierces through thick cartilage.
Healing time
4 to 9 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Do not twist or touch the piercing excessively. Avoid pressure and friction.

A flat piercing is located in the flat cartilage area of the upper auricle, between the helix and conch.

Jewelry
Usually a flat labret plug with attachment.
Pain
Moderate, as it is pierced by cartilage.
Healing time
3 to 9 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Do not twist or touch the piercing excessively. Avoid pressure and friction.

A rook piercing is located in the inner cartilage fold of the pinna, above the daith piercing.

Jewelry
Usually a curved barbell (banana) or a small ring.
Pain
Relatively high, as it is pierced through a thick layer of cartilage.
Healing time
6 to 12 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Do not twist or touch the piercing excessively. Avoid pressure and friction.

A conch piercing sits in the middle of the pinna and can be pierced either in the inner conch (inside) or outer conch (outside of the pinna).

Jewelry
Labret plug for inner conch, ring for outer conch.
Pain
Moderate to high, as it pierces through firm cartilage.
Healing time
6 to 12 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Do not twist or touch the piercing excessively. Avoid pressure and friction.

An industrial piercing consists of two connected piercings in the upper ear cartilage, which are connected with a straight barbell.

Jewelry
Long barbell bar, often with decorative ends.
Pain
Relatively high, as two cartilage sites are punctured.
Healing time
6 to 12 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Do not twist or touch the piercing excessively. Avoid pressure and friction.

A Medusa piercing sits centrally above the upper lip in the philtrum (the depression between the nose and lip).

Jewelry
Usually a labret plug with a flat plate inside.
Pain
Moderate, as it pierces through soft tissue.
Healing time
6 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid spicy food, smoking and excessive movement of the lip if possible.

An Ashley piercing is a special lip piercing that is pierced directly inwards through the lower lip.

Jewelry
Usually a labret plug with a flat plate inside.
Pain
Moderate to high, as it is pierced through the lip.
Healing time
6 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid spicy food, smoking and excessive movement of the lip if possible.

An Eskimo piercing is a variant of the vertical labret piercing in which the jewelry runs vertically through the lower lip.

Jewelry
Usually a curved barbell (banana) with two visible balls.
Pain
Moderate to high, as it is pierced through the lip.
Healing time
6 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid spicy food, smoking and excessive movement of the lip if possible.

A jestrum piercing is the vertical version of the Medusa piercing and runs vertically through the philtrum (the depression between the nose and upper lip).

Jewelry
Usually a curved barbell (banana) with two visible balls.
Pain
Moderate to high, as it is pierced through the lip.
Healing time
6 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid spicy food, smoking and excessive movement of the lip if possible.

Bites piercings are combinations of several lip piercings that are arranged symmetrically.

Jewelry
Mostly labret studs or small rings.
Pain
Moderate to high, depending on the number of piercings.
Healing time
6 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray, careful eating and drinking, avoid touching.

Types of bites piercings

Snake Bites
Two piercings on the side of the lower lip.
Spider Bites
Two narrow piercings on one side of the lower lip.
Angel Bites
Two piercings on the side of the upper lip.
Dahlia Bites
Piercings at the corners of the mouth.
Shark Bites
Four piercings - two on each side of the lower lip.
Canine Bites
Combination of snake and angel bites (four piercings).

A dahlia piercing consists of two piercings at the corners of the mouth, which gives it a unique and eye-catching appearance.

Jewelry
Mostly labret plugs with a flat plate inside.
Pain
Moderate, as it pierces through soft tissue.
Healing time
8 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray, careful eating and drinking, avoid touching.

The Madonna and Monroe piercings are individual upper lip piercings that differ only in their placement:

Madonna-Piercing: Sits on the right above the upper lip.

Monroe-Piercing: Sits on the left above the upper lip (named after Marilyn Monroe).

Jewelry
Mostly labret plugs with a flat plate inside.
Pain
Moderate, as it pierces through soft tissue.
Healing time
6 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid spicy food, smoking and excessive movement of the lip if possible.

A tongue piercing is pierced vertically through the middle of the tongue and is one of the most popular mouth piercings.

Jewelry
Usually a straight barbell with two balls.
Pain
Moderate, as the tongue is well supplied with blood.
Healing time
4 to 8 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular mouth rinsing with alcohol-free solution, soft food in the first few days, avoid smoking and alcohol.

A frenulum piercing is located in the frenulum - the small frenulum of skin between the upper lip and the gums.

Jewelry
Usually a small, flexible barbell or a ring.
Pain
Low, as the labial frenulum is thin and has little blood supply.
Healing time
2 to 6 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular mouth rinsing with alcohol-free solution, soft food in the first few days, avoid smoking and alcohol.

A Marley piercing is a rare and rather unusual piercing that is located under the tongue on the frenulum of the tongue.

Jewelry
Usually a small barbell or a ring.
Pain
Low, as the lingual frenulum is thin and has little blood supply.
Healing time
2 to 6 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular mouth rinsing with alcohol-free solution, soft food in the first few days, avoid smoking and alcohol.

A uvula piercing is a very rare and unusual piercing that is pierced through the uvula at the back of the throat.

Jewelry
Usually a small, lightweight barbell.
Pain
Moderate to high, as the uvula region is sensitive.
Healing time
2 to 4 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular mouth rinsing with alcohol-free solution, soft food in the first few days, avoid smoking and alcohol.

A snake eyes piercing is a horizontal tongue piercing on the tip of the tongue that looks like snake eyes.

Jewelry
A curved barbell (banana) with two visible balls.
Pain
Moderate to high, as it stings through the tongue.
Healing time
4 to 8 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular mouth rinsing with alcohol-free solution, soft food in the first few days, avoid smoking and alcohol.

A nostril piercing is a classic nose piercing that is pierced on the side of the nostril.

Jewelry
Small plug, ring or labret.
Pain
Moderate, as the nose is well supplied with blood.
Healing time
2 to 4 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray, avoid touching and make-up in the vicinity.

A septum piercing sits in the nasal septum and is one of the most popular nose piercings.

Jewelry
Circular barbell or ring.
Pain
Moderate, if stitched correctly through the soft tissue.
Healing time
6 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray, avoid touching and make-up in the vicinity.

A bridge piercing sits horizontally on the bridge of the nose, directly between the eyes.

Jewelry
Usually a straight barbell.
Pain
Minor to moderate, as it only pierces through the skin and not through cartilage.
Healing time
8 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray, avoid contact and pressure (e.g. from glasses).

An Austin bar piercing is a horizontal nose piercing that runs through the tip of the nose but does not go through the nasal septum.

Jewelry
Straight barbell.
Pain
Moderate to high, as it pierces through the soft tissue of the tip of the nose.
Healing time
2 to 3 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray, avoid touching and make-up in the vicinity.

An eyebrow piercing is a vertical surface piercing that is usually pierced on the outer edge of the eyebrow.

Jewelry
Curved barbell (banana) or surface bar.
Pain
Moderate, as it pierces through soft tissue.
Healing time
6 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray, avoid contact and pressure (e.g. from glasses).

A cheek piercing sits in the cheeks, usually in the place of the natural dimples.

Jewelry
Labret plug with flat plate inside.
Pain
Moderate to high, as it pierces through thick tissue.
Healing time
3 to 6 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular external cleaning with disinfectant spray and use of a mouthwash with an alcohol-free solution. Avoid pressure and friction (e.g. by sleeping on your side).

A tear drop piercing is a surface piercing that is located below the outer corner of the eye or along the cheek and visually resembles a tear.

Jewelry
Usually a surface bar or a dermal anchor.
Pain
Moderate, as it is only pierced through the skin.
Healing time
8 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray, avoid pressure and friction (e.g. by sleeping on your side).

A third eye piercing is a surface piercing that is placed in the middle of the forehead, between the eyebrows.

Jewelry
Usually a dermal anchor or surface bar.
Pain
Moderate, as it is only pierced through the skin.
Healing time
8 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray, avoid touching and pressure (e.g. when sleeping).

A belly button piercing is one of the most popular body piercings and sits above or, more rarely, below the navel.

cJewelry
Usually a curved barbell (banana) with balls or pendants.
Pain
Moderate, as it pierces through skin and little tissue.
Healing time
6 to 12 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and pressure. Take care when showering and getting dressed. No excessive touching or rubbing.

A nipple piercing is pierced horizontally, vertically or diagonally through the nipple and is popular with both men and women.

Jewelry
Usually a straight barbell or a ring.
Pain
Relatively high, as the nipple is very sensitive.
Healing time
6 to 12 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and pressure. Take care when showering and getting dressed. No excessive touching or rubbing.

A sternum piercing is a surface piercing that is placed vertically or horizontally on the breastbone (sternum), between the breasts or in the upper chest area.

Jewelry
Usually a surface bar or a dermal anchor.
Pain
Moderate, as it is only pierced through the skin.
Healing time
8 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and pressure. Take care when showering and getting dressed. No excessive touching or rubbing.

A Madison piercing is a surface piercing that sits on the front of the neck, directly above the collarbone.

Jewelry
Usually a surface bar or a dermal anchor.
Pain
Moderate, as it is pierced through the skin.
Healing time
8 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and pressure. Take care when showering and getting dressed. No excessive touching or rubbing.

A spinal piercing is a series of surface piercings along the spine on the back.

Jewelry
Mostly surface bars or dermal anchors.
Pain
Moderate, as it is only pierced through the skin.
Healing time
8 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and pressure. Take care when showering and getting dressed. No excessive touching or rubbing.

A collarbone piercing is a surface piercing that is placed above or just below the collarbone (clavicle).

Jewelry
Usually a surface bar or a dermal anchor.
Pain
Moderate to high, as the skin is tight there.
Healing time
8 to 12 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and pressure. Take care when showering and getting dressed. No excessive touching or rubbing.

A clitoral piercing is an intimate piercing in the genital area that can be pierced in different ways.

Jewelry
Usually a curved barbell (banana) or a small ring.
Pain
Moderate, depending on placement and individual feelings.
Healing time
4 to 8 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and pressure. Be careful with intimate hygiene and sexual contact.

Types of clitoral piercings

VCH (Vertical Clitoral Hood)
Vertical piercing through the clitoral hood.
HCH (Horizontal Clitoral Hood)
Horizontal piercing through the clitoral hood.
Direct clitoral piercing
Rarely, as it goes directly through the clitoris and requires a lot of experience.

A Christina piercing is a superficial intimate piercing that sits on the upper part of the labia (mons veneris).

Jewelry
Usually a curved barbell (banana) or a surface bar.
Pain
Moderate to high, as it pierces through thick tissue.
Healing time
3 to 6 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and pressure. Be careful with intimate hygiene and sexual contact.

Labia A labia piercing is an intimate piercing that is pierced on the labia minora or labia majora.

Jewelry
Usually a ring or a barbell.
Pain
Moderate, depending on blood circulation and individual sensitivity.
Healing time
4 to 8 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and pressure. Be careful with intimate hygiene and sexual contact.

Prince Albert A Prince Albert piercing is one of the best-known male intimate piercings and runs through the urethra and the underside of the glans.

Jewelry
Usually a ring or a curved barbell (banana).
Pain
High, as it goes through the glans.
Healing time
4 to 8 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and pressure. Be careful with intimate hygiene and sexual contact.

An ampallong piercing is a horizontal intimate piercing that is pierced through the glans of the penis - either through the urethra (continuous) or above it (superficial).

Jewelry
Usually a straight barbell.
Pain
High, as it goes through the glans.
Healing time
3 to 6 months, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and pressure. Be careful with intimate hygiene and sexual contact.

A hafada piercing is a superficial intimate piercing that is placed on the skin of the scrotum.

Jewelry
Usually a ring or a barbell.
Pain
Low to moderate, as it only passes through the skin.
Healing time
4 to 8 weeks, depending on care and individual healing.
Care
Regular cleaning with disinfectant spray. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and pressure. Be careful with intimate hygiene and sexual contact.