Society no longer relegates piercings to punk rockers, rebellious teenagers, or other subcultures. Since the Millennial generation—which, as a whole, appreciates individuality and diversity more than previous generations—has entered adulthood, piercings that were frowned upon in the past are now embraced and celebrated.
However, the piercing world is in a state of transition. Culturally, we’re split when it comes to our acceptance of piercings, especially in professional settings. Younger generations are apt to accept more piercing types than older generations, and often the two are unable to come to an agreement on what is acceptable. Because of this, your new eyebrow piercing might be met with adoration one moment and contempt the next.
Beyond cultural and professional acceptance, piercings on the face won’t be easy to ignore. A facial piercing that’s poorly done could cause damage that will scar your face. Any facial piercing hosts its own risks; you don’t want to pursue one on a whim.
To help you decide whether or not a facial piercing is for you, here are some pros and cons to consider.
Pros of facial piercings
When you think of a facial piercing, a few styles might come to mind; eyebrow piercings, nostril and septum piercings, and labret piercings have all found popularity in the last few years.
Your face offers a plethora of piercing options that can accentuate your best features.
But, your face provides an entire canvas for facial piercing types. The lips alone offer a plethora of piercing options to choose from. Additionally, surface piercings allow you to pierce the flat areas of the skin, paving the way for piercings on your cheekbone, temple, and other areas of the face that you might not have thought about before.
Your face offers plenty of space for piercing, and well-planned facial piercings can accentuate your best features. Here are some of the best aspects of facial piercings.
You can make your facial piercing your own
Almost every facial piercing type has a variation. Even seemingly straightforward piercings, like an eyebrow piercing, offers a few different piercing types to choose from. Once you’ve narrowed down the specific piercing and variation you’d like, you’ll have some jewelry options to peruse. Facial piercings offer a great way to show off your unique personality and style.
You can go bold or dainty
Most facial piercings can rock both larger jewelry choices or daintier items. With a smaller piece of jewelry, your piercing won’t stand out as much, allowing you to show off your piercing even at more conservative events. When it’s time to let your piercing shine, you can bring out the more elaborate jewelry.
They aren’t as permanent as tattoos
Like piercings, tattoos offer a way for you to express your individuality through body modification. Unlike piercings, tattoos are permanent unless you have them removed.
You won’t have to worry too much about how your piercing will affect your life years down the line; simply remove the jewelry. The scarring from well-healed, healthy piercings is usually very minimal.
They have cultural significance
Throughout the ages, cultures all over the world have pierced their bodies for different reasons. Some claimed that it brought them closer to the spiritual world. Others used them to show off their strength and prowess on the battlefield.
Today, many still get pierced to feel a spiritual or cultural connection. If you’d like a facial piercing, research its history to find its significance.
Cons of facial piercings
When it comes down to it, piercings are about individual expression, but some will still frown upon your personal style choices. Additionally, since these piercings are located on the face, any scarring or healing issues will be apparent. Here are some not-so-fun things to think about before you get pierced.
Your piercing will have an effect on your employability
While piercings are becoming more mainstream, some companies, especially larger corporations, have specific rules against facial piercings. Once your piercing has fully healed, you can take out your jewelry during the work day, although you do risk having your piercing close. Some piercings tend to close within hours of jewelry removal, so choosing this option might mean saying goodbye to your facial piercing. You can also get glass piercing retainers to put in your piercing, but although retainers are subtle, they can still be seen, so some employers might not allow this option.
Your boss might not love your facial piercing as much as you do.
Not all companies will have policies against facial piercings, and it may depend upon your role. But, you don’t want your piercings to make or break your career, so make sure that you keep your job in mind when making your piercing choices.
Some facial piercing types have a tendency for rejection
Jewelry rejection occurs when your body starts pushing the new jewelry out of your skin, like it does with a splinter. While this can happen in any piercing, it’s highly common in surface piercings or eyebrow piercings.
Piercing rejection happens for a number of reasons, and you can take steps to avoid it, but sometimes it occurs even if you do everything right. If your piercing starts to migrate, immediately consult your piercer. If you ignore it, the rejection could leave a scar.
There’s a risk for infection
All piercings risk infection. But, infections on your face can be unsightly. If your piercing starts to suffer, you might see scarring or other permanent issues in a prevalent part of your body. If you choose to get a facial piercing, keep this in mind as you commit to your aftercare regimine.
The good news is that use of saline solution during healing is proven to greatly reduce the risk of infection and even shorten healing times. Many facial piercings can be easily cleaned on-the-go with a fine mist saline spray like NeilCleanse Fine Mist Piercing Aftercare.
Which facial piercings are more accepted?
Culturally, we view different piercings in different lights. For example, while nostril piercings have become widely accepted, society tends to view lip piercings as rebellious and less professional.
When considering the pros and cons of facial piercings, it’s important to note that not all piercings will be treated the same.
Nostril piercings are the most popular piercings outside of the ear. You’ll see these piercings gracing the noses of lawyers and college students alike. It can also be adorned with a tiny stud, making it less noticeable. Because of this, nostril piercings are often found acceptable by employers and those who are more conservative.
Septum piercings (a piercing located between the two nostrils) aren’t likely to be accepted in a corporate environment, but they are easy to hide. If you choose a curved or circular barbell, it can easily be flipped inside your nose where it will stay unseen for the duration of your work day. In addition, if you decide that you’re done with your septum piercing, the piercing hole is located inside your nose, so any scars will never be seen.
Tongue piercings, even though they’re within the mouth, can still be noticed when you talk. However, there is a variation of the tongue piercing—called the frenulum piercing—that pierces the webbing beneath the tongue. Its location makes it unnoticeable, but some have reported that this piercing can make speech difficult, especially in the first few days of receiving it.
There’s no doubt that facial piercings are gaining momentum. When done correctly, any facial piercing can bring your look to the next level. However, facial piercings run risks, both culturally and health-wise, so take some time to consider everything before you take the plunge.
