Basic Piercings
The most common first piercing, placed in the soft, lower part of the ear.
What is the earlobe?
A piercing on the upper ear’s outer rim, often the second most common cartilage piercing.
What is a helix piercing?
This piercing sits in the middle of the nose’s soft tissue between the nostrils.
What is a septum piercing?
A piercing that sits on the navel, often decorated with curved barbells and gems.
What is a belly button (navel) piercing?
This ancient civilization famously used nose rings as a sign of wealth and marital status.
What is India?
A nose piercing on the crease where the nostril meets the cheek is called this.
What is a nostril piercing?
This piercing sits in the small flap of cartilage right in front of the ear canal.
What is a tragus piercing?
A piercing placed above the upper lip but to one side, named after an iconic beauty mark.
What is a Monroe piercing?
A piercing placed horizontally or vertically on the surface of the skin using a flat metal anchor.
What is a dermal (microdermal) piercing?
This African group is known for lip plates, a form of stretching piercing.
Who are the Mursi?
This piercing goes through the soft tissue that hangs at the bottom of the mouth behind the lower lip.
What is a labret piercing?
This inner-ear piercing sits in the fold just above the ear canal.
What is the rook?
A lip piercing placed directly in the center beneath the lower lip.
What is a labret?
This piercing on the chest, often vertical, is sometimes done as a surface bar.
What is a sternum piercing?
Sailors often wore a gold earring because it could pay for this in case they died at sea.
What is a proper burial?
A piercing placed in the thin skin right above the eye.
What is an eyebrow piercing?
The curved cartilage between the ear and scalp is home to this uncommon piercing.
What is the snug?
A piercing inside the mouth on the tissue under the tongue.
What is a tongue web (frenulum) piercing?
These piercings are placed horizontally or vertically across the nipples.
What are nipple piercings?
This Native American tribe traditionally used ear and body piercing as spiritual practice and rites of passage.
Who are the Lakota / Sioux?
A vertical piercing placed through the center of the tongue.
What is a tongue piercing?
A long barbell connecting the helix to the forward helix creates this double-point piercing.
What is an industrial piercing?
This pair of matched lip piercings sits symmetrically on each corner of the lower lip.
What are snake bites?
A dual set of hip piercings, one on each side, known for being a form of body modification art.
What are hip dermals / hip piercings?
Ancient Egyptians pierced this specific part of the ear, a practice reserved for royalty.
What is the navel or upper ear cartilage? (depending on era; both were restricted)