60 piercings with the other names they go by, where each one sits and the jewellery usually worn, then every jewellery type and closure. Piercing names have no official standard: we compared encyclopedias, professional piercing guidance and studio guides, and where they disagree the entry says so.
Also called: earlobe, transverse lobe (horizontal variant)
Through the soft, fleshy bottom of the ear, below the cartilage.
Starting gauge varies between studios: 20G-18G (0.8-1.0 mm) or 16G (1.2 mm).
Also called: high lobe, second or third lobe
Higher on the soft lobe, just below where the cartilage starts.
Also called: cartilage piercing, outer helix
Through the curled cartilage rim along the top and outer edge of the ear.
Older practice started helix piercings with rings; current studio guidance prefers a flat-back stud, which moves less while it heals.
Also called: front helix
Through the front of the cartilage rim, where it curls toward the face above the tragus.
Also called: scapha piercing
Through the flat panel of upper-ear cartilage between the rim and the inner ridge.
Through the small, thick flap of cartilage in front of the ear canal.
Some studios start at 18G (1.0 mm).
Also called: antitragus
Through the raised cartilage bump opposite the tragus, just above the lobe.
Also called: inner conch, outer conch
Through the bowl of cartilage at the centre of the ear; inner conch sits in the bowl, outer conch higher on its outer part.
Some older manuals start the conch at 14G (1.6 mm).
Through the innermost fold of cartilage, just above the opening of the ear canal.
Often promoted for migraine, but no randomised controlled trial has tested it against a sham procedure. Read the evidence
Also called: antihelix fold piercing
Vertically through the fold of inner cartilage above the daith.
Also called: antihelix piercing
Horizontally through the inner cartilage ridge, about halfway between the conch and the rim.
Sources warn against straight bars here: they put tension on the channel.
Also called: scaffold, construction piercing
Two cartilage holes, usually forward helix and upper helix, joined by one long straight bar across the top of the ear.
Two holes close together, worn with a single ring passing through both.
Also called: ala piercing, nose piercing
Through the side of the nose, usually in the crease of the nostril.
Starting gauges range from 20G to 18G in most sources, up to 14G in some.
Higher up the side of the nose, above the natural crease, in thicker tissue.
Also called: bull ring
Through the thin soft tissue just in front of the cartilage wall between the nostrils (the 'sweet spot').
Starting gauges vary: 16G is common worldwide, some piercers start at 14G or heavier.
Also called: Erl, Niebuhr
A horizontal surface piercing across the top of the nose, between the eyes.
Sources agree a curved bar should not be used: it pulls the ends and leads to rejection.
Also called: vertical eyebrow
Vertically through the skin of the brow ridge, usually toward the outer end.
Also called: teardrop, butterfly kiss, upper cheek
A surface piercing on the upper cheekbone, below the outer corner of the eye.
Older practice used a curved barbell here; current sources call that a common cause of rejection.
Also called: lower lip, soul patch
Through the centre, below the lower lip and above the chin.
Enters below the lower lip and comes out through the top of the lip itself.
Off-centre above the upper lip, where a beauty mark would sit.
Most sources place the Monroe on the wearer's left and the Madonna on the right; at least one swaps them. It is the same piercing on a different side.
The mirror of the Monroe, above the upper lip on the other side.
Also called: philtrum, upper lip centre
Through the centre of the groove between the nose and the upper lip.
A matching pair, one on each side of the lower lip.
Also called: viper bites (some sources)
A pair placed close together on one side of the lower lip.
Also called: upper lip frenulum
Through the thin web of tissue joining the upper lip to the gum.
Also called: lower lip frenulum
Through the thin web of tissue joining the lower lip to the gum.
Also called: centre tongue
Vertically through the middle of the tongue.
Swelling after a tongue piercing is one of the most common problems; the long first bar exists for that reason.
Also called: tongue frenulum, web piercing
Through the thin web of tissue under the tongue.
Also called: dimple piercing
Through the cheek into the mouth, often where a dimple sits.
Also called: belly button
Usually through the upper rim of skin above the belly button (an inverse navel goes through the lower rim).
Through the base of the nipple, usually horizontally.
Some sources advise against thin 16G bars in nipples because of migration.
Also called: surface-to-surface
Under a flat area of skin, with both holes on the same flat surface.
Sources agree normal straight or curved barbells reject quickly in flat skin.
Also called: microdermal, single-point piercing
A single hole: a small base sits under the skin and a post with a top shows on the surface.
Sources advise having the top changed by a piercer during the first months, so the base is not twisted loose.
Also called: back of the neck
A horizontal surface piercing across the back of the neck.
Collars and hair make it a placement that rejects often.
A surface piercing on the flat skin near the hip bones.
Waistbands rub on it, which raises the risk of rejection.
Also called: chest, cleavage piercing
A surface piercing over the breastbone, vertical or horizontal.
Clinical descriptions for adults. Whether a genital piercing suits you depends on your anatomy, which an experienced piercer checks before anything else.
Also called: PA
Enters through the urethral opening and comes out on the underside of the head of the penis.
One source warns against curved barbells here; others list them as standard.
Also called: reverse PA
Enters through the urethral opening and comes out on the top of the head of the penis.
Vertically through the head of the penis, top to bottom.
Can be done in one go, or built from an existing Prince Albert.
Also called: palang
Horizontally through the head of the penis, side to side.
Two variants exist: above the urethra, or through it.
Also called: deep dydoe (deeper variant)
Through the raised rim around the head of the penis.
Sources differ on whether only a curved bar should be used.
Also called: frenulum
Horizontally through the skin on the underside of the shaft, just behind the head.
Also called: Jacob's ladder
A row of several frenum piercings down the underside of the shaft.
Also called: low frenum
Low on the underside, where the shaft meets the scrotum.
Also called: scrotal piercing, scrotum piercing
Through the skin of the scrotum, traditionally on the upper sides.
Sources disagree on the best starting bar. A deep, through-and-through version is called transscrotal.
Also called: perineum piercing
Horizontally through the skin between the scrotum and the anus.
Pronounced 'geesh'. One studio notes many so-called scrotal piercings are actually guiches.
A surface piercing at the base of the penis where it meets the body.
Also called: prepuce piercing
Through the foreskin of an uncircumcised penis.
Sources recommend different starting jewellery.
Clinical descriptions for adults. Whether a genital piercing suits you depends on your anatomy, which an experienced piercer checks before anything else.
Also called: vertical clitoral hood
Vertically through the hood of skin above the clitoris.
The most common genital piercing. Suitability depends on the anatomy of the hood, which a piercer checks first.
Also called: horizontal clitoral hood
Horizontally through the hood of skin above the clitoris.
Also called: Venus
A vertical surface piercing from where the outer labia meet up onto the pubic mound.
Not every anatomy suits it; it is a surface piercing and can reject.
Horizontally behind the clitoral shaft, under the base of the hood.
Needs suitable anatomy; few people can have it.
Through the small fold of skin at the back of the vulva, above the perineum.
Often described as the counterpart of the guiche.
Also called: labia minora
Through the inner folds of skin around the vaginal opening.
Also called: labia majora
Through the thicker outer folds of the vulva.
Usually slower to heal than the inner labia.
Enters through the urethral opening and comes out inside the vaginal opening.
A deep vertical piercing through the clitoral shaft, from below the clitoris to the top of the hood.
Sources agree it carries a high risk of nerve damage and heavy bleeding.
A long vertical piercing from the pubic mound down, exiting under the hood above the clitoris.
Some sources call it a safer alternative to the Isabella; the piercer Elayne Angel disputes that.
For mouth, eyebrow and cartilage piercings we recommend medical-grade PP-R such as BioFlex®: it spares teeth and gums, and it bends instead of levering the piercing when you sleep on it. For metals, see implant-grade metals. To compare sizes on screen, use the Jewelry Size Visualizer.
Also called: internal thread
The thread is inside the post; the top screws into it, so the part that passes through the skin is smooth.
Worn in Cartilage, face, lips, navel, nipples, dermals.
The standard for threaded jewellery in a fresh piercing.
Also called: external thread
The thread is cut into the outside of the post and the ball screws onto it.
Worn in Budget barbells and navel bars.
The rough thread drags through the channel on the way in, so it is not used for fresh piercings.
Also called: push-fit, press-fit, push pin
The top has a thin pin, bent slightly, that pushes into a hollow post and is held by spring tension.
Worn in Ear cartilage, lobes, nostril, lips and face.
Smooth like internal threading. The pin needs the right bend: too little and the top can fall out.
Also called: hinged segment ring
A ring with a hinged section that swings open and clicks shut; nothing comes loose.
Worn in Septum, daith, helix, conch, tragus, nostril, lips.
The easiest ring to open and close. The hinge can rub in a piercing that has not healed.
Also called: BCR, captive bead ring, CBR
An open ring that holds a small ball or bead in its gap by its own tension.
Worn in Almost everywhere: ears, nose, lips, navel, nipples, genital piercings.
BCR is the usual European name, CBR the North American one. Thick rings need ring pliers to open and close.
Like a BCR, but the removable part is a piece of the ring itself, so it looks like a closed circle.
Worn in Septum, daith, helix, lips, nostril.
Hard to put in without pliers, and the loose segment is easy to lose.
Also called: continuous ring, twist hoop
A single piece of wire with one cut; it opens by twisting the ends sideways.
Worn in Nostril, helix, tragus, lips, lobes.
Never pull it open like a wishbone: that bends it out of shape.
A ring with the bead fixed to one end; it opens by twisting the free end sideways.
Worn in Nostril, ear cartilage, septum, lobes.
The bead cannot be lost; only thin gauges can be twisted by hand.
Also called: flat-back, labret stud
A straight post with a flat disc at the back and a top at the front.
Worn in Lips, cheeks, nostril, and most ear placements.
The flat back lies against gums or cartilage. The first post is long for swelling and is shortened later.
Also called: barbell, industrial bar, tongue bar
A straight bar with a removable end on one or both sides.
Worn in Tongue, nipples, industrial, bridge, frenum, ampallang, apadravya.
Not for flat surface piercings or the eyebrow, where its straight shape puts pressure on the ends.
Also called: banana bar, bent barbell
A barbell bent into a gentle curve.
Worn in Navel, eyebrow, rook, anti-tragus, vertical labret, VCH.
Follows tissue that curves. Not for flat surface piercings or the bridge.
Also called: horseshoe, CBB
A barbell bent into a horseshoe, with a removable end on each tip.
Worn in Septum, smiley, lips, nipples, daith, genital piercings.
In a septum it can be flipped up inside the nose to hide it.
Also called: staple bar
A flat bar under the skin with both ends turned up at 90 degrees, so the tops sit flat on the surface.
Worn in Nape, sternum, hips, anti-eyebrow and other flat surfaces.
The shape that lets a surface piercing heal; normal barbells reject in flat skin.
Also called: microdermal top
A small disc or gem that screws into the post of a dermal anchor.
Worn in Wherever a dermal anchor sits.
Have it changed by a piercer at first, so the anchor is not twisted loose.
Also called: eyelet, flesh tunnel
A short cylinder for a stretched piercing: solid (plug) or hollow (tunnel), held by flares, O-rings or a screw-on back.
Worn in Stretched lobes and other stretched piercings.
'Gauge' is the size, not the name of the jewellery. Never force a double-flared plug into a fresh stretch.
Also called: hider, septum retainer
A discreet piece, clear or skin-coloured, that keeps a piercing open without showing.
Worn in Septum, lips, nostril, tongue, ear, navel.
Used for work, sport, surgery or scans. Medical-grade polymers such as BioFlex® are made for this; cheap acrylic and uncertified copies sold as 'bioflex' are not the same material.
Also called: nose screw
A stud whose end is bent into a hook that sits inside the nostril, with no back.
Worn in Nostril.
Secure, but trickier to put in than a flat-back labret.
Also called: L-shaped nose stud
A nose stud with a right-angle bend at the end.
Worn in Nostril.
Easier to put in than a screw, but comes out more easily.
A short straight stud with a slightly larger ball on the inside end that holds it in.
Worn in Healed nostrils only.
Forcing the end through a healing piercing damages it.
Also called: insertion taper
A smooth rod that widens gradually, used to guide jewellery into a piercing or to stretch it.
Worn in A piercer's tool; also used for stretching.
Not meant to be worn as everyday jewellery.
Also called: twister
A barbell coiled into a corkscrew.
Worn in Healed eyebrow, helix, lips, navel, lobes.
Catches easily; for healed piercings.
The smaller the gauge number, the thicker the jewellery. Studios round the exact wire sizes to these millimetre values. More on choosing a size: jewellery sizing.
| Gauge | Thickness |
|---|---|
| 20G | 0.8 mm |
| 18G | 1.0 mm |
| 16G | 1.2 mm |
| 14G | 1.6 mm |
| 12G | 2.0 mm |
| 10G | 2.5 mm |
| 8G | 3 mm |
| 6G | 4 mm |
| 4G | 5 mm |
| 2G | 6 mm |
| 0G | 8 mm |
| 00G | 9-10 mm |
Last checked 2026-11-01. Test your knowledge: body art crosswords.
