Eyebrow Piercings 101: The Benefits, Cost, and Pain Level

Better think this one through.

fergie with eyebrow piercing on left eyebrow

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A facial piercing should never be entered into lightly. As fun as it might sound to pop into a salon and walk out with a new eyebrow ring, it's a major commitment that deserves proper thought and consideration beforehand.

That's because it can really leave a mark—quite literally—if you decide an eyebrow ring is not for you. "It will permanently scar the face, and it’s very difficult [and expensive] to remove scars like that, so I would really put some thought into it before you pierce your face," says Brian Keith Thompson, the owner of Body Electric Tattoo and Piercing, who has worked on celebrities like Beyoncé, Jennifer Lawrence, and Emma Stone.

Meet the Expert

  • Marie Leger, MD PhD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Entiere Dermatology in New York City.
  • Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at New York Presbyterian Hospital—Weill Cornell Medical Center.
  • Brian Keith Thompson is a professional piercer and the owner of Body Electric Tattoo and Piercing.


In an effort to lay out everything you need to know about eyebrow piercings, we created this ultimate guide—so the next time you get the sudden urge to get yours pierced, you'll be fully prepared for what to expect.

What Is an Eyebrow Piercing?

An eyebrow piercing is, well, a piercing somewhere on the eyebrow. As far as the way it is situated along your eyebrow (for instance, horizontally or vertically), that’s a creative decision to be made between you and your piercer.

Eyebrow Piercing

Placement: Vertically or horizontally along the brow

Pricing: $30-$40

Pain Level: 3/10

Healing Time: About three months

Aftercare: Clean the area twice a day with a gentle soap. Avoid waxing, threading, and other forms of brow maintenance aside from tweezing. Keep the area free of makeup and skincare that could be a potential irritant.

Can Eyebrow Piercings be Rejected?

Eyebrow piercings are unique in the fact that they are surface piercings and they have a tendency to migrate or be rejected by your body if they're not pierced deeply enough or if the jewelry is too thin or heavy, which makes this type of piercing a little more complex.

"Eyebrow piercings require extra care and attention because they are especially susceptible to rejection and migration," notes Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at New York Presbyterian Hospital—Weill Cornell Medical Center. "Disrupting the healing process increases the risks of rejection and migration."

According to Thompson, this will "mainly happen if you pick the wrong jewelry and if you’re just not careful with it.” That said, you can't always control it. “Anytime you put a foreign object into your body, you have the chance and likelihood of an infection and rejection. Those both can happen for no rhyme or reason. Sometimes you just have an active immune system, and it starts to migrate."

Pain

In terms of pain, an eyebrow piercing isn't too bad. "[An eyebrow piercing] is very easy, one of the easiest to perform, in my opinion," Thompson says. "It’s just a single needle—I don’t even use a tool, I just use my fingers. Not a very painful piercing. There are not a lot of nerves there on your brow." As long as you avoid getting a sunburn beforehand (ouch), Thompson says your experience will be a relatively comfortable one.

Healing Time

According to Thompson, it takes about three to four months to fully heal, but sometimes you're looking at closer to five or six months, depending on a few factors. First, take a look at your lifestyle. "Every time you hit it or bump it or injure it, you’re setting it backwards," he says. "Let’s say you just got a motorcycle. Then it’s not the piercing for you because any type of movement or trauma—it’s going to be pretty catastrophic to that piercing."

Another major factor that plays a part in how quickly your piercing will heal? Your body. "Everyone is unique and different, so what works for me, may not necessarily work for you," he says. "You may have to figure out your own regimen as well. It’s not really one size fits all."

Cost of an Eyebrow Piercing

Eyebrow piercings shouldn't be any more or less expensive than any other type of piercing. At most reputable salons, you can expect to pay about $30-$40 for the piercing service only, plus the cost of the jewelry you select.

Aftercare

It’s no secret that successfully healing a piercing is a difficult feat, but it can be done. The first step is choosing the right jewelry, but the real test is how you treat it in the months that follow. 

The first three months with any piercing is the most crucial stage, according to Thompson. "If you can’t make it through the first three months without suffering problem after problem, you may want to take it out because you may not make it any further and it may just keep having the same problems over and over again."

In addition to avoiding trauma to the area, Thompson says getting enough sleep, eating well, and drinking enough water will all contribute to a faster healing process. Bottom line, if you’re careful with your new piercing, you can successfully heal it.

To clean the area, Thompson says to keep it simple: soap and water. His favorites are Dr. Bronner's 18-In-1 Hemp Baby Unscented Pure Castile Soap ($10) and Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($18) for those with very sensitive skin, but he notes that soaps aren't necessarily going to make your piercing heal any faster. "Your body is doing all the work, so no matter what you’re cleaning it with, remember that you’re not helping your body heal faster," he says. "You’re just helping prevent an infection."

One thing you shouldn't overlook? Your skincare and brow grooming routine. "Avoid potential irritants like face wash, creams, lotions, serums, hairspray, and makeup and anything foreign to the body while healing," says Murphy-Rose. She advises to skip the waxing appointment and stick to tweezers while the piercing heals.

Dermatologist Marie Leger concurs, saying: "You can wash your face daily with a gentle cleanser, but avoid sunscreen and makeup for the first few weeks and protect the area instead by using hats or staying out of the sun."

Side Effects of Piercing

Byrdie Tip

Avoid over-cleaning your piercing, which can delay the healing process.

  • Infection: Though they're a rare occurrence, infections do happen. Thompson lays out the warning signs: "You’ll see green or brown pus; the area will be very red and warm to the touch; you will feel your lymph nodes under your jaw swollen; you will feel like you’re getting sick, and you could possibly even have a fever if the infection is serious." If you see any of those signs or any type of streaking protruding from the wound, seek medical attention immediately.
  • Rejection or migration: As our experts outlined above, eyebrow piercings are more likely to be rejected than other styles of piercing. "Disrupting the healing process increases the risks of rejection and migration. You should avoid touching, rotating, or playing with the piercing and changing the jewelry until completely healed," says Murphy-Rose.
  • Allergic reaction: As Leger explains, "Sometimes patients are allergic to their earrings—and the area near the earring can become red, scaly, and itchy." If you notice those signs, talk to your dermatologist. "Interestingly, metal allergies are more common in people with multiple piercings-—this is thought to be because the immune system is active at the site of injury, and can 'learn' to react to metals during the healing process."

How to Change Out Eyebrow Piercing

If everything is healing well after about six weeks, you can switch out the jewelry with a smaller piece or one that better suits your style. Many shops include smaller replacement jewelry in the price of the initial piercing, so you can exchange it at no additional charge—but don't attempt to change out your jewelry for the first time yourself. "Go to a professional first and have them help you and instruct you," Thompson says. If you make a failed attempt, Thompson says, "It could possibly close up, or it could suffer trauma from you trying to put the jewelry in improperly and actually cause more damage."

Best Jewelry for a Brow Piercing

As Thompson mentioned, the type of jewelry you choose can make or break your eyebrow piercing, so don’t rush through the process when picking yours out or go straight for the most aesthetically pleasing option just yet. Instead, consider a few factors: the shape, the type of metal, and the size.

  • Curved barbell: Although you have dozens of styles to choose from for your eyebrow piercing (straight barbell, circular barbell, hoop, or spiral, to name a few) Thompson recommends starting with a curved barbell first. “When people start with a hoop instead of a curved barbell, it makes it a lot more difficult for that piercing to heal."
  • Hoop: Another popular style of earring for the eyebrow is the hoop or ring. As Thompson points out, it's best to wait until your piercing is healed before switching from a barbell to a hoop.

What Jewelry Material Is Used for Eyebrow Piercing?

As far as the metal goes, Thompson recommends splurging on one of two metals that, from his experience, tend to heal better: titanium and gold. 

  • Implant-Grade Titanium: "Titanium is the very best choice for anyone with sensitive skin and given the high rate of jewelry rejection in this area, titanium is really the best choice," says Murphy-Rose. It's on the pricier side, but well worth it for the quality and safety level.
  • Gold: If you opt for gold, look for "14k or 18k, and not gold-plated," according to Murphy-Rose.
Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
  1. Association of Professional Piercers. Suggested Aftercare Guidelines for Body Piercing.

  2. Association of Professional Piercers. Body piercing troubleshooting for you and your healthcare professional.

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