A Melbourne piercer shares her most popular requests
IMAGE VIA @piercedheartt/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY MARYEL SOUSA
Holey-er than thou.
Growing up in the early 2000s, I thought the coolest girls on the planet were the ones whose baby tees revealed a diamond piercing on their fake-tanned tummies. Nothing could convince me that this wasn’t the most classy, elegant and aspirational look in the world.
Even now, when my friends send me pictures of their freshly pierced belly buttons or giggle about how their nipple piercings poke through their shirts, I’m in awe at how these little piercings can add so much personality and excitement to an outfit.
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Piercings always seem to be in vogue, but like any trend, different piercings will inevitably take the top spot each year. It’s hard to keep up. Yet there aren’t many people who have their finger on the pulse of this season’s hottest piercings quite like Eloise, a body piercer and assistant manager at The Piercing Urge in Melbourne.
Maximalist ear styling
According to Eloise, maximalist styles are trending now more than ever. From mixed metals, gems and precious stones to mixing jewellery textures and stacking multiple fine rings, Eloise says people are leaning towards playful, creatives looks.
“Worn by celebrities like FKA Twigs, the maximalist style is also characterised by having numerous piercings over the lobe and various cartilage placements, rather than just one or two,” Eloise tells me. “As the piercing locations vary, so do the healing times and aftercare methods. Patience is key when developing a maximalist piercing aesthetic, as it can be a timely process.”
Stacked lobe piercings
“The humble earlobe piercing has seen a rebrand this year,” Eloise says. Unlike the more conventional placement of second or third piercings acending the lobe, Eloise explains that stacked lobe piercing can be done anywhere on the soft tissue of the lobe.
This is usually vertically above an existing piercing, “nestled between two piercings in a slightly higher position, or occasionally located right before the earlobe joins the jaw.”
“The high blood flow and lack of dense tissue in the earlobe make these an ideal alternative for folks who want a unique ear piercing but may have a more difficult time healing cartilage piercings,” she adds. “They usually take four to nine months to heal, while cartilage piercings can take over a year.”
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Mantis piercings
Mantis piercings (also referred to as forward-facing nostril piercings) are essentially a pair of unusually placed nostril piercings. “[They] are located on either side of the tip of the nose rather than the more traditional placement, which is further back and higher up the nostril,” Eloise says. “These piercings, which became popular on TikTok, have a striking visual effect with low-profile or flat embellishments or small jewels.”
Exact placement piercings will vary depending on the person, so Eloise emphasises the importance of visiting an experienced piercer with a sound understanding of unconventional piercings. If cared for properly, she says Mantis piercings are no more uncomfortable or difficult to heal than traditional nostril piercings (around six to twelve months).
Hidden helix piercings
“Clients are loving unique and unusual piercing placements,” Eloise tells me. “The hidden helix piercing soared to popularity after Florence Pugh was seen wearing a delicate, jewelled, yellow-gold chain draping mysteriously from her ear at her 2024 Golden Globes appearance.”
According to Eloise, because the piercing is nestled underneath the fold of cartilage at the highest point of the ear, it’s “so well-hidden that only the dangling charm or chain attachment is visible, creating the illusion that it’s suspended in the air as if by magic”.
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Navel piercings
“The Y2K revival has extended even to the world of body piercing,” says Eloise. Studios are seeing an increased amount of people wanting eyebrow or tongue piercings – and most notably, bejewelled navels. “Floating navels (a slightly altered angle of piercing and jewellery style designed to better accommodate different types of navel anatomy) are also a rising trend, with many clients opting for dangling charms or chains to elevate their healed piercings and add some drama to their style,” she adds.
Like all piercings, care must be taken when getting your belly done. But the added bacteria in certain bodies of water when swimming in pools, beaches or lakes can harm the piercing. It also has a longer healing process due to the high movement around your stomach and the friction from tight clothing, meaning it can take around twelve months to heal, Eloise says.
Fang piercing
“Another unconventional piercing style is making waves over TikTok For You Pages and Instagram Explore Feeds this year [is] the fang piercing,” Eloise explains. “Placed vertically through the curved tissue of the top lip on either side of the Cupid’s bow, these piercings usually include small spikes on the bottom part of the jewellery where the upper and lower lip meet, giving the piercings their telltale name and fang-like appearance.
Contrary to popular belief, she adds, vertical lip piercings don’t get in the way when kissing. But with that in mind, she advises that extra care should be taken when applying any skincare or cosmetics to avoid irritating the lip during its six to nine-month healing period.
For more information on caring for your newest piercing, head here.
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