Piercings stopped being "a girl thing" a long time ago. A small stud in your lobe, a bold ring in your helix or a clean bar through your eyebrow: more and more men are choosing a piercing that fits their style. Still wondering which piercing suits you, which jewellery to pick, or how it works with your job, sport and beard? This post covers it all.
Popular piercings for men
There's no official list of "men's piercings": any piercing can suit anyone. Still, there are a few spots men often go for.
- Earlobe. The classic. A simple stud or small ring is subtle and works with almost any look. The lobe is known as one of the least painful piercings and makes a great first piercing.
- Helix and other cartilage. A piercing in the upper rim of your ear instantly adds character. Keep in mind that cartilage needs more time to heal than your lobe.
- Industrial. One long bar running through two holes in the upper ear. Striking, graphic and definitely not for everyone: your ear has to be anatomically suited for it.
- Eyebrow. A true statement piercing with a long history in the piercing world.
- Nose and septum. A small stud in the nostril or a ring in your septum. With a horseshoe ring or retainer you can often turn a healed septum inwards when it can't be visible.
- Lip (labret). A piercing below your lower lip, with a flat disc on the inside.
- Tongue and nipple. Less visible in everyday life, but definitely popular.
Which spot looks best depends on your anatomy and your style. At Piercings Works we always look at your ear, nose or lip first before giving advice. What each piercing costs is listed openly in our price list.
Left or right: does it matter?
A question we often hear from men who want an ear piercing: "Which ear should I choose?" In the past, all sorts of meanings were attached to the side of an earring. These days you simply pick the side you like best, or the side you sleep on least. Curious about the bigger picture of ear piercings? Read The Ultimate Guide to Ear Piercings.
Which jewellery should you choose?
Your jewellery largely decides how your piercing looks. A few tips:
- Start with a bar or stud. For a fresh piercing, a bar often heals better than a ring because it moves less. That ring can come later, once your piercing has healed.
- Choose good material. For a fresh piercing titanium is best, but gold is possible too: we often use a titanium bar with a gold attachment. Gold is fine for a new piercing too, but the first bar is longer and is later replaced with a shorter one. That's why we usually use a titanium bar with a gold attachment. We use solid 14K and 18K gold (most in 18K). Find out why in our FAQ on jewellery and materials.
- Simple or bold. A clean titanium stud is minimal, a gold ring adds a bit more warmth. You can always switch once it has healed.
Piercings and work
Not every workplace is equally relaxed about visible piercings. If you work somewhere it's a sensitive topic, you can choose a spot that's easy to hide, such as a septum, a rook or a daith. Our FAQ on travel, work and lifestyle has more on this.
Sport, shaving and your beard
A few practical things men in particular run into:
- Sport. You can exercise carefully, as long as there's no pressure or dirt on your piercing. With contact sports or a helmet, a fresh ear piercing is extra vulnerable, so keep that in mind when choosing your spot.
- Shaving. Shave carefully around a fresh piercing and keep shaving foam, aftershave and other products away from it until it has healed.
- Beard. With a lip or nose piercing, beard hairs can catch behind the jewellery. Jewellery with a flat or smooth end often feels more comfortable.
Your visit to Piercings Works
You can simply walk in or book an appointment, whatever suits you. We've been on Reguliersbreestraat 46 in Amsterdam since 2004 and have been piercing since 1998. Our studio holds a GGD licence (the Dutch public health authority) and our team speaks six languages. You can get pierced with us from the age of 12. Between 12 and 16? Then a parent or guardian comes along and signs a consent form, and you both bring a valid ID. From 16 you can come on your own; just bring your ID. Tattoos are from 18. Under 16? Read our page on the minimum age for piercing and tattoo first. After your piercing you'll receive an aftercare email and 7 days of free aftercare, so you're never on your own.
Frequently asked questions
Which piercing is best for a man?
There's no single best piercing. The lobe is a safe first choice; cartilage, eyebrow or septum add more character. Drop by and we'll look at what suits your anatomy and style.
Does a piercing hurt?
Everyone experiences pain differently. Most people describe it as a short, sharp pinch that lasts only a few seconds. Earlobe and nostril are often experienced as the least painful.
Can I get a ring straight away in my new piercing?
Sometimes, but in most cases a bar heals better because it moves less. We're happy to advise on the best choice for your spot.
How much does a piercing cost?
All prices are listed in our studio price list.
See you soon at Reguliersbreestraat 46!