From the septum to the navel, here are the six least painful facial and body piercings for beginners.
We’ve all wanted piercings at some point, be it a septum piercing or the good ol’ earlobe piercing. That said, knowing that you’re having your skin punctured right through with a needle is not exactly a delightful thought for everyone—not to mention the many horror stories of infections and shady piercers that are more spine-chilling than any supernatural tales. But don’t let that stop you from expressing yourself, take the leap! After all, you’ll never know if you never tried.
Whilst online research is certainly helpful, you’re encouraged to seek out more details from someone with experience so you’ll know exactly what you’re in for—and we’ve got your back. If you’re too nervous to book that appointment, we’re here to put you at ease. Below, we’ve rounded up six beginner-friendly facial and body piercings and all you need to know before getting them.
*Please do enquire various professionals for advice as well to ensure that it’s suited for you!
Read: Piercing guide: Everything you need to know before getting poked
Smiley
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Pain level: 2/10 (at most)
Smileys are arguably one of the least painful piercings to get, and you can take my word for it. Having one myself, I can say that it’s easily my favourite for plenty of reasons. The procedure was almost completely painless (you’ll feel the puncture, but that’s about it), it’s hidden unless I smile, and to put it simply, it’s super cool. But of course, like any other piercings, there are risks and cons to having one, such as gum or teeth damage over time. Additionally, do note that it’s not suitable for everyone. If your frenulum’s too small, your piercer will advise you to avoid it.
Eyebrow
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Pain level: 4/10
Yet another piercing that I have myself, I’d say eyebrow piercings rank below nose piercings on the pain scale. Aside from the mild soreness that I experienced for only about a day after the procedure, it’s been fine and dandy so far (with proper care, of course). Eyebrow piercings take around two to three months to fully heal. During those months, it’s crucial that you do not remove the piercing for any reason. Not only will it be painful and even more so when you attempt to put it back, infection is also very likely to occur—and no one wants a nasty infection on their face, especially right above your eyes.
Nostril
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Pain level: 5/10
The first facial piercing I had done was on my nostril. Now, this is where you do as I say and not as I do. Having got it whilst I was fresh out of high school with barely any money in my bank account, my desperate edgy self had to opt for the cheaper option: pierced by gun. Any piercing done by this method is very likely to face infections, so you can only expect what happened to me next. Of course, you can avoid infections and experience way less pain than I did by simply having it professionally pierced by needle and following proper steps to prevent any issues. Gun-pierced piercings are never recommended as it can cause significant tissue damage, so if I hadn’t made it clear enough, avoid it at all costs and you’re good! Depending on how well you take care of it, nostril piercings will take roughly around two to four months to heal.
Septum
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Pain level: 4/10
Because of its soft and thin tissue, expect a sharp but quick pain if you want your septum pierced. It’s a tad bit more painful than nostril piercings, although the pain only lasts for a split second. You may experience mild sores within the first week or two, but it’s nothing major. If you’re looking for something that can be easily hidden when needed, septum is the way to go. It will take up to two to three months to heal with proper care.
Belly button/Navel
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Pain level: 4/10
Despite common assumption, navel piercings are not as painful as you might think. In fact, because our belly buttons are mostly flesh and aren’t nerve dense, navel piercings are ranked the second least painful piercings to get after ear piercings. Whilst it may appear healed within a few weeks, it will take between three to six months for it to fully heal internally. And no, you should not be anywhere near beaches or pools during this time.
Lip
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Pain level: 3/10
Generally, oral piercings rank pretty low on the pain scale—with the exception of tongue piercings. Similar to earlobes, piercing your lip is a fairly quick and simple process as there are no cartilages to puncture. Soreness and swelling are expected like with any other piercings, but they will be fully healed by just six to eight weeks. It goes without saying that you should be careful whilst brushing your teeth or consuming anything during its healing process because it will be excruciating.
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