Eyebrow piercing - Definition and Overview

Eyebrow piercing is a type of body piercing done through the eyebrow, usually vertically.

It may be pierced anywhere along the eyebrow from directly above the eye to the edge of the eyebrow. Eyebrow piercings are prone to migration, that is, the amount of skin taken by the initial piercing will decrease until the jewelry eventually grows out altogether. The best way to minimize migration is to get it pierced with a curved barbell — a straight barbell encourages migration. Eyebrow piercings initially turned up in the 1980s, and have been growing in popularity ever since. They are one of the only purely aesthetic piercings, having no recognized symbolic meaning associated with them. Healing time takes 6-8 weeks and are generally easy to care for. It is important to keep them very clean by keeping unwashed hands, makeup and hair away. Should the eyebrow become infected it may swell or develop a fluid-filled bump or pimple at the hole, which may be alleviated by administering soaks of warm, mild saline.

• See also Body Piercing Aftercare for more information.