While piercings come with a certain lure about them, they shouldn't be taken lightly. Anything beyond a basic ear piecing should require some thought, we're talking everything from nose piercings to nipple piercings which usually come with a few key things to consider before you make the commitment. The same can be said for industrial piercings, a popular body modification option that set off in the 90s and was first coined in Body Play magazine in 1992. Simply put, it's the kind of two-for-one piercing which sees two holes (usually located at the top of the ear) connected by one piece of earring, typically a barbell.
It's been popularised by countless celebrities, too. Kylie Jenner, Miley Cyrus and Zayn Malik have all been privy to the edgy style, and if you're keen on the piercing yourself here's what you need to know before taking the plunge.
What Is An Industrial Piercing?
A standard industrial piercing involves two holes being pierced through the forward-helix and outer-helix, before a barbell is fitted to connect the two together as one piercing.
What Happens At An Industrial Piercing Appointment?
Similar tomost ear piercings, it's conducted with a hollow needle, the difference is the number of entry points. With industrial piercing the needle passes through multiple points in a straight line, followed by the jewellery. A professional piercer will first pierce one side with the needle, passing it through cartridge into a receiving tube, and repeat the step for the next hole located at the outer-helix. Then, the barbell jewellery is placed into the hollow needle and both pass through the ear together, before only the barbell is left to support both holes. Balls are twisted onto each end and voilà.
Pain And Healing Time
With all things, the pain is dependant on your own threshold. The key thing to remember with this specific piercing is that industrial piercings have two holes, so you will have to deal with the pain twice over. Generally speaking, you may find it more painful than other cartilage piercings as it's conducted with a larger gauge, which passes through multiple points at once.
An industrial piercing takes four to six months to heal, but you should expect it to fully heal after a year. At around approximately three months it will be healed enough for you to change your jewellery. Based on your general health and level of aftercare, you can heal a lot quicker.
As for aftercare, clean your piercing twice a day, every day for at least three to six months. After six months, you can afford to wash the area once a day. Clean with a sterile wound wash saline and let it air dry. The other things to consider are: avoid any pressure on the area; try not to sleep on it during the healing process; and be mindful of your hair and skincare ingredients which may irritate the area.
How Much Does An Industrial Piercing Cost?
Prices will range depending on where in the UK you are getting it done, but the average cost for the piercing starts from £45.