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When you hear the words “anti-eyebrow piercing,” you might think it’s simply the opposite of a normal eyebrow piercing. In a sense, you’d be right. But this piercing trend has nothing to do your brows at all. In fact, it’s not even on the same plane of the face.
“Anti-eyebrow piercings are placed in the upper cheekbone area near the bottom corner of the eye,” piercing artist Cozmo Faris, tells PS, adding that it is considered a type of dermal piercing.
If you’ve been wanting to get a slightly “out-of-the-box” facial piercing, ahead Faris explains everything you should know about the anti-eyebrow piercing trend, from the type of jewelry to use to what you can expect during the healing process.
Experts Featured in This Article
Cozmo Faris is a professional piercer at Virtue and Vice Piercing Studio located in Atlanta, Georgia.
What Is an Anti-Eyebrow Piercing?
Again, contrary to its name, this type of piercing is not actually on the eyebrow. It is set right at the top of the cheekbone horizontally, just below the eyebrow. “They are considered surface piercings since they enter and exit on the same plane with their staple-shaped jewelry, traveling just below the surface of the skin,” Faris says.
Anti-Eyebrow Piercing Aftercare
Taking care of your anti-eyebrow piercing is especially important. Because it pierces the surface of skin (and therefore “has less depth than standard ones,” Faris says), that means it has a higher rate of rejection. “Many people consider it a ‘when’ [the piercing will be rejected] situation rather than an ‘if’ situation, so that’s important to keep in mind.”
If your anti-eyebrow piercing gets rejected, Faris recommends removing the jewelry. However, a proper aftercare routine could help prevent this issue altogether. “This process should include a sterile saline soak twice a day to irrigate the area and clear it of any build-up that may have accumulated on the jewelry,” Faris says.
Exact healing times vary by person, but Faris says you’ll be able to tell if your anti-eyebrow piercing is fully healed “when all inflammation subsides and there is no tenderness, redness, or secretions, consistently for a couple of months.”
How Much Do Anti-Eyebrow Piercings Cost?
Due to its placement, anti-eyebrow piercings require specific jewelry, but they’re not necessarily custom so the price isn’t as significant as you’d think. “Surface piercings have their own specific barbells that are shaped like staples,” Faris says. “Each of the ends have a hole tapped into them allowing the user to thread in any ornamental tops of their choosing.”
These piercings typically come in either implant-grade titanium or solid 14-karat gold and this typically cost $120 at minimum, although prices will differ depending on your location and the expert level of your piercer.
Anti-Eyebrow Piercings Example
The main thing Faris says to keep in mind with this piercing is that it won’t last forever. “When it does come out eventually, whether you take it out or it’s rejected, it will likely leave some level of visible scarring behind,” he says. “As long as you are comfortable with that, there aren’t any other real downsides.”
Ariel Baker is the associate editor for PS Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.
