Thinking of Getting a Piercing? These Are The Least to Most Painful!

Piercings aren’t for everyone, but if you’re a fan and enjoy them they can be a fun way to express yourself. But all piercings aren’t made equal, different parts of the body will lead to different pain levels depending on the concentration of the nerves and the thickness of the skin/ cartilage along with personal pain thresholds. If you’re considering getting a piercing but are concerned about the pain, this guide will help you understand which areas are generally less painful and which might be a bit more intense. Read on to find out more!

Least Painful Piercings

Earlobe Piercing

Earlobe piercings are widely regarded as the least painful. The earlobe has fewer nerve endings compared to other areas, resulting in a milder sensation. Healing time is relatively quick, and aftercare is straightforward, making earlobe piercings an excellent choice for piercing beginners.

Nostril Piercing

The nostril has quite a thin membrane so while it’s sensitive it means that the pain usually tolerable for most people. Many people state that the pain is a sharp pinch during the piercing process. 

Eyebrow Piercing

The eyebrow is a fleshy area with fewer nerve endings, making it less sensitive to pain. As far as facial piercings go, the eyebrow is one of the easier ones to have done and tends to heal well. 

Moderately Painful Piercings

Tongue Piercing

The tongue has a significant number of nerve endings, resulting in a moderate level of pain during the piercing process. Swelling and discomfort are common during the initial healing period. It can affect some people’s ability to eat and drink properly for a number of days after the piercing so it’s important to know what to expect. Tongue piercings can be dangerous due to the location of important veins and nerves so take particular care when it comes to finding an experienced and trusted piercer.

Tragus Piercing

The tragus is a small piece of cartilage in front of the ear canal. If you’re wondering does a tragus piercing hurt, they are generally considered moderately painful due to the density of the cartilage. They’re a cool addition to regular earlobe piercings or as part of further ear piercings and look good with either a simple stud or a hoop depending on your style. 

Lip Piercing (Labret)

The pain associated with lip piercings can depend on the specific location (e.g., lower lip, upper lip). But generally the pain is considered to be moderate by most people just because of the presence of so many nerve endings. Be extra cautious with your oral hygiene to avoid infections as the mouth of course is already home to lots of germs and bacteria.

Navel Piercing

The navel or ‘belly button’ area is more sensitive than some other body parts, so you can expect a moderate level of pain during a piercing here. Navel piercings can be prone to clothing friction and tugging, this should be minimized during the healing process so consider the types of clothes you will wear and remove clothing carefully to avoid snagging

Septum Piercing

The septum is the fleshy area between the nostrils, and can be moderately painful to pierce due to the thick cartilage. People report this as being more painful than a simple nose tissue piercing, and it has a dramatic look so isnt for everyone but if you love the look be prepared for your eyes to water!

Industrial Piercing

An industrial piercing involves two holes connected by a single barbell through the upper ear cartilage. Pain levels are moderate to high, and healing times can be longer than many other types due to the complexity of the piercing.

More Painful Piercings

Nipple Piercing

Nipple piercings involve piercing through a sensitive and highly innervated area, meaning people experience a higher level of pain. As with navel piercings, body piercings like this need to be taken care of properly so your clothes arent causing friction or tugging,

Helix Piercing

The helix is another ear cartilage piercing which again are generally more painful with the denser tissue and increased nerve endings. Healing can be slower compared to softer tissues too so you really have to commit to that aftercare and be aware that things like sleeping or lying on your side can feel uncomfortable for quite a long time after its done. 

Genital Piercings

Genital piercings can be painful due to the high concentration of nerve endings in these areas. Do your research before committing to a piercing like this as it will mean a specific kind of aftercare and avoiding lots of types of ‘activities’ (you can probably guess what!) for some time after. 

Which of these piercings would you be most/ least likely to have? Which piercing has been your most painful?