{"id":1412739,"date":"2026-01-24T00:31:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T21:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1412739"},"modified":"2026-01-24T00:31:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T21:31:00","slug":"7-piercings-everyone-will-be-getting-in-2026-with-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1412739","title":{"rendered":"7 Piercings Everyone Will Be Getting in 2026\u2014With Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tattoos & Piercings<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

These Are the Top Piercing Trends of 2026<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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Pros predict the year\u2019s most popular placements and explain their pain points.<\/div>\n
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By <\/span>Marianne Mychaskiw<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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Courtesy of @studs and @livebytheswordtattoo<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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If 2026 is 2016 all over again, the spontaneous girl who\u2019s been dormant in me for a decade couldn\u2019t be more thrilled. I\u2019ll set the scene: It\u2019s a Wednesday evening on the Lower East Side, and my best friend, Rochelle, and I are leaving our favorite dive bar. As I pocket a pen on the way out, a neon-lit piercing studio catches Rochelle\u2019s eye. She saunters in and asks for a lobe piercing. I follow her lead with a tragus piercing, channeling Evan Rachel Wood\u2019s bravery in Thirteen.<\/em><\/p>\n

Little did we know that Rochelle\u2019s stacked earlobe and my tragus would still resonate a decade later, especially when paired with updated jewelry or a coordinating piercing. \u201cWith so many different metals and stones to choose from, it\u2019s hard not to want everything pierced,\u201d says Christine Swaim, a piercer at Oak & Poppy Tattoos and Piercings in Los Angeles. \u201cThe evolution of body jewelry has really changed the industry, and each piece gives clients freedom of expression.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regardless of your thoughts on the 2016 renaissance, piercing trends have continued to expand and evolve. Between the red carpet and your For You Page, there\u2019s no shortage of inspiration if your 2016 self won\u2019t shut up about getting a new piece. That\u2019s why we turned to professional piercers for their takes on the hottest trends right now. The good news? There\u2019s something for everyone to love, from delicate, barely there effects to dramatic throwbacks.<\/p>\n

Double tragus<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\"double<\/span><\/div>\n
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Double tragus (top)<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of @ninemoonspiercing<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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\"double<\/span><\/div>\n
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Double tragus (center-left piercing)<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of @lcpiercing<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Riding the momentum from 2025\u2019s stacked lobe trend, Starr Ellis, a piercer and the owner of New York City\u2019s Nine Moons Piercing, says the stacked aesthetic will move to the tragus. \u201cClients are loving stacked studs in areas that aren\u2019t just the earlobes, and a double tragus piercing is a fun way to do that if your anatomy is suited for it,\u201d she says. \u201cThere needs to be enough of the small triangular or rhomboid structure in front of the ear canal (that\u2019s your tragus) to be able to pierce and heal more than one stud.\u201d<\/p>\n

Incorporating mini hoops, which can be worn solo or stacked, is also a popular approach to styling your tragus, says Maria Tash, jewelry designer and founder of Maria Tash Fine Jewelry and Luxury Piercing in Los Angeles. \u201cClients often point out the small hoops many of our staff wear, which is an option they hadn\u2019t previously considered, since most associate tragus piercings solely with studs,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Because the tragus area is prone to swelling, Tash recommends switching to a mini hoop once the piercing has fully healed, which can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months. \u201cIt is important to mention to your piercer that you want your tragus piercing designed to wear a small ring when it\u2019s healed, as this request can shift how the piercer angles the depth of the piercing,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

Paired nostrils<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Paired nostril piercings with chain (top, center)<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of @charlesfin<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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Paired nostril piercings (top, center)<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of @ccccaarly<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

If a nostril piercing is a way to flatter the shape of your nose and draw attention to your face, consider the paired nostril trend a full spotlight. \u201cNostril piercings allow for a surprising amount of creativity, from paired and double placements to elegant, stacked configurations,\u201d Tash says. \u201cIt seems that today\u2019s modern nose piercing sees the whole plane of cartilage as pierceable, not just the traditional small area halfway back on the side of the nostril.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Swaim, paired nostril piercings\u2014whether two piercings on one side or one piercing on each side of the nose\u2014have become increasingly popular, with many clients opting for the ladder effect. \u201cThe ladder involves placing a stud on each side, with a chain laying across the bridge to connect them,\u201d she says. Depending on the thickness of the chain you select, the result can be as delicate or dramatic as you\u2019d like.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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And it\u2019s not just the Snapchat-age crowd opting for creative nostril placements. Tash says that stacked or paired nostril piercings have been a hit among all age groups. \u201cWe\u2019ve recently seen a notable shift in who\u2019s seeking this piercing, with more clients in their late 30s to late 40s embracing the look,\u201d she explains. \u201cWhile the typical demographic skews younger, these clients often arrive with a touch of hesitation, only to leave looking as though the piercing had always been a natural part of their features.\u201d<\/p>\n

Faux snug and rook<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Faux snug (top piercing)<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of @kyliestabs<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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Faux rook (top piercing with chain)<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of Studs<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Inspired to get a snug or rook piercing but don\u2019t have the anatomy for the real deal? Look no further than the faux options, which are creatively placed piercings that give the look of a biblically accurate snug or rook. \u201cThey are much easier to heal and can be very instant gratification to look like a cute, curved barbell perfectly placed, or once fully healed, can be worn with chains or rings,\u201d Ellis says.<\/p>\n

Typically, a snug involves a piercing on the inner ridge of cartilage in your ear, while a rook is a piercing in the second-highest cartilage ridge of your ear (above the daith and tragus). The faux snug pairs a conch with a helix or double-helix piercing, while the faux rook is one piercing in the upper inner cartilage with a dangle or drop-style jewelry to mimic the look of a traditional rook piercing. \u201cThey deliver the look of an advanced, complex placement for clients who don\u2019t have the anatomy or want to avoid a true snug or rook,\u201d says Emmy Zobitz, senior merchandising manager at Studs.<\/p>\n

Jewelry sizing and placement need to be super-precise to emulate the illusion of a true rook or snug. For a faux snug, in particular, you\u2019ll be healing two separate piercings as opposed to one, so make time to practice proper aftercare and cleaning. Says Zobitz, \u201cIf you want to add a bold, balanced, mid-ear adornment, these are great options.\u201d<\/p>\n

Snakebite helix<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Snakebite helix (top)<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of @charlesfin<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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Snakebite helix (top right, along the ridge of ear)<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of @studs<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

No, we\u2019re not talking about the snakebite lip piercings that dominated the indie sleaze era. According to Zobitz, the snakebite aesthetic at Studs involves two delicate piercings placed side by side on the ear, and clients have been asking for snakebite helix piercings to add to their earscapes. \u201cIt makes a statement right where most of your ear\u2019s real estate is and allows you to get truly creative with jewelry,\u201d she says. \u201cWith so much space along the helix, you can tailor the look to your style, whether you keep it minimal on the outer edge or move inward to take up more room on the flat with matching studs or contrasting shapes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Similar to the faux snug piercing, a snakebite helix will require healing two cartilage piercings at the same time, so keep in mind the aftercare process, and lifestyle factors that could impact healing (like which side you sleep on or use of over-the-ear headphones).<\/p>\n

Classic ’90s placements<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Perhaps driven by the current \u201990s and \u201900s pop-culture renaissance\u2014and all the cool, famous girlies on TikTok declaring the return of all things Y2K\u2014belly-button rings and tongue piercings are embarking on their own comeback tour.<\/p>\n

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Classic navel ring<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of @velvetelvispiercing<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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Classic navel ring on Beyonc\u00e9<\/p>\n

<\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cNavel piercings usually consist of a curved barbell, with or without gems, going through the upper \u2018lip\u2019 or ridge of the navel, with the top ball or gem sitting above and the bottom resting inside the navel itself,\u201d says Swaim. \u201cI\u2019ve also been seeing tongue piercings with a straight barbell that goes vertically through the tongue near the center, with one ball resting on the surface and the other sitting underneath.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Classic tongue piercing<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of @livebytheswordtattoo<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Those of us of a certain Spotify-listening age may already have an existing piercing from the era, but if you\u2019re getting your belly button pierced for the first time, keep in mind the healing process: Because of its location on the body and factors like movement and contact with clothing, your piercing can take anywhere from three to six months to fully heal. A tongue piercing can take from four to six weeks to heal, says Swaim.<\/p>\n

Floating navel<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Floating navel<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of @birthrightadornment<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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Floating navel<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of @ninemoonspiercing<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

And while we\u2019re on the topic of belly-button rings, Ellis has seen a definite uptick in floating navel piercings, which primarily showcase the top end of the jewelry to create the appearance of a gem or charm positioned just above your belly button. \u201cIt\u2019s a great option for a very unique, nontraditional navel piercing, and can also help cover or distract from previous navel piercing scarring,\u201d she says. \u201cThe look of a simple, larger, or more elegant decorative end above the navel is definitely increasing in popularity.\u201d<\/p>\n

In lieu of the traditional belly-button piercing, which features a dual-ended and curved barbell, floating pieces of navel jewelry have the decorative piece placed at the top end of the barbell, while the bottom portion is held in place with a small ball or disc that sits inside the navel. It\u2019s a minimalist take on the trend that can align with a more delicate aesthetic. Just make sure to get an anatomy check beforehand to ensure you\u2019re a good candidate for it.<\/p>\n

Hidden helix and rook<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Hidden helix<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of @piercingsbymakenna<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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Hidden rook (top piercing with chain)<\/p>\n

<\/span>Courtesy of @burymein.gold<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The hidden helix (just under the upper ridge at the top of the ear) and the rook are strategically placed so that the piercing holes are concealed on the underside of each respective cartilage fold. The finished result is as visually stunning as it is interesting\u2014almost as if you have tiny chandeliers suspended from each area. \u201cThe idea was for jewelry or light to emerge from behind and underneath a fold of cartilage,\u201d says Tash, who patented each placement in her studio as the Tash Helix and the Tash Hidden Rook, with specific jewelry designs to match. \u201cI wanted to create a look where clients wonder, How does that work?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Having enough cartilage to conceal the exact areas where the piercing is placed is key. \u201cWe look for anatomy that has a prominent fold of the helix or rook to conceal the mechanism of the piece,\u201d she says. \u201cWe can also use our smaller, threaded-charm designs when a client doesn’t have a large fold to achieve this effect.\u201d Between the two, Tash notes, the hidden helix is the more popular placement, though we love the idea of stacking both for a decorated finish.<\/p>\n

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Meet the experts<\/strong><\/div>\n
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  • Starr Ellis is a piercer and the owner of Nine Moons Piercing in New York City.<\/li>\n
  • Christine Swaim is a piercer at Oak & Poppy Tattoos and Piercings in Los Angeles.<\/li>\n
  • Maria Tash is a jewelry designer and the founder of Maria Tash Fine Jewelry and Luxury Piercing in Los Angeles.<\/li>\n
  • Emmy Zobitz is the senior merchandising manager at Studs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    Read about the latest trends:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    • The Biggest Hair Trends of 2026 Bring the Drama<\/li>\n
    • Makeup Is Getting a Colorful Vibe Shift in 2026<\/li>\n
    • The Tattoo Trends of 2026 Will Have You Feeling Nostalgic<\/li>\n
    • The Biggest Nail Trends of 2026 Upgrade the Classics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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      Now, peek inside Paris Hilton’s high-tech wellness and beauty spa.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

      Source URL: https:\/\/www.allure.com\/story\/piercing-trends-2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Tattoos & Piercings These Are the Top Piercing Trends of 2026 Pros predict the year\u2019s most popular placements and explain their pain points. By Marianne Mychaskiw January 23, 2026 Courtesy of @studs and @livebytheswordtattoo If 2026 is 2016 all over again, the spontaneous girl who\u2019s been dormant in me for a decade couldn\u2019t be more […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[52],"class_list":["post-1412739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-allure-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1412739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1412739"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1412739\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1412739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1412739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1412739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}