The Complete Style Guide for Industrial Piercings
The industrial piercing is unique because it actually consists of two different piercings (helix and anti-helix in most cases). However, the jewelry connecting the two piercings creates an industrial piercing.
These days, there are many options to choose from when it comes to industrial barbells. If you’re looking for advice on how to style your industrial piercing, keep reading; this complete style guide will have you covered.
Sophisticated & Professional, But Still Flashy
As someone with multiple ear piercings, including an industrial, I can attest that it’s sometimes hard to pick jewelry to wear that makes me feel professional and sophisticated. However, just being those two things is too plain and boring for a quirky individual like me. That’s why I utilize gemmed jewelry. It takes the plainness of a standard industrial barbell and adds a little (or sometimes a lot) of pizazz.
My suggestions:
Have Fun with Shapes
Another way to take a relatively simple industrial barbell and give it some more spunk is to make the ends shaped so that your barbell turns into an object.
One example is the Rose Gold Topaz CZ Antique Key Industrial Barbell, which makes it seem like a key goes through your ear. Another is the Black Arrow Industrial Stainless Steel Barbell, which—as the name implies—makes it look like an arrow.
Barbells with Shapes in the Center
While the suggestions above mainly focus on the barbell ends, there is jewelry that focuses more on the barbell part. Consider complementing your style or ‘fit of the day with a specific object. Suppose your shirt has an elephant print. In that case, you can tie in your industrial barbell by selecting one with an elephant in the middle.
Other suggestions include the following:
Bring in Color with Stone Ends
If you’re looking for a way to bring striking color to your ear, choosing stone ends is the way to go. One of the best things about opting for stone ends is that they come in unique colors you can’t really manufacture.
For example, the 14g Double Amethyst Stone Industrial Barbell’s ends are a cloudy purple hue that you can’t easily recreate.
Get Cosmically Cool
Between the rise in astrology memes and Co-Star hurting our feelings, space has been making its way into mainstream culture. Why not pay tribute to your interest with your industrial piercing jewelry?
You can get quite literal with the Saturn Double CZ Industrial Barbell, which displays a ringed blue and clear CZ Saturn with clear CZ ends.
Alternatively, you can get a bit more mystical with the Solar Moon CZ Industrial Barbell, which has a sun in the center flanked by two crescent moons.
Integrate Steampunk Jewelry with Your Cosplay
Let’s say it together now: cosplay is cool. Like really cool. Have you seen the incredible things Twitch and TikTok creators are displaying at various conventions and in videos?
If you’re into cosplay, why not bring your jewelry to match? If you’re doing a steampunk-era cosplay, you will want your jewelry to fit in with the period. Fortunately, you can choose from our Steampunk Gear Industrial Barbell, which has two gold gears in the center.
Another great option is our White Opalite Steampunk Industrial Barbell, which has a white opalite at its center and smaller gears and opalite stones around it.
Match Your All-Black Goth Outfit
If we’ve seen nothing else during the pandemic years, we’ve definitely seen the rise of goth culture. Witchy people everywhere are turning to brands like Foxblood and Disturbia in between waiting for Halloween decorations to get released.
If this is you, we’ve got you! These three will tie into your all-black outfit perfectly:
- Spider Web White Opalite Industrial Barbell
- Black PVD Spider Industrial Barbell
- Bat Gem Industrial Barbell
Cat Lovers
I know I can’t be the only one covered in cat hair all day re-watching Kitten Lady’s Instagram videos. If you’re a cat lover, wear it proudly and advertise it with your industrial jewelry.
One popular option is our Kitty Cat CZ Industrial Barbell, which has a CZ gem with cat ears at its center.
Bring Back the 90s
Back in the 90s and early 2000s, I remember wearing shirts with slogans like “peace, love & happiness” underneath their respective symbols. In 2022, we’re seeing a resurgence of common 90s trends. We already have plastic chokers, butterfly clips, bucket hats, and more.
So why not add a bit of 90s flair to your industrial? Some of our favorites include:
Dripping in Chains
These days, curated ears are becoming more and more popular. A common trend I’m noticing amongst the pictures I see is that they all contain jewelry that has chains. I get why; the chains add a dimensional yet balancing effect to the ear.
If you’re looking to add a sense of volume to the top of your ear, these are highly recommended:
Gold PVD Square Gem Chained Industrial Barbell
Pearl Dangle Chain Industrial Barbell
The Main Point
How you style your industrial piercing is entirely up to you. That’s the beauty of it—there’s no right way or wrong way to style it. With so many jewelry options, the possibilities are nearly endless. Plus, who said you couldn’t buy a barbell for every outfit?
Written by Jackie Rachel
