PIERCING APPRENTICE STUDY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS,
UPDATED 2026, FULL SOLUTIONS,
GUARANTEED A+, SUCCESS
CERTIFIED
1. Navel (Belly Button)
ANSWER: 14g needle with 3/8" or 7/16" jewelry. ✔✔
Pro-Tip: The 14g ($1.6\text{mm}$) is the standard to prevent the "cheese-cutter
effect," where thin jewelry migrates through the skin. A longer post is used initially
to allow for abdominal movement and swelling.
2. Nostril
ANSWER: 20g or 18g needle with 1/4" or 5/16" jewelry. ✔✔
Note: Many professional piercers prefer 18g ($1.0\text{mm}$) for stability,
though 20g ($0.8\text{mm}$) is common for dainty aesthetic jewelry.
3. Tongue
ANSWER: 14g needle with 5/8" jewelry. ✔✔
Initial Jewelry: While 5/8" ($16\text{mm}$) is the standard "healed"
length, a longer initial barbell (often 3/4" or 7/8") is required to prevent the
balls from becoming "embedded" when the tongue swells.
4. Cartilage (Helix/Tragus)
ANSWER: 18g or 16g needle with 3/16", 1/4", or 3/8" jewelry. ✔✔
Healing Factor: Cartilage has low blood flow and heals slowly. Using a
needle (never a piercing gun) ensures the tissue is not shattered.
, 5. Eyebrow
ANSWER: 16g or 14g needle with 1/4", 5/16", or 3/8" jewelry. ✔✔
Jewelry Type: Typically performed with a curved barbell to match the
natural contour of the supraorbital ridge.
6. Industrial Barbell
ANSWER: 16g or 14g needle with 1 1/2" jewelry (varies). ✔✔
Anatomy Dependent: The length varies significantly based on the width of
the individual’s ear. Proper alignment of the two holes is vital to prevent
permanent ear deformity (cauliflower ear).
7. Labret & Monroe
Labret: 16g or 14g needle with 1/4", 5/16", or 3/8" jewelry.
Monroe: 16g needle with 1/4", 5/16", or 3/8" jewelry.
Safety: These use "flat-back" studs to minimize contact with the teeth and gums,
reducing the risk of enamel erosion or gum recession.
Nipple -ANSWER✔✔14g needle with 3/8, 1/2, or 9/16 jewelry
Tragus/Helix/Rook/Conch/Daith -ANSWER✔✔18g or 16g needle with 3/16, 1/4,
5/16, or 3/8 jewelry
Septum -ANSWER✔✔16g or 14g needle with 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, or 5/8 jewelry
Ear Lobe -ANSWER✔✔20g or 18g
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS,
UPDATED 2026, FULL SOLUTIONS,
GUARANTEED A+, SUCCESS
CERTIFIED
1. Navel (Belly Button)
ANSWER: 14g needle with 3/8" or 7/16" jewelry. ✔✔
Pro-Tip: The 14g ($1.6\text{mm}$) is the standard to prevent the "cheese-cutter
effect," where thin jewelry migrates through the skin. A longer post is used initially
to allow for abdominal movement and swelling.
2. Nostril
ANSWER: 20g or 18g needle with 1/4" or 5/16" jewelry. ✔✔
Note: Many professional piercers prefer 18g ($1.0\text{mm}$) for stability,
though 20g ($0.8\text{mm}$) is common for dainty aesthetic jewelry.
3. Tongue
ANSWER: 14g needle with 5/8" jewelry. ✔✔
Initial Jewelry: While 5/8" ($16\text{mm}$) is the standard "healed"
length, a longer initial barbell (often 3/4" or 7/8") is required to prevent the
balls from becoming "embedded" when the tongue swells.
4. Cartilage (Helix/Tragus)
ANSWER: 18g or 16g needle with 3/16", 1/4", or 3/8" jewelry. ✔✔
Healing Factor: Cartilage has low blood flow and heals slowly. Using a
needle (never a piercing gun) ensures the tissue is not shattered.
, 5. Eyebrow
ANSWER: 16g or 14g needle with 1/4", 5/16", or 3/8" jewelry. ✔✔
Jewelry Type: Typically performed with a curved barbell to match the
natural contour of the supraorbital ridge.
6. Industrial Barbell
ANSWER: 16g or 14g needle with 1 1/2" jewelry (varies). ✔✔
Anatomy Dependent: The length varies significantly based on the width of
the individual’s ear. Proper alignment of the two holes is vital to prevent
permanent ear deformity (cauliflower ear).
7. Labret & Monroe
Labret: 16g or 14g needle with 1/4", 5/16", or 3/8" jewelry.
Monroe: 16g needle with 1/4", 5/16", or 3/8" jewelry.
Safety: These use "flat-back" studs to minimize contact with the teeth and gums,
reducing the risk of enamel erosion or gum recession.
Nipple -ANSWER✔✔14g needle with 3/8, 1/2, or 9/16 jewelry
Tragus/Helix/Rook/Conch/Daith -ANSWER✔✔18g or 16g needle with 3/16, 1/4,
5/16, or 3/8 jewelry
Septum -ANSWER✔✔16g or 14g needle with 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, or 5/8 jewelry
Ear Lobe -ANSWER✔✔20g or 18g