There are certain piercing types that require more than one hole to be made. Or, to put it more precisely, those piercing types are created by joining two different piercing holes with a single jewelry piece.
While, in theory, one can connect any random pair of piercings with a single jewelry piece if it’s physically possible to achieve, there are certain piercing types specially made of different holes connected by the single jewelry piece.
Two Piercings, One Jewelry Piece
The most popular among those is Industrial piercing. However, there are many other examples of piercings connected with a single jewelry piece. Industrial piercing consists of two holes done on the ear cartilage. The holes (piercings) can have different placements, but they are always located on the opposing sides of the ear. The placement should be carefully done so the holes can be connected with a single jewelry piece, typically a long straight barbell. This sort of placement can be done on other body parts as well, so any time you connect two piercings with a barbell you will get some form of an Industrial piercing (though this name is typically reserved for the ear piercing).
Orbital piercings are two piercings connected by a single ring. These piercings are often done on the ear but can work anywhere on the body (including genital piercings). As long as you connect two holes with a single ring you will have an orbital piercing.
There are also some popular piercings done in pairs but rarely, if ever, connected with a single jewelry piece. A good examples are lip “bites” piercings (such as Angel bites, Dolphin bites, Vampire bites, Snake bites and others). These are lip piercings done in pairs or fours, but they are typically not connected by a single jewelry piece.
Also, it’s important to note that some people like to connect close piercings with a single jewelry piece, even temporarily. It’s often done on ears, usually for ear cartilage piercings. These piercings connected by a single jewelry do not typically have a special name.
It’s very important to choose the right initial jewelry for these piercings. Since they are done in pairs, there are two fresh piercings to take care of, which makes aftercare more complex. Jewelry can make this process easier or more complicated, depending on the circumstances.
The first thing that needs to be ensured is proper placement of both piercings. It’s important that they work as a pair if you wish to use a single jewelry piece through both of them. It means your piercer has to angle both piercings accordingly. This is why it’s always best to do both at the same time to ensure proper placement.
When it comes to initial jewelry, there are two choices: to use a single jewelry piece straight away, or to use two separate jewelry pieces during the healing time. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. When two pieces are used, those are typically Captive Bead Rings, though some piercers choose to use other jewelry types.
The advantage of using two jewelry pieces is that it makes aftercare easier. You can clean your piercings separately and give each a proper attention. Also, piercings will use different jewelry so they will not pull each other or irritate each other during healing. Another advantage is that it’s easier to measure the proper length for final jewelry (orbital ring or Industrial barbell) once piercings are healed. However, a downside to this method is that sometimes, piercings will move slightly during the piercing time so they might not be perfectly aligned once they are healed.
Advantages and disadvantages of using a single jewelry piece are the opposite than what’s listed above. A good thing about using a single jewelry piece straight away is that jewelry will keep piercings connected and perfectly aligned. The downside is that it makes aftercare trickier and there is a possibility of irritating both piercings through the pressure from the jewelry.
At the end of the day, the choice will be made by your piercer. There are good reasoning for both of these methods, so it will all depend on your piercer’s opinion and your individual case. This is yet another reason why it’s always important to choose a knowledgeable, experienced piercer and a reliable piercing studio.