Pierce de résistance: From rite of passage to self expression
Once a cultural rite performed at home, body piercing in Bangladesh is undergoing a professional transformation, blending tradition, style, and hygiene in studios
There was always that one aunt in every family or neighbourhood, called upon to pierce the earlobes or noses of the girls in the household. These women often arrived proudly displaying their collection of piercings, each adorned with exquisite jewellery.
Their appearance alone served as a live portfolio, inspiring confidence and future clients. For many young girls, getting pierced wasn't optional; it was a culturally expected milestone, often enforced by well-meaning mothers.
On one such occasion, Riya visited Benu Aunty to have her nose pierced. Her wedding was just two weeks away, and her in-laws had made it clear: their future daughter-in-law must wear a nose ring. Riya resisted, but her mother insisted. As Benu Aunty placed the needle—shona mukhi shui—on the marked spot, Riya froze in pain and fainted on the spot. It took nearly an hour to revive her. Not everyone has the same threshold for pain, especially when coerced into a permanent change to their body.
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They came with piercing guns, making the process much less painful, but they have other drawbacks. Unlike needles that make a clean incision, these guns push a blunt stud through tissue, causing trauma that increases the risk of infection or scarring. Globally, professionals now advocate for single-use, hollow needles, which are more precise and hygienic, especially important for cartilage or sensitive skin.
In recent years, body piercing in Bangladesh has undergone a quiet transformation. Once confined to home rituals or casual beauty parlour visits, piercings are now increasingly done in professional studios by trained artists who understand anatomy, healing, and hygiene. This growing awareness has opened the door for a new generation of piercing professionals—people who are not only skilled but also deeply invested in doing it right.
One such example is 'Exotic Piercing BD', a well-known studio founded by Nyeem Mahmud and his brother.
"My brother and I started with tattoos," Nyeem recalled. "But we realised many people in Bangladesh had terrible first experiences with piercings. Either it was done unprofessionally or without proper hygiene, leaving them scared or disappointed."
Today, Exotic Piercing BD is known for its curated piercing styles—stacked lobes, constellation clusters, septum rings, and bellybutton piercings. Their clients range from teenagers to women in their forties. Hygiene is non-negotiable: single-use needles, titanium jewellery, and medical-grade sterilisation are the bare minimum.
Another standout in the local scene is Reshat Anisha, the founder of Reoini's Piercing, an Instagram-based small business. What started from personal frustration turned into a thriving service.
"Initially, it never started off as a business plan," she explained. "I went to multiple parlours to get a septum piercing and couldn't find someone professional… So I wanted to start a small business with sustainable, good-quality jewellery and a service within an affordable price range."
Her practice has grown organically, with clients drawn to her precision and ethics.
"The belly piercing is my personal favourite," she said. "I do it freehand with a lot of precision, and it never fails to rock."
Anisha is also a strong voice for aftercare. According to her, healing almost all cartilage piercings takes about a year. I often hear people saying it takes a few weeks, which is clear misinformation.
Her trend prediction for 2025? The hidden helix—a subtle placement tucked into the inner curve of the ear. Elegant yet discreet, it demands skilled hands.
"It's all about expert placement and safety. That's what makes the difference."
Ear piercings remain the most common and versatile form of body modification, evolving in both style and significance. The classic lobe piercing—an essential part of South Asian tradition—is still done on little girls as a cultural rite. But more and more people are adding second or third lobe piercings in their teens or adulthood, layering minimalist studs or hoops for a stylish, modern look.
Cartilage piercings—like the helix, conch, and tragus—are particularly popular among those who want to add edge without going overboard. A simple hoop in the helix or a floral stud in the conch can elevate an everyday look. These styles pair surprisingly well with ethnic wear too, especially when kept small and elegant. More daring placements, like the industrial bar or rook, make strong statements but may not always align with traditional outfits.
Trendy piercings come with multiple options for styling them. Stack jewellery by size—larger earrings in the lower lobes, gradually getting smaller as they move up the ear. Stick to gold for festive or traditional outfits, and experiment with mixed metals for casual looks.
Minimalist studs and tiny gold hoops now dominate, blending seamlessly with both Western and traditional outfits. For bolder looks, septum piercings—once associated with tribal or rebellious aesthetics—are now fashion-forward. Styled with sleek horseshoe rings or understated clickers, they even complement sarees or kurtas, especially when paired with bold eyeliner or a statement bindi.
Double nostril piercings are also gaining traction, especially among younger wearers who mix and match rings and studs for a look that's symmetrical yet personal.
Choose symmetrical designs or mix a stud and a ring to keep it balanced. Pair with minimal jewellery on the ears to let the nose be the focal point.
Piercing, of course, is nothing new. If looked back far enough—say, 5,000 to 7,000 years—we will find that the oldest known mummified human, Ötzi the Iceman, had pierced ears. Across the Indian subcontinent, piercing was never just about beauty. It was rooted in spiritual and therapeutic belief systems.
Influenced by marma therapy and Ayurvedic tradition, ear and nose piercings were thought to regulate energy, improve digestion, and enhance overall wellness. Much like acupuncture in Chinese medicine, they were believed to activate energy pathways and promote balance.
So perhaps Ötzi wasn't just making a prehistoric fashion statement. And perhaps the piercings we wear today—whether a diamond in the nostril, a gold stud in the helix, or a titanium bar in the navel—are more than just trends.
