The Different Types of Eyebrow Jewellery

Eyebrow piercings are worn with a curved barbell — a slightly curved bar with an end screwed onto each side — and two ring styles fit too: a circular barbell (horseshoe) and a ball closure ring (BCR). The curved barbell is the most common, so a lot of the choice is in the ends and the finish, but the hoop styles give a different look. The main types are the curved barbell, the circular barbell and the BCR.

Eyebrow jewellery is made at 16g (1.2mm) as standard. The gentle curve matters here — a curved bar follows the line of the piercing, which sits as a shallow surface piercing above the eye, better than a straight bar would. As with any piercing, the gauge has to match yours, so check the bar you already wear before buying a replacement.

Where does an eyebrow piercing sit, and why a curve?

An eyebrow piercing is a surface piercing that sits vertically through the brow, usually towards the outer end, with an end showing above and below the eyebrow. Because it passes through a fold of skin rather than straight through a flat area, a curved bar follows the exit angles far better than a straight one — it sits flush and is less likely to catch. That is why the curved barbell, not a straight barbell, is the standard eyebrow piece.

What is a curved barbell?

A curved barbell is a bar with a shallow curve and a ball or end threaded onto each side. The curve lets it sit flush along the brow rather than bridging straight across, which looks neater and sits more comfortably. The ends unscrew so the barbell can be changed or re-topped. Ours are internally threaded, so the bar that passes through the piercing is smooth and only the ends come off.

What are spiked eyebrow barbells?

A spiked barbell swaps the rounded balls for pointed, cone-shaped ends. It is the same curved bar underneath — only the ends differ — but the spikes give a sharper, edgier look than plain balls. We 

make spiked curved eyebrow barbells in silver, gold and black titanium, so you can match the finish to the rest of your jewellery.

What are jewelled eyebrow barbells?

Jewelled curved barbells set a crystal or shaped jewelled end on the bar, so the brow catches the light. The stone is the feature; the bar is the same curved 16g barbell. Our jewelled curved barbells include set-stone designs such as a jewelled star, and they are a simple way to make the piercing more of a feature without changing how it fits.

What is a circular barbell (horseshoe)?

A circular barbell, or horseshoe, is a curved bar bent into a near-complete circle, open at the front, with an end screwed onto each side. Worn in an eyebrow it reads as an open ring rather than a straight-ish bar, so it is the choice if you want a hoop-style look instead of a barbell. Ours are internally threaded, with ball or cone ends, in silver, gold, rose gold and black titanium, and a 16g (1.2mm) horseshoe suits an eyebrow.

What is a ball closure ring (BCR)?

A ball closure ring, or BCR, is a ring held shut by a single ball that clips between the two ends under tension. Worn in an eyebrow it gives a full-hoop look, with the ball sitting at the front. It is one of the most recognisable ring styles, and the ball can be plain or set with a stone. Ours are ASTM F136 titanium at 16g (1.2mm), in silver, black, rose gold and a jewelled version — a 16g BCR suits an eyebrow.

What gauge is an eyebrow piercing?

Eyebrow jewellery is standard at 16g (1.2mm). Gauge is the thickness of the bar, not the size of the ends, and it has to match your piercing — so if you are replacing a barbell, match the thickness of the one you already wear rather than choosing on looks alone. Changing only the ends or the finish while keeping the same gauge is the simplest swap.

Which material should eyebrow jewellery be?

All our eyebrow jewellery is ASTM F136 titanium — implant-grade, hypoallergenic and a good choice for sensitive skin. Titanium is light, which suits a surface piercing on the brow, and it holds a colour finish, so the barbells come in silver, gold and black.

How do I choose an eyebrow barbell?

Start with the gauge — 16g for most eyebrow piercings — and match what you already wear. Then pick the shape: a curved barbell for the classic eyebrow look, a circular barbell (horseshoe) for an open-ring style, or a ball closure ring for a full hoop. After that it is the ends — plain balls for something simple, spikes for an edgier look, or a jewelled end to make a feature of it — and the finish, silver, gold, rose gold or black, which is down to taste.

See the range in our curved barbells collection, the circular barbells for the horseshoe style, or the ball closure rings for a hoop.