Hole New Level: The Nail Piercing Trend Everyone's Obsessing Over

Nail piercing is a small hole made through the tip of a nail - usually an acrylic or gel extension. And nail piercing jewellery like the following is threaded through:

• Nail piercing rings
• Nail piercing chain
• Dangle nail piercing charms
• Spikes
• Barbells
• Mini nail piercing hoops

Basically, your nail becomes a tiny ear. And it slaps.

The current nail piercing trend takes its inspo from 90s hip-hop culture, when icons like Flo-Jo, Janet Jackson, Lil' Kim and Missy Elliott slayed pierced nail art long before it hit the mainstream.

Fast forward to now, and the Y2K revival has dragged it back into the spotlight.

So yeah, the nail piercing trend isn't some niche internet thing anymore. It’s 100% having a moment.

A professional piercer doesn't usually come anywhere near your hands. Cue a collective massive sigh of relief for our needle-shy pals.

In fact, getting pierced nails is more like a manicure than a body mod, which is kind of the whole appeal.

Here's the deal:

Placement really matters -

The hole always goes through the free edge of the nail beyond your fingertip. This is non-negotiable. Never, ever let anyone pierce your nail bed, which is the bit attached to your skin. This isn’t a nail piercing trend. It’s an injury waiting to happen.

A nail piercing tool is a tiny hand drill -

A manual, pen-style rotary tool is used to twist a neat little hole through the nail tip. Once the hole is made, the edges are smoothed down and sealed with clear varnish to stop splitting. Then your nail piercing jewellery of choice goes in, and you're done. It really is that simple when it’s done correctly.

Material is everything -

Acrylic and gel extensions are the ideal canvas. They're hardened, resilient and can take the drilling process without drama. As for natural nails? More on it below, because we need a serious word about this particular life choice.

Ok, we'll say it plainly. Piercing natural nails is a minging idea. Pretty much every nail technician worth their lamp will tell you the same.

Yes, people have tried it and probably always will. But there are consequences when you drill through a natural nail with a nail piercing tool, like:

Splitting and cracking -

Your natural nail is made up of delicate keratin layers. A hole creates a weak spot, and cracks spread outwards, the nail peels, and the whole thing gets ugly fast.

Snagging -

Those cute dangle nail piercing charms will catch on your hair, your jumper, your bag strap, everything. And if it’s a natural nail, a snag can rip the pierced section right back towards the nail bed. It’s actually quite horrible.

Hygiene nightmares -

An open hole in a natural nail is a dirt and moisture trap. Bacteria and fungi will have a field day. But you won’t be.

So, get extensions first if you want pierced nails. Acrylics, gel nails, and even quality press-ons give you a solid base, without running the risk of doing yourself serious damage.

Faux nail piercings have all the drama, but none of the drill.

This makes them an ideal way to jump on the nail piercing trend without a single hole in sight. Moreover, they’re genuinely impressive, even though you’re not ready to commit to stabbing your manicure.

Faux options come in a few tasty flavours:

Stick-on or magnetic nail charm jewellery -

Their flat backs bond directly onto the nail surface with nail adhesive or gel. Pop them on, flaunt them, and pop them off when you fancy a change.

Clip-on or hook styles -

Fake nail piercing rings and curved bars pinch or bond to the tip of an artificial nail or pre-drilled press-on. They’re great for looking like your nail’s rocking a septum ring, minus any commitment.

3D studs -

These are shaped like curved barbells, labret studs, and bead rings, but they sit flush against the nail surface, giving the illusion of going through it.

The massive advantage of faux nail piercings is zero damage and total flexibility. It makes a statement. But it doesn't involve any pain, hesitation or commitment for longer than a few weeks.

Think of it like fingertip jewellery you take off at night.

Getting on board with the nail piercing trend works both ways, for DIY devotees who do everything at home, or the type who wouldn't trust anyone but a professional near their nails.

So, what do you need to know about each route before you pick up a nail piercing tool or book an appointment?

At a salon

Many good nail salons offering acrylic or gel extensions can add a piercing as a custom extra. Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, London, Liverpool, Glasgow - it’s available across major cities and increasingly in smaller towns too. Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are good starting points for finding someone who really gets the aesthetic. Look at their portfolio, make sure they've done pierced nails before, and don't be shy about quizzing them on their process.

DIY at home

It’s totally possible to tap into the nail piercing trend without setting foot outside your front door. But do it properly, with a proper nail piercing tool. As for the at-home drill (sorry, not sorry, again):

• Get strong acrylics, gel or quality press-on nails first. Don't skip this.
• Drill only through the free edge. Not the nail bed. Not the middle of the nail. The very tip.
• Smooth the hole and seal it with clear varnish before inserting nail piercing jewellery.
• Take the jewellery out immediately if anything snags, catches or feels wrong.
• For faux nail piercings, use a strong nail glue or gel adhesive to secure flat-backed charms to your finished manicure.

Job done.

Nail piercing isn't a one-look trend. Part of its beauty is how wildly versatile it is.

Fancy a Y2K maximalist vibe? Think stacked nail piercing charms, multiple piercings per fingertip, or a nail piercing chain linking your fingers. It’s absolutely chaotic in the best possible way.

Punk or gothic? Try spikes, barbells, or single black rings on stark white or dark nails for understated drama.

Perhaps you prefer to keep it delicate, but still pack a punch? Tiny flower charms, a fine nail piercing chain and pretty faux nail piercings make people completely lose their minds when they see how you’ve brought your cool nail piercing ideas to life.

Q. Does nail piercing hurt?

A. Not even slightly, which is a huge part of its appeal. The nail piercing tool drills through the faux nail, not your flesh, so the process is completely pain-free. It's really more of a manicure than a body piercing.

Q. Nail piercing, does it damage nails?

A. Absolutely, if it’s done on natural nails. Drilling holes through natural nail causes splitting, peeling and weakening of the keratin structure. The unanimous advice from nail professionals is to always pierce through an artificial acrylic, gel or press-on nail, never through your natural nail.

Q. Can I do nail piercing at home?

A. You can, yes, with a manual nail piercing tool. You’ll find them widely available online in the UK. The key is to ensure you're working on artificial nail, not natural ones. You simply drill only through the free edge, then smooth and seal the hole afterwards. Home application of faux nail piercings is even more straightforward. It’s as quick and easy as glue-and-go.

Q. What nail piercing jewellery can I use to rock the trend?

A. Anything designed for small piercings works beautifully, like curved barbells, small ball closure rings, mini nail piercing hoops, and nail charm jewellery. Nail piercing chain jewellery is especially popular for an edgy aesthetic. Look for lightweight pieces, so your nail piercing charms don’t put too much stress on the nail tip.

Q. How long do pierced nails last?

A. About as long as your nail set, which is typically two to four weeks for acrylics and gel extensions. The piercing stays intact for as long as you keep the extensions on. Faux nail piercings last until the adhesive gives way, which is usually around the same timeframe with quality nail glue. Either way, you can refresh or switch up the look every appointment.

The latest iteration of the nail piercing trend feels alternative without the commitment, pain or healing time of actual body modification. But it belongs firmly in the same aesthetic universe as stretched lobes and ear stacks, because it’s expressive, unapologetic, and completely personal to you.

So, what’s it to be? Fully drilled and bejewelled? Or faux nail piercing for flexibility? The result is the same - nails that are no longer just a colour, but an entire thing.

Ready to go deeper into alternative body jewellery, tattoos, ear stretching, and everything in between?

Stretch It Body Jewellery is the place to be, for noobs to the community or if you've been part of it for years. We’ve got everything from tunnels and tattoo balms to the sickest body jewellery you need to fully express yourself.

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