004d Smiley Piercing

You only see it when you smile, which makes it one of the more delightfully subversive piercings going. The smiley is the jewellery equivalent of a secret handshake for anyone deep enough in the alternative scene to know it exists.

Positioned through the frenulum, the small web of tissue connecting the centre of your upper lip to the gums, it's typically pierced at 16 gauge with a segment ring. It's subtle in the best possible way, a favourite in punk and alternative fashion circles precisely because it rewards the people paying attention. Keep in mind the frenulum varies person to person, so anatomy check with your piercer before you commit.

Pierced at ALT CVLT in Frankston, Victoria. $50 includes the piercing and starter jewellery. Not suitable for all anatomies, your piercer will assess on the day.