Shen Men Piercings, Explained by a Pro

Piercings, like tattoos or a good outfit, can tell a story. If you’re someone who bucks tradition, you may have something like “angel bites” or “dahlia” piercings. Should you fall into the opposite camp, you’re likely more of a fan of traditional types of piercing like the helix or tragus. Still, many body jewelry enthusiasts love a good trend. If that sounds like you, allow us to introduce the piercing of the moment: the “Shen Men” piercing.

“A Shen Men piercing is more commonly referred to as a faux rook,” piercer Cozmo Faris tells PS. “It’s placed in the area above the rook shelf.” It gets its name from the location it goes through in your ear, which is called the Shen Men point. It’s a step above the traditional lobe piercings that most of us start out with. Though it’s still located in the ears, the slightly unconventional location adds a bit of an edge.

So, if you’re looking for another piercing to add to your stack, Faris explains everything you should know about Shen Men piercings, including how much they can cost, how to tell when they’re healed, and the best candidates for this piercing.

Experts Featured in This Article

Cozmo Faris is a professional piercer at Virtue and Vice Piercing Studio located in Atlanta, Georgia.

What Is a Shen Men Piercing?

Shen Men piercings are very similar to rooks, particularly in terms of the area of the ear that they are in. “Shen Mens are piercings placed in the inner ear cartilage,” Faris says. “It sits above the ear canal shelf known as the ‘rook.'”

Shen Men piercings are said to be good for relieving anxiety, as the point in the ear that the piercing goes through is called the Shen Men point, which can be targeted during acupuncture sessions. However, it’s worth noting that data on these findings are currently limited, and results vary from person to person.

Because of its location, the risk of rejection with this piercing is pretty low, but it is always possible. “Your body doesn’t really want you to have piercings necessarily, so rejection is a risk for all of them honestly,” Faris says. “That possibility can be further minimized with the use of high-quality jewelry and solid aftercare practices.”

How to Tell When Shen Men Piercings Are Healed

Like most piercings, you can tell when a Shen Men piercing is healed once it stops feeling extremely tender to the touch. “Generally, a piercing can be considered healed when any redness, tenderness, inflammation, and secretions are gone,” Faris says. “All of these symptoms should also stay gone for longer than a couple months.”

Still, if you do find that your piercing is being rejected, taking out the jewelry as soon as possible is the best way to minimize any long-lasting scars or adverse effects.

The Cost of Shen Men Piercings

The price of any piercing varies depending on the experience level of the piercer as well as your location. “At Virtue and Vice Piercing Studio, our fee is $35, plus the cost of whatever jewelry you select,” Faris says. “Our studio has thousands of jewelry options, so this pricing structure allows clients to decide their own price point. Our jewelry starts at $25 and goes up to about $1,000.”

That being said, you never want to skimp on your jewelry and there is a specific piece of jewelry you’ll want to start with when it comes to this piercing. “A flat back labret post with a disk in the rear and ornamental end on the front is most typical. Some piercers may prefer jewelry with a bead on the back versus a disk depending on the client’s anatomy.”

Who Should Get a Shen Men Piercing?

Though they are ear piercings, Shen Mens are a bit more of a commitment than people may assume. “People don’t realize that they won’t be able to submerge the piercing until it’s fully healed,” Faris says. “This means no lakes, pools, or hot tubs for a while. You should also avoid direct pressure on the piercing, which includes headbands, motorcycle helmets, and sleeping directly on it. For some, the lifestyle changes required to heal may not be worth it.”

Shen Men piercings are an easy way to take your ear stack up a notch. They can add a touch of unexpected glam to the ear and unlike tattoos, are super low commitment, should you decide to let the piercing close later down the line.

Ariel Baker is the associate editor for PS Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.