The Madison Piercing is a horizontal surface piercing at the base of the neck, just above the collar bone. Because of its placement, it is sometimes also referred to as a “clavicle piercing” or “jugular notch piercing,” and is considered a contemporary piercing because, unlike others, it has only been around for about 20 years.
This piercing is named after former film star, singer, and tattoo artist Madison Stone, who currently owns her own tattoo and piercing parlor in California. During the late 1980’s and early 90’s, Madison pioneered an alternative look including tattooing and several piercings, and became the first person formally associated with surface piercing of the jugular, eventually lending her name to it. Although, her clavicle piercing has since been removed.
In the piercing community there seems to be a stigma attached to the Madison, that because of placement it’s impossible to heal. While healing is often lengthy and difficult due to the natural movements of the throat, it’s certainly untrue that all Madisons reject, and there are plenty in existence today that are several years old. Because of the higher than average rate of rejection and migration for this particular piercing however, if you’re considering getting one, there are a few things you can do to help prevent any mishaps.
1. Go to an experienced piercer who has done Madison piercings before and is well versed in surface piercing.
2. Get your piercing done with a surface bar. In piercings that have high rejection rates, jewelry may be greatly to blame, as surface bars are the only kind of jewelry specifically made for a surface piercing and other types lack the proper shape.
3. Follow your aftercare instructions as strictly as possible for at least six months, as healing for piercings in the neck area is very slow.
4. Don’t change out your jewelry until you’ve revisited your piercer to be sure that you’re entirely healed and the piercing is ready to accept the change.
Once the jewelry is ready to be changed out, many who wear the Madison prefer the aesthetic of curved barbells, flexible barbells in materials like bioplast, or even large diameter ball captive rings.
If you weren’t familiar with the Madison, it’s probably due to geography. Because of Ms. Stone’s various job descriptions, both her and her namesake piercing rose to popularity first on the West Coast and primarily in California. Although, undeniably, the piercing itself is far more mainstream now than in it’s original heyday, it still makes the list of coolest piercings you may have never heard of.
