Grayson Fitz, a junior studying conservation biology and ecology, applied to fast food restaurants, retail jobs and a public library before eventually securing a position in a shoe store. What seemed to be the problem, Fitz said, was the piercings in his septum and bridge.
Many jobs Fitz applied to told him his facial piercings would be an issue. At the library, he was told it was highly likely that upper management would have an issue with his style.
"I don't really understand the concept of 'professional appearance,'" Fitz said. "I don't think that my appearance says if I'm able to do my job or not. I think my ability to do my job says how I'm able to do my job."
Facial piercings are growing more common among young people. According to a YouGov survey from 2025, 14% of people ages 18 to 29 either had a facial piercing currently or in the past.
Despite the increasing popularity of facial piercings, their acceptance isn't uniform.
Customers have told Fitz his facial piercings make him look unprofessional and unclean, with one of his customers comparing his septum piercing to a cow.
Even though Fitz hasn't had the kindest interactions in retail, he has had an entirely different experience within his major.
Fitz has met many people within the scientific community at ASU who have a more alternative appearance. He said modern science has become a more inclusive field and a space where people feel comfortable to freely express themselves.
By contrast, he said students in majors such as finance and communications tend to have more traditional appearances.
"Once you start getting into what I would call the more 'freeing' careers, those ones are going to be a lot more accepting and a lot more diverse," Fitz said.
He said part of the reason the sciences are a more inclusive community is that the field is constantly evolving, while other careers are stuck in their origins.
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Other students such as Ash Pitti, a junior studying percussion performance and data science, said facial piercings are becoming more common overall.
"I feel like it's become more common to have them, and since so many people have them now, it's less stigmatized than it was before," Pitti said. They currently have their eyebrow pierced.
Pitti teaches in a school’s music program. They said the school itself was more conservative in its appearance, and they had a small concern about their piercing when they applied.
Even though the school presented more traditionally, Pitti said they have seen many people with facial piercings.
Pitti said the generational divide was part of the reason piercings are becoming more normalized in the workplace. They said older generations weren’t as used to alternative appearances as younger generations are.
"We're in an age where Gen Z or millennials are kind of taking over most of these stores," Pitti said. "They care a little bit less about visuals."
READ MORE: A hole new world of piercings
Amy Senkerik, a senior studying biological sciences and global health, also said younger generations are responsible for normalizing piercings in the workplace. She has 18 piercings in her ears and a septum piercing.
Senkerik is a medical researcher at Mayo Clinic, an EMT for the University and a member of ASU Counseling Services' outreach team. She said piercings and tattoo sleeves have become a lot more common in younger employees, and she has seen many workers in the medical field with alternative appearances.
According to Senkerik, social media has played a part in making piercings more commonplace.
"With social media, people are seeing more diverse looks and perspectives, and I think that can help," Senkerik said. "It's harder to just stay in your bubble now that we can talk with people from all different types of cultures and ages."
Students have started to go against the older generation's views of what is a "normal" appearance, and they're creating their own definition.
"You don't have a problem when someone is wearing a pair of earrings," Fitz said. "So why should you care that I have something in my face?"
Edited by Sam Troester, Emilio Alvarado and Sophia Keeling.
Reach the reporter at amahearn@asu.edu and follow @abiahearn on X.
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Abi is a sophomore studying journalism with a minor in political science. This is their first semester with The State Press.
