The Essential Guide to Cartilage Piercing

Posted on Nov 28, 2023 By Natalia Vassighi

Summoning the courage to finally get that cartilage piercing you've been contemplating?

Have you found yourself endlessly scrolling through Pinterest boards and jewelry sites in search of the perfect one for you?

We’ve got you covered.

Whether you're taking your first steps into the world of cartilage piercings or you're a seasoned enthusiast, we’re here to answer your most important questions or simply serve as a refresher. Drawing from years of experience as piercers, we've crafted this guide to be your trusted resource in all things piercing related.

So, grab your favorite beverage, settle in - your journey to stunning cartilage earrings starts right here!

What are the most popular types of cartilage piercings?

Helix Piercings

Best Jewelry: Labrets, Hoops, connector chains
Pain Level: 6/10 (Moderate)
Healing Time: 6-12 months

Adorning the outer ear rim, helix piercings offer a cool and customizable look, provide flexibility in styling and are a great starter piercing for your first in the cartilage. While they may cause mild discomfort during healing, their versatility and aesthetic make them a popular choice. Add more piercings along the helix for a double, triple or even quadruple helix!

→Shop Helix Earrings

Other Helix Types:

Forward Helix

Best Jewelry: Labrets, Hoops, short chain connectors
Pain Level: 6/10 (Moderate)
Healing Time: 6-12 months

Just like the regular helix piercing, the forward helix piercing will be adorning the outer rim of the ear- the difference is in the position. The regular helix generally is placed on the rim farthest AWAY from the face where the forward helix is placed on the rim closest to the face (just above the tragus). Jazz it up with labret-style studs and hoops.

→Shop Forward Helix Jewelry

Vertical Helix

Best Jewelry: vertical helix labrets, hoops
Pain Level: 6/10 (Moderate)
Healing Time: 6-12 months

If you love dangles on your ear, a vertical helix is the piercing to get. The hole goes from the tallest point of your ear, vertically. It's pretty straight forward and offers a lot of styling opportunities.

→Shop Vertical Helix Earrings

Floating Helix

Best Jewelry: floating helix labrets
Pain Level: 6/10 (Moderate)
Healing Time: 6-12 months

This helix piercing is designed to captivate. The hole is placed in the flat area just beneath the helix rim. A chandelier-style earring that's specifically designed for floating helix piercings creates the illusion of the earring being suspended by magic. So rad! You do want to make sure you consult with your piercer thoroughly on this one though as wearing glasses while the barbell is long for the initial swelling may be tricky.

→Shop Floating Helix Earrings

Tragus Piercing

Best Jewelry: short connector chains, labrets, tiny hoops
Pain Level: 4/10 (Mild)
Healing Time: 8-12 months

Tragus piercing is placed on the small piece of cartilage in front of the ear canal - it's almost a facial piercing! While some may feel uneasy about the pain, frankly, it's one of the least painful cartilage piercings you can get. Due to the thickness of the cartilage, it does take a little longer to heal, but with proper care, it will be a stunning addition to your ear and a great use of that tiny cartilage real estate.

→Shop Tragus Earrings

Conch Piercing

Best Jewelry: Labret studs, large clicker hoops, conch chains
Pain Level: 6/10 (Moderate High)
Healing Time: 6-12 months

The conch piercing is located in the concha of your ear aka the tiny bowl that scoops the sounds right into your ear canal, like the bowl of an amphitheatre. When choosing the jewelry for it, stick to flack-back labret style studs for comfort or go for a clicker hoop or add a chain that will be able to go around your ear.

→Shop Conch Jewelry

Daith Piercing

Best Jewelry: clicker hoops
Pain Level: 4/10 (Mild)
Healing Time: 8-12 months

As your forward helix tucks itself into your concha, lays the spot for the Daith Piercing. It's like a secret accessory that adds some edge to your look. Accessorize with a hoop or a curved barbell for a surprising sparkle in your earscape. Watch out if you wear earbuds or use a stethoscope of fitted ear protection for work as this could aggravate your piercing, cause pain and other issues as well as extend your healing time.

→Shop Daith Jewelry

Rook Piercing

Best Jewelry: curved barbell, small hoops. charms
Pain Level: 8/10 (Ouchie)
Healing Time: 6-12 months

Just above the daith, there is another cartilage ridge ripe for piercing. The rook, just like the daith requires a seasoned piercer. Due to everyone's unique anatomy, it's important to pick the right placement and to determine if the piercing is even possible.

→Shop Rook Piercing Earrings

Industrial Piercing

Best Jewelry:
Pain Level: 8/10
Healing Time: 8-12 months

The industrial piercing (or scaffold piercing) is essentially a two-in-one deal, featuring two piercings connected by a straight barbell—commonly referred to as an industrial barbell—usually placed in the helix and forward helix (the part closest to your face). If you are considering this piercing, be ready to endure getting pierced twice in a row. Also, make sure you go to a reputable piercer who will ensure you have the correct anatomy before piercing you! These piercings are hard enough to heal when you do have the correct anatomy. Never fear though, if you don't have the anatomy for a bar, you could do a forward helix piercing and a helix piercing and connect them with a chain once they heal to get a similar look!

→Shop Industrial Piercing

Flat Piercing

Best Jewelry: studs
Pain Level: 7/10 (Moderate High)
Healing Time: 6-12 months

The flat piercing, situated on the flat part of your cartilage just below the helix, is an amazing canvas for ear-centric experimentation (provided you have a good pain tolerance). Create a focal point in your earscape with a single stud or go for multiple flat piercing to create a truly unique layout.

→Shop Flat Piercing Earrings

→SHOP ALL CARTILAGE

Which cartilage piercing will suit me best?

Discover Your Style: Embarking on the journey to find the perfect cartilage piercing for your style is a personal adventure. Consider your unique style and the shape of your ears. If you're envisioning a fairycore earscape for example, but are worried about your anatomy, don't stress! There is an earring placement for you.

Expert Guidance: You don’t have to figure it all out by yourself: A session with a specialist in earscape curation means having an professional right there with you. They're expert at exploring options and can pinpoint the ideal spot based on your anatomy. A pro piercer will also help you dodge common pitfalls like improper placement or wonky angles.

→ Read: How To Know Which Earring Shape Suits Your Face Best?

→Book: Curated Earscape Consultation

How painful are cartilage piercings?

Pain-levels on Different Piercing Types: Wondering about the pain? Well, it's a bit like choosing your cartilage piercing style—varied. No pain, no gain - right?

Tragus piercings bring a hint of discomfort, while industrials crank it up a notch. Knowing this pain scale and your own tolerance helps you prepare for the ride.

We always say that the piercing is very temporary pain but it's the healing process you should be focused on. Keep them clean, do not sleep on them and make sure that you see your piercer for a downsize when the swelling subsides to prevent migration.

Pain & Time: Now, let's talk about pain on new vs healing piercings - it's a journey. Initially, there's a bit of discomfort, but as you progress from fresh to fully healed, the tenderness, bruising and redness tends to mellow out. Just watch out for accidental snags and sleeping on your fresh piercings- both can make the tenderness flare up and lengthen the healing time.

In case you need it- we have a ultra soft pillow for all of you side sleepers who can't help it (same, babe, same). Problem solved!

→Shop Piercing Pillow

Abnormal Look and Pain: While some pain and swelling is to be expected, if you notice unusual swelling, discoloration, or persistent pain beyond the expected healing time, it's essential to pay attention. These signs might indicate potential issues that need intervention. So, don't hesitate to consult with your piercer if you're experiencing abnormal discomfort or if your piercing looks off—it's better to be safe than sorry.

Where do I go to get my ears pierced?

Researching and Finding Local Piercers: When gearing up for a new piercing, don't skip the research phase—it's a crucial step for a successful experience (and hey, you're already nailing it by reading this guide!). Dive into online reviews, seek recommendations, and scope out social media for insights into local piercing studios. Consider cleanliness, professionalism, and customer experiences to align with your expectations. Local piercers bring that personal touch, so window-shop their portfolios online and in the studio. Proximity matters, but finding the right person for the job ensures both convenience and the most perfectly placed new piercing.

Questions to Ask Your Piercer: Before taking the plunge, have a chat with your piercer and ask some key questions. Inquire about their sterilization processes, the type of jewelry they use, and their experience with the specific piercing you're eyeing. It's also the perfect time to discuss aftercare instructions. A reputable piercer should be open to answering your questions and ensuring you feel comfortable before proceeding.

If you're in the Oakville or GTA area, don't forget to check us out ;) We've got your piercing needs covered!

→Visit the Studio

→Meet the Piercers

→Book a Piercing Appointment

How do I care for my new cartilage piercing?

Healing Your New Piercing: Navigating the healing journey of a cartilage piercing involves distinct phases. Initial healing, lasting a few weeks to months, may bring tenderness, redness, and swelling. Moving into the intermediate stage, up to six months, visible signs may lessen, but internal tissue continues to strengthen. The piercing is considered fully healed when no redness, swelling, or tenderness is present, typically around 6-12 months. Complete healing may take a year or more. Consistent aftercare is crucial throughout, ensuring the piercing's resilience matches its outward appearance.

→7 Rules for How to Heal Your Piercing Perfectly

Cleaning Your Fresh Piercing: Keeping your new piercing clean is hands down the best way to steer clear of any infections. Stick to your piercer's advice or check out our After Care Guide for the lowdown. And hey, we've got all the supplies you need to keep that piercing in tip-top shape!

→The Curated Lobe's Piercer-approved Aftercare Guide

→The Aftercare Holy Grail

Changing Up your Earscape

Embarking on the journey of freshly pierced ears comes with responsibility. Before changing jewelry on your brand new piercing, there is a wait time of up to 12 weeks for cartilage piercing (or more if you had a bad healing experience). Always have a piercer change the jewelry if you're doing it before the piercing is fully healed. Once the jewelry is fully healed, change earrings as often as you like, prioritizing clean hands and good quality jewelry to avoid irritation or infection. Choose earrings wisely, opting for hypoallergenic materials like gold, platinum, or titanium for safety and comfort. Avoid nickel-containing metals and sharp edges, favoring smooth, rounded earrings that won't irritate your healed piercings (check out our Threadless earring options).

New piercings, especially cartilage ones, come with tons of rules. The payoff, we think, is totally worth it. Building robust, unique earscapes is very rewarding and extra piercings make the process so much more enjoyable.

→ Check Out Out Earscape Subscription Service for New Earrings, Monthly!