Thinking of reinvigorating your sense of style? If you’re searching for an easy, sure-fire way to upgrade your look with some edge, ear piercings are paramount.
Getting some new bling isn’t always easy, though: there are many things to consider, including aftercare, pain and where—out of alllll the different placements—you actually want to get it.
Whether you’re a seasoned piercer or a stranger to studs, below is a full breakdown of what you need to know before giving your lobes a little love, with help from our friends at By Charlotte.
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What Is An Ear Piercing Chart?
An ear piercing chart visually breaks down the different types of piercings you can get and where they are located on the ear.
There are several places on the ears that are suitable for piercing, with the most common piercings being lobe and cartilage (helix) piercings. However, it’s important to remember that some piercing studios have a set list of piercings they will conduct, and some they will not, so make sure to check before heading in for your appointment!
What Ear Piercing Should I Get?
At the end of the day, it comes down to what you like the look of and feel suits your lifestyle. Remember, you have to take care of it during the healing process, so if you’re wearing headphones or have things touching your ears a lot, you need to consider this! Another factor to think about is that not every piercing configuration will work for the anatomy of your ear. Just because you *can* fit a piercing somewhere doesn’t mean you should.
We asked the pros at By Charlotte for some tips on picking the perfect piercing for your unique style.
Expert piercer, Kay-Lee told Cosmopolitan Australia: “My first tip would be to visit a reputable body piercer to discuss what will best suit your anatomy! Our ears are as unique as our fingerprints, and what piercings work for one may not work for others! From there, discussing your curation goals and mapping this out with jewellery options either digitally or on paper will help you visualise your desired results! Remember, your ears are an expression of you—let your dreams come true!”
If you’re looking for a simple, sleek look, a simple lobe piercing is a great option.
What Are The Different Types Of Ear Piercings?
01
Lobe piercing
You can’t go wrong with a classic lobe piercing. As the most common out of all the piercings—they are positioned on the soft, lower area of the ear called the lobule, more commonly referred to as the lobe. As everyone’s ears are different, some people can get up to 5 lobe piercings on a single ear!
Healing time: 3-6 months
02
Helix piercing
Also commonly referred to as a “cartilage piercing,” a helix piercing will be placed on the upper outer cartilage of the ear. This is the area where the skin is thicker, appearing to fold over itself.
The Helix zone begins where the ear meets the head at the top, and runs down to the middle of the outer ear.
Healing time: 6-12 months
03
Flat Piercing
This one is a comfy medium between a rook and a helix piercing. The flat piercings’ name is pretty on the nose, as it is located in the flat section of the upper cartilage, just underneath the ear’s top rim.
Healing time: 6-12 months
04
Conch Piercing
The conch is positioned in the inner part of the ear, and the name is a result of the fact that this particular section of the ear resembles a conch shell! The conch is suitable for a ton of different piercing styles—studs, cuffs, and huggies are all potential options for this area.
Healing time: 6-12 months
05
Traigus Piercing
The tragus piercing is located on the small bit of cartilage that directly connects to the head, at the center of the ear. The zone is thick and covers part of the ear canal, so studs or small hoops would be. perfect fit.
Healing time: 12-18 months
06
Daith Piercing
The daith piercing is located in the thick, curved part of cartilage just above the ear canal. Due to its tricky placement, it’s one of the more complex places to pierce, so making sure you’re getting this piercing done by an experienced professional is key!
Healing time: 6-18 months
Which Ear Piercings Hurt's The Most?
While everyone has a different tolerance for pain, generally, a lobe piercing tends to hurt the least due to the softer cartilage. Piercings that go through harder cartilage towards the top of the ear are typically more painful, and are sore for longer post-piercing.
Kay-Lee explained, “Pain is a personal experience, and all of us will experience it differently! What some think is a 10/10 on the pain scale, may be a 3/10 for others! That being said, majority of people find thicker cartilage areas such as the Conch, Tragus or Daith to be a slightly harsher sting in comparison to other ear piercings! “
Which Piercings Are More Prone To Infection?
It’s less about the area, and more about how you care for your piercing!
“Whilst there aren’t necessarily specific ear piercings that are more prone to infection, the risk of infection can be heightened by a few different factors.” Kay-Lee shared.
“Firstly, placement! High-touch areas such as the ear you sleep on or use your phone with would come into contact with bacteria more often. Also, your level of immunity can play a big role. Your ability to heal a piercing and fight off any harmful infections relies on a healthy immune system! Lastly, aftercare. Ensure to follow all aftercare instructions and avoid touching the area to minimise the risk of introducing bacteria to your new piercing.”
How Long Does It Take For A Pierced Ear To Heal?
A common mistake many make when it comes to new piercings is not waiting the full length of time it takes for the hole to heal. Sure, the process of getting a piercing is pretty quick, but the aftercare time, although lengthy, is a MUST.
Kay-Lee explains, “When it comes to piercings, healing is definitely a waiting game, so don’t go changing your bling too quickly!”
“At minimum, an ear lobe piercing takes approximately 4 months to heal, whereas cartilage usually takes around 6 months. This, again, is a personal experience because everyone’s immune systems and daily lifestyles are unique. All these factors affect your piercing’s healing journey,” she says.
How Many Piercings Are Safe To Get In A Single Session?
It’s easy to get carried away with piercings and that’s totally fine—if you space them out over time.
Kay-Lee explained: “The consensus in the industry is no more than 4 piercings in one session. Anymore and your body may feel overwhelmed with its healing workload, and thus take a lot longer to heal the new piercings or become susceptible to infections. It is also recommended to heal those four before adding more to your curation!”
How Long Can You Go Without Wearing Earrings Before the Holes Close?
Taking your earrings out before the piecing is fully closed is a HUGE no-no.
“It is never recommended to take out the jewellery before a piercing is fully healed! Much like a paper cut, fresh piercing holes close fast!”
Kay-Lee adds, “Once you have a fully healed piercing (beyond the minimum healing time), it may be safe to leave it out for a short amount of time. However, everyone is different and how long your piercing can be left out for is entirely up to your body! If you need to take your piercing out for extended periods of time, speak with your piercer to determine whether it will be okay to leave it out, or they can point you in the right direction of retainers to ensure your piercing stays open!”
Is A Gun Or Needle Better For Piercing?
Guns are good, but needles are the best choice for a series of reasons!
“In all instances, it is safest to be pierced with a single use needle, made specifically for body piercing! These needles are designed to be gentle, more accurate, sterile, and safer for your new piercing. ‘Gun’ devices work using a spiked jewellery piece, that is pushed through the skin until it breaks through.”
Kay-Lee highlighted that the process of using a gun to pierce “causes damage to the tissue, which means it takes significantly longer to heal! Jewellery used in these devices are also known to be low quality and often inappropriately sized for initial piercing. This leads to irritation, embedding and, sometimes, long term scarring! Whilst the needle method may sound scary, being pierced with this method will lead to a happier, healthier piercing and, in most cases, it will hurt less! “
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