On my 18th birthday, I thought I would be a rebellious young adult and get a helix piercing. I wanted one since my freshman year of high school and was so pumped to finally have it.

Little did I know, some very normal things suddenly hurt after I got a helix piercing.

1. Sleeping

Everyone sleeps. Most people sleep on either their right or left side--or maybe both. After I got the piercing, I was banished to only sleep on my left side because the right hurt too much.

2. Changing my clothes

Spare yourself the utter misery of your shirt ripping your piercing and make sure the head hole is open wide enough so that your ear doesn’t touch the fabric. Trust me on this one.

3. Hugging

I never realized that literally everyone hugs on their right side. I cannot tell you how many times my piercing has gotten stuck in someone’s hair, hoop earring, shirt collar, etc. Let me tell ya, it does not feel good.

4. Getting a haircut

You know how hair dressers will run their fingers through your hair so it all goes behind your shoulder? Before they do that, make sure you don’t have any hair tangled around your piercing because it will hurt and it will bleed.

5. Brushing my hair

I’ve had the bristles on my hairbrush get caught in my piercing so many times I lost count. Sometimes, I’ll forget the piercing is there but OMG you will not forget it’s there when you accidentally brush it.

5. Basically anything that has to do with hair

Brushing your hair, combing your hair, washing your hair, putting your hair up. UGH all the pain.

Even though helix piercings can be painful AF when you’re not careful, they’re totally worth it. Not only do you feel super confident when rocking that updo, but you can make them either bold...

... or so subtle that most people won’t even notice them.