I am someone who loves ear piercings. I think they're an awesome way to help you love your body. Recently, I added ear piercing number eight and I couldn't be happier! I felt inspired to put together this little guide for anyone who loves ear piercings or for anyone who is thinking of getting a piercing but needs a little more information.
Disclaimers: I am in no way a professional and if you do decide to get pierced, make sure you listen to your piercer when it comes to these body modifications-- everything from the initial piercing to the aftercare. I'm writing from my own personal experience and research. If you have serious questions about any ear piercings you are considering, reach out to your piercer! They'd be glad to help you. Also, every parlor is different, so prices will surely vary.
1. Lobe Piercings
Your parents may have gotten your lobes pierced when you were a baby, or maybe you waited for when you were older. There's nothing wrong with either way! The lobe is the, for lack of better words, flabby part at the bottom of your ear. These piercings are very basic and will probably be the least painful. You can get them done outside of a parlor at somewhere like a mall because of the simplicity of the piercing. No special needles are needed. Your piercer may even use a piercing gun.
Healing time: six-eight weeks.
Average price: $20-$30
Aftercare: Soak in warm salt water at least two times a day. Avoid playing with jewelry. Always wash your hands before handling. Be conscious of the area and potential hazards (hair, bacteria, chemicals, etc.)
2. Tragus
The tragus is the part of the ear that projects immediately in front of the ear canal. This piercing must done at a parlor, as it requires a thicker needle to pierce the thicker cartilage. Many people choose to throw cute stud jewelry in their tragus piercing, but you will be initially pierced with training jewelry, such as the captive hoop shown above. For me, the pain was moderate, but everyone handles pain differently! It was definitely most sore during aftercare and while trying to get used to it. If you have long hair, be conscious of any new piercing. You would be surprised at how many times a day you rub your ears!
Healing time: six-18 weeks.
Average price: $30-$50
Aftercare: Soak in warm salt water at least two times a day. Avoid playing with jewelry. Always wash your hands before handling. Be conscious of the area and potential hazards (hair, bacteria, chemicals, etc.)
3. Industrial
The industrial is probably one of the most common piercings today. I, personally, don't have one, but I hear it is up there on the pain scale. Understandable. The industrial or scaffold is the top cartilage of your ear. Not one, but two holes, are pierced in order to have an industrial. Normally, they are done horizontally, but there is such a thing as a vertical industrial.
Healing time: one-six months.
Average price: $40-$50
Aftercare: Soak in warm salt water at least two times a day. Avoid playing with jewelry. Always wash your hands before handling. Be conscious of the area and potential hazards (hair, bacteria, chemicals, etc.)
4. Daith
Daith piercings are becoming more and more common as they are being linked to helping lessen/prevent migraines. There isn't any formal research completed, but many migraine sufferers admit that after getting their daith pierced, their migraines became less and less severe. Here's a cool medical blog post I found that explains everything:
http://mnphysicalmedicine.com/2015/03/02/migraines-and-daith-piercings/
Once again, this is not a piercing I have, so I cannot attest to the pain but, it looks like it would definitely be bothersome.
Healing time: three-12 months.
Average price: $30-$80
Aftercare: Soak in warm salt water at least two times a day. Avoid playing with jewelry. Always wash your hands before handling. Be conscious of the area and potential hazards (hair, bacteria, chemicals, etc.)
5. Conch
The conch is located at about the middle of your ear and the piercing normally wraps around the external cartilage, shown above. Captive hoops are popular, but I've seen people use barbells and colorful studs as conch jewelry. My conch was about a 4/10 when it came to pain, but again, everyone is different!
Healing time: six-12 months.
Average price: $30-$80
Aftercare: Soak in warm salt water at least two times a day. Avoid playing with jewelry. Always wash your hands before handling. Be conscious of the area and potential hazards (hair, bacteria, chemicals, etc.)
6. Rook
The rook is the area immediately above the daith. It is a thick, bone- like cartilage just like the daith. Pictured above is my rook piercing the night I got it (the purple around the piercing is just where my piercer marked). Compared to my tragus and conch, getting my rook pierced hurt the most, probably because that is where the cartilage is thickest. Usually, a curved barbell is used as jewelry, as it makes for the best fit in that area of the ear. Two days later, it's still sore, but I love it as much as my other piercings.
Healing time: 12-18 months.
Average price: $30-$80
Aftercare: Soak in warm salt water at least two times a day. Avoid playing with jewelry. Always wash your hands before handling. Be conscious of the area and potential hazards (hair, bacteria, chemicals, etc.)
