Everything You Need to Know About Ear Piercings

Ear piercings are one of the most popular forms of body modification, with a wide range of styles to choose from.

From standard lobe piercings to more intricate cartilage piercings, there's a piercing out there for everyone. In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about ear piercings, including types, healing time, and proper aftercare.

Shop Ear Stories →

Ear piercings come in many different types, each with their own unique style and placement. Here are some of the most common types of ear piercings:

Lobe Piercing: A standard lobe piercing is the most common type of ear piercing, located on the soft part of the earlobe.

Cartilage Piercing: A cartilage piercing is any piercing located on the ear's cartilage, such as the helix piercing, tragus piercing, or conch piercing.

Helix Piercing: A helix piercing is located on the upper outer edge of the ear's cartilage.

Tragus Piercing: A tragus piercing is located on the small, protruding piece of cartilage that covers the ear canal's opening.

Conch Piercing: A conch piercing is located in the center of the ear's cartilage, either on the outer conch or inner conch.

Rook Piercing: A rook piercing is located on the anti-helix ridge above the tragus piercing.

Snug Piercing: A snug piercing is located in the inner cartilage fold of the ear.

Daith Piercing: A daith piercing is located in the fold of cartilage above the ear canal.

Forward Helix Piercing: A forward helix piercing is located on the front side of the ear's cartilage fold, near the inner ear.

Anti-Tragus Piercing: An anti-tragus piercing is located opposite the tragus piercing, on the outer rim of the ear's cartilage.

Orbital Piercing: An orbital piercing is two piercings connected by a single piece of jewelry, usually located on the outer ear's cartilage.

Multiple Piercings: Multiple piercings can be placed anywhere on the ear, either in a single row or a curated ear arrangement.

Part of Your Ear: Inner Cartilage

The inner cartilage of the ear can also be pierced, with the most popular being the daith piercing. This is a piercing through the innermost fold of cartilage in the ear, closest to the ear canal. Some people believe that daith piercings can help alleviate migraines, although there is little scientific evidence to support this claim.

The industrial piercing is a popular choice for those who want a more unique look. It consists of two piercings connected with a single piece of jewelry, typically a straight barbell. The two piercings are usually done in the upper cartilage of the ear, either parallel or perpendicular to each other. This piercing can be quite painful, but the end result is usually worth it for those who want to make a bold statement.

Healing time and aftercare are essential for any piercing. Here's what you need to know:

Healing Time: The healing time for ear piercings can vary depending on the piercing's location and your individual pain tolerance. On average, lobe piercings take six to eight weeks to heal, while cartilage piercings can take up to a year.

Aftercare: Proper aftercare is crucial for preventing infections and promoting healing. Always wash your hands before touching your piercing, and clean the piercing site twice a day with a sterile saline solution. Avoid swimming and submerging the piercing in water, and avoid touching or twisting the piercing.

Ear piercings can be painful, with some locations more painful than others. The most painful ear piercing is often considered to be the daith piercing, located in a sensitive area near the inner ear. However, individual pain tolerance can vary, so what may be painful for one person may not be for another.

The piercing process and equipment used can vary depending on the piercing studio and the piercer's technique. However, there are some basic steps that are typically followed during a piercing procedure.

Before the piercing, the piercer should thoroughly clean and disinfect their hands and the piercing equipment. They may also clean the piercing site with an antiseptic solution. It is important for both the piercer and the client to wear gloves and face masks to prevent the spread of germs.

Next, the piercer will mark the spot where the piercing will be placed. This is typically done with a surgical pen or marker. The client will then have the opportunity to review the markings and make any adjustments if necessary.

Once the marking is finalized, the piercer will use a hollow needle to create the piercing. The needle is typically inserted through the skin and cartilage in one swift motion, which may cause a sharp pain. Some piercers may use a piercing gun for certain types of ear piercings, but this method is generally discouraged by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) due to its potential to cause tissue damage and complications.

After the piercing is complete, the piercer will insert the chosen jewelry into the piercing. Depending on the type of piercing, this may be a stud, hoop, barbell, or other type of jewelry. The jewelry should be made from a high-quality material that is safe for use in the body, such as surgical-grade stainless steel, titanium, or gold.

The healing time for ear piercings varies depending on the type of piercing and the individual's healing process. In general, earlobe piercings heal the fastest, usually within 4-6 weeks.

Cartilage piercings, on the other hand, can take several months to a year to fully heal. During the initial healing period, it is important to properly care for your piercing to prevent infection and promote healing.

One of the most important things you can do to care for your new piercing is to keep it clean. It is recommended to clean your piercing with a sterile saline solution twice a day. Avoid touching your piercing with dirty hands, and avoid swimming or submerging your piercing in water until it is fully healed. It is also important to avoid wearing tight or restrictive clothing or jewelry that may irritate your piercing.

It is important to remember that everyone's pain tolerance is different, and what may be a painful ear piercing for one person may not be for another.

Some people may experience a sharp pain during the piercing process, while others may feel more of a dull ache. It is also important to be aware of any potential allergic reactions to the metal in your piercing jewelry.

If you experience any redness, itching, or swelling around your piercing, it may be a sign of an allergic reaction and you should consult with your piercer or a medical professional.

Piercing healing time guide

We, in Galleria Armadoro, are huge fans of ear piercings, and that’s why we have created the Ear Stories collection.

This collection includes mini hoops, huggies and studs crafted out with hypoallrgenic sterling silver so that you can create your own unique ear story.

From gold-plated stud earrings to sterling silver stud earrings, we have got one for all. To help you make your combinations, we have created different charts that explain which earring matches which piercing, so let’s get into it!

The Ear Stories collection offers nine different sizes: 6,5mm, 8,5mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12,5mm, 15mm, 18mm, 20mm & 22mm.

For the lobe piercings, you can wear earrings from 22mm up to 8,5mm huggies. The 6,5mm huggies are suggested for the upper lobe piercings, the helix piercing and the rook piercings, while for the conch piercing, we suggest the 11mm and the 12,5mm huggies.

Huggies placement chart

The second guide is all about the studs. Again, there are two different types of post; the butterfly post and the ball screw post or as we say, the piercing stud.earrings.

The butterfly post is perfect for the lobe and upper lobe ear piercings, while the ball screw post is designed for all the cartilage piercings, including helix, conch and tragus.

Studs ball screw studs placement chart

The Ear Stories collection is designed to encourage the mix & match style in the earrings, and that’s why all the Ear Stories earrings – mini hoops, huggies and studs – are sold single and not in pairs.

So you can create your unique combinations that match perfectly the style you are going for. All the pieces are either gold vermeil or sterling silver earrings and completely hypoallergenic, meaning they are the perfect earrings post healing or even for in initial piercing.