WHAT EARRINGS ARE BESR FOR 

CARTILAGE PIERCINGS?


There are many fun and trendy earrings to choose from for cartilage piercings. But with so many options, it can be hard to decide which ones are right for you. The best earrings for cartilage piercings are comfortable, safe, and stylish.


Let's take a look at the different types of cartilage piercings and the most popular earring styles for each.


First, What Is A Cartilage Piercing?


Cartilage earrings are a catchall term for an earring worn on any part of the ear that isn't the lobe. The ear cartilage is a type of connective tissue that the upper sections of your ears consist of. The ear cartilage is thicker and more durable than the skin, but it's softer than bone and considerably thicker than your earlobes, making it unique in numerous ways to a typical ear piercing.


1. Helix Piercing


Q: WHAT IS A HELIX?


A: The helix piercing is a cartilage piercing that pierces the top ear cartilage. A piercer punctures the ear with a free-hand technique when making a helix piercing.


Q: WHAT IS THE BEST JEWELRY FOR A HELIX PIERCING?


A: The most popular cartilage earrings for this type of piercing are high-quality stud earrings and thin gold cartilage hoops. The most popular earring size is 18 gauge, although some people feel that an earring size of 16 gauges is more suitable.


Helix earrings are most commonly found just beyond the highest point of the rim across the forward helix; however, you can also find helix earrings anywhere on the upper cartilage's rim.


Q: WHEN CAN I CHANGE MY HELIX PIERCING? 


A: The healing time for helix piercings varies depending on individual aftercare methods, but it can take anything from 6 months to a year.


Q: HOW MUCH DO HELIX PIERCINGS COST?


A: The cost of a helix piercing varies greatly depending on where the piercing studio is located, how experienced your piercer is, and what jewelry you choose. It will cost anywhere from $30 to $75.



2. Tragus Piercing


Q: WHAT IS A TRAGUS PIERCING?


Tragus piercing is another common cartilage piercing. The tragus is the cartilage in front of the ear canal.

A: In most cases, the tragus is perforated in the middle. Depending on their chosen technique, your piercer will use a low-gauge, straight or curved needle.


Q: WHAT IS THE BEST JEWELRY FOR A TRAGUS PIERCING?


A cartilage stud with a flat disc backing is typical in the tragus, but thin gold cartilage hoops are also popular.


Q: WHAT IS THE HEALING TIME FOR A TRAGUS PIERCING?


The healing time for a tragus piercing varies depending on how well you take care of it. Healing time is usually four weeks-6 months.


Q: HOW MUCH DOES A TRAGUS PIERCING HURT?


A: The ear-piercing pain level for the tragus is low. A fine-gauge hollow piercing needle is standard to make the puncture, which is usually not painful due to the tragus's minimal amount of nerve endings.



3. Industrial Piercing


WHAT IS AN INDUSTRIAL PIERCING?


A scaffold piercing, also known as an industrial piercing in the United States, is the connection of two piercings performed with a hollow piercing needle to form a single straight piece of jewelry.


Q: WHAT IS THE BEST JEWELRY FOR AN INDUSTRIAL PIERCING?


A 14G 1-inch cartilage bar is commonly used for industrial piercing jewelry, while a 16 gauge earring is also possible. It's not uncommon to start with cartilage studs and then switch to a cartilage bar after complete healing. Cartilage studs, commonly used for industrial piercings, generally result in speedier recovery, although they also make it more challenging to align the piercings.


Q: WHAT IS THE BEST JEWELRY FOR AN INDUSTRIAL PIERCING?


The healing time for an industrial piercing typically takes six months to 1 year to heal, depending on the individual and aftercare practices.



4. Snug Piercing


WHAT IS A SNUG PIERCING?


A snug piercing is a horizontal piercing that sits right above the anti-tragus location (or the cartilage's inner ridge).


Q: WHAT IS THE BEST JEWELRY FOR A SNUG PIERCING?


The best jewelry for a snug piercing is tiny gold studs or seamless cartilage hoop earrings.


Q: WHAT IS THE HEALING TIME FOR A SNUG PIERCING?


The healing time for a snug piercing typically takes four months to six months to heal, depending on the individual and aftercare practices.



5. Daith Piercing


WHAT IS A DAITH PIERCING?


The daith is the cartilage fold right above the ear canal.


The daith piercing involves the perforation of the crux of the helix (the flap of cartilage right above your ear canal) using a curved needle so as not to puncture or damage the surrounding cartilage. A receiving tube assists in the procedure to ensure that the needle is caught on the other side.


Q: WHAT IS THE BEST JEWELRY FOR A DAITH PIERCING?


The best jewelry for a daith piercing is tiny gold studs or seamless hoops earrings.


Q: WHAT IS THE HEALING TIME FOR A DAITH PIERCING?


The estimated healing time for a daith piercing is four months to 1 year.



6. Anti-Tragus Piercing


Q: WHAT IS A ANTI-TRAGUS PIERCING?


A: Anti-tragus piercings are located on the opposing side of the tragus piercing and are compatible with similar jewelry.


For those who want something new or have a tragus that is too small for piercing, the anti-tragus is a unique alternative to the tragus piercing within the cartilage section opposite the ear canal.


Q: WHAT IS THE BEST JEWELRY FOR AN ANTI-TRAGUS PIERCING?


A: The perfect jewelry for an anti-tragus piercing is usually seamless hoops earrings in small gauges, or barbells, etc.


Q: WHAT IS THE HEALING TIME FOR A ROOK PIERCING?


A: Anti-tragus piercings can take 6 to 12 months to heal, depending on care.



7. Rook Piercing


Q: WHAT IS A ROOK PIERCING?


A: The rook area is in the ear's anti-helix section. Your ear's anatomy will most likely determine the exact location and if the piercer can reach the spot safely for a clean, healthy piercing.


Q: WHAT IS THE BEST JEWELRY FOR A HELIX PIERCING?


A: A 14G or 16G needle with a CBR or curved barbell is standard as initial jewelry for rook piercings; however, once your piercing has healed, there are many fantastic gold jewelry options for rook piercings, such as seamless cartilage hoop earrings, or solid silver stud earrings.


Q: WHAT IS THE HEALING TIME FOR A ROOK PIERCING?


A: Like other cartilage piercings, the rook piercing takes approximately 12 - 18 months to recover fully.


Q: HOW PAINFUL IS A ROOK PIERCING?


A: The ear-piercing pain level for a rook is very high. The rook piercing is a relatively challenging process that is widely considered one of the more painful piercings.



8. Forward Helix Piercing


Q: WHAT IS A FORWARD HELIX PIERCING?


A: The forward helix piercing is a version of the helix piercing that involves piercing the section of the upper ear cartilage closest to the head. When producing a forward helix piercing, a piercer will most likely use a free-hand method to puncture the ear. For a double- or triple-forward helix, it's also customary to puncture the forward helix many times.


Q: WHAT IS THE BEST JEWELRY FOR A FORWARD HELIX PIERCING?


A: The best jewelry for a forward helix are small high-quality stud earrings such as solid silver stud earrings and eternity hoop earrings with flat disc backing. 18 gauge earrings are usually ideal for forward helix earrings when it comes to thickness.


Q: WHAT IS THE HEALING TIME FOR A FORWARD HELIX PIERCING?


Depending on the specific aftercare procedures, forward helix piercings might take six months to a year to heal.


FAQ:


HOW DO FLAT BACK EARRINGS WORK?


Flat-backed earrings are exactly what they sound like: tiny gold or silver posts with flat backs. With traditional earrings, you slide them on front to back, and put a backing on to secure them. With flat back stud earrings, it's the opposite. You place Flat-backed earrings on by sliding the post into your ear from the rear. Then you push the front part of the flat back stud earrings into the ear post to secure them.


Flat back earrings are much cleaner. You won't have any unsightly ear posts sticking out from behind your ear, so you can flaunt your ears at every angle. Also, flat back earrings are super comfy to wear – there's no long ear post to poke you.



WHAT DOES 18G MEAN FOR EARRINGS?


18g is the gauge, or thickness, of the jewelry wire used for the earrings. Most piercings use 16, or 18-gauge earrings.



HOW DOES GAUGE SIZING WORK?


The size of a piercing is usually described in terms of gauge. The smaller the number, the thicker the wire (or needle). For example, a 20 gauge needle is thicker than a 22 gauge needle.


The larger the gauge, the longer it will take for the piercing to heal. It is best to start with a smaller gauge and then move up to a larger gauge as the piercing heals.



HOW TO CLEAN PIERCING JEWELRY?


It's critical to look after your piercing now that you've gotten it. The first several weeks are critical in ensuring appropriate healing. Here are our top ten recommendations for keeping an ear piercing clean and free of infection.



TOP 10 TIPS FOR CLEANING AN EAR PIERCING


  • Clean your piercing when you do other regular hygiene habits. Clean it when you brush your teeth or take a shower to give yourself a gentle reminder every day.


  • Wash your hands with warm water and gentle soap before touching your piercing to avoid introducing bacteria to the area.


  • Clean with a salt solution-soaked cotton pad or swab. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water to make this solution. Use this a couple of times a day to eliminate any bacteria from the piercing region.


  • Dab (don't wipe) the piercing. Dab dry with a clean, soft towel or tissue so you don't harm the tissue while healing.


  • You should avoid perfumed soaps. Instead, clean the surrounding skin with mild antiseptic soap and water.


  • When you remove a piercing, clean the pierced region. Bacteria in the air can quickly accumulate on jewelry when placed on a surface like a counter or a table.


  • Don't clean your piercing in the bathroom. Even the most hygienic household bathrooms usually contain a high degree of bacteria.


  • Sleeping on a piercing for too long can irritate a fresh piercing. Sleeping or resting on your piercing allows moisture and germs to accumulate, increasing infection risk.


  • In the piercing region, don't use any hair or body products. Be cautious when utilizing shampoo, soap, gel, pomade, hairspray, or other chemicals near a piercing that can irritate the tissue.


  • Also, be on the lookout for any odd or discolored discharge. If you notice any unusual discharge, go to your piercer or doctor right away, as it might indicate an infection.



Wrapping Up


There is a wide variety of cartilage piercings that you can choose from, each with its own unique benefits. No matter what type of piercing you choose, consult with a professional piercer to ensure that the piercing is safely done and take the necessary steps to ensure proper healing. With patience and proper care, you'll be able to enjoy your new piercing for years to come.