Piercing Types

Any piercing that goes through the soft tissue of the ear including your classic “first” piercings. These are typically started with studs but once healed rings and more ornate hoops and dangles can be worn. How many true lobe piercings you can fit will depend on your ear and how far up the soft tissue goes. These will be some of the faster healing piercings on the ear since they don’t go through cartilage.

These started as a fun way to deal with off center or asymmetrical piercings that people were unhappy with but has morphed into a trend of fitting multiple earlobe piercings on the lobe in fun clusters, stacks and designs. These can be a bit tricker to heal than standard lobe piercings but are still fun!

Helix piercings typically refer to piercings around the upper outer edge of the ear. These are pierced with studs but once healed rings can be worn. You might hear folks call them cartilage piercings too, even though pretty much anything that's not on your earlobe is technically in the cartilage territory. While many people associate them with being a very common piercing they can actually be a little tough to heal due to how easy it is to bump and snag them! Be sure to follow up with your piercer for downsizing to minimize snags and angle shifts!

Piercings in the inner bowl of the ear are a great spot to showcase statement pieces but are also often worn with rings or chains once healed. These piercings tend to do well since they are more tucked in and protected from accidental snags. They can be a great center piece to the start of an ear curation!

Piercings along the cartilage ridge closest to the head. The internet fell in love with these when pictures of a triple forward helix began to circulate but sadly not everyone has the anatomy for three.

A rook piercing is an ear piercing that's located on the inner cartilage of the upper ear, specifically in the fold of cartilage between the upper part of the ear and the innermost ridge. Typically performed with a curved barbel but rings can be worn once healed. These tend to stay swollen and puffy for awhile but once healed offer a lot of fun versatility in jewelry styles.

A faux rook piercing is similar to the flat piercing but mimics the appearance of a traditional rook piercing by being placed near the rook fold but exits out the back of the ear. They can be a bit easier to heal than a traditional rook piercing but you’re limited to just studs in this placement. Also be sure to follow up with your piercer to have your jewelry downsized as these love to tilt if the long post is left in too long!

The flat piercing is located on the flat part of the upper ear, between the helix and the forward helix. They offer a great spot to put unique jewelry choices and can be done as a single or even multiple for a fun look. The line between the flat and faux rook is kind of blurry so like the faux rook be sure to get your piercing downsized in a timely manner to avoid issues with tilting.

The antitragus piercing is positioned on the small ridge of cartilage just opposite the tragus, on the inner side of the ear. Depending on your anatomy these could be done with a variety of jewelry styles. They can be quite tricky to heal and somewhat temperamental.

Situated on the small, triangular piece of cartilage that partially covers the ear canal tragus piercings can add a fun balance if you have a lot of piercings on the outer helix of your ear. You will have to avoid earbuds while they’re healing because they both occupy the same space.

The industrial piercing, also known as the scaffold or bar piercing, involves two holes connected by a single long barbell. This piercing typically runs horizontally across the upper ear but can also be placed in the conch or other creative placements depending on anatomy, creating an edgy and eye-catching look. An industrial piercing is simply two separate piercings that are connected with a singular barbell.

An orbital piercing consists of two separate holes that are connected by a single piece of jewelry, often a hoop or ring. These piercings can be placed in various locations on the ear with vary degrees of healing difficulty. The internet has taken to calling conch piercings with a ring orbitals much to the confusion and frustration of piercers and piercing enthusiasts alike, but "orbital" refers to two separate piercings that are connected with one ring.

A daith piercing is situated in the innermost fold of the ear, near the ear canal. They look super cool and you can start them with a ring. They also make a great focal point for a curation. You will need to avoid earbuds, stethoscopes, ear plugs, or anything that goes into the ear canal during the healing time.