The standard size for a cartilage piercing is 16 gauge (16G), but sometimes 18G is used as well. Why Do Guys Wear Earrings in Their Left Ear? Its best to be on the safer side of thins and this needs complete healing time without any kind of disturbances to that area of skin. ", Changing My Cartilage Piercing for the First Time. Since getting new piercings is fun and the healing time isnt that long, in the grand scheme of things you may decide that its worth it to add more to your collection. Your email address will not be published. Glamour may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Its only natural to feel nervous as you head into a piercing studio, but theres plenty you can do to calm your fears. What I wanted originally was SMALLER gold balls, like the ones in my second earlobe piercing. To do so, simply remove the backing from the piercing if its a stud, or slightly separate the flexible metal ring to slide it out. Hi i am Dr. Jasmin Piterson an Sole owner and editor of The Piercing Home. If you can move it around a little bit, try an 18G size. | Complete, When You Get Your Nose Pierced Does it Have to be a. This can lead to swelling, irritation, and bumps on the skin. These are higher up than the lobe and take a little longer to heal but are very versatile when it comes to placement. Theres also the tragus, daith, and conch locations, she says, just to name a few options on the cartilage. And really, who could blame you? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Aftercare for a helix piercing is as simple as washing it twice a day with saline solution (or antimicrobial soap, says Earnest). Freeds recommendation is to keep your hands off the fresh piercing. They do go in from the front. Since an industrial are two piercings, It can range anywhere between $40-$120, depending on the piercer and what metal they provide for the piercing, says Burson. Rook Piercing 101: Everything You Need to Know, What to Know Before Getting a Forward Helix Piercing, Considering a Daith Piercing? sleepers (little hinged hoops) with charms are also coming into fashion, the clicker style sleepers are called that because they were intended to be comfy to sleep in. 1 PC Bat Wing Steel Nose Ring Septum Clicker Hoop Helix Piercing Daith. Its totally normal to experience slight bleeding, crusties (dead skin cells), swelling, tenderness, itching, bruising, or soreness. Later I had Paul look at the H2Ocean, and he said he didnt know why it was broken (we suspect a child tampered with it) but it WAS broken. So make sure that you arent getting fooled by the thought that the inside of the skin must be healed as well. I relate SO HARD to this: I am not really a badass in any way, but I have badass aspirations if I can ever stop crying and cringing at everything. In the case of a helix piercing, that'll be anywhere from three months to a year, depending on the person. I thought long and hard before I had it done, had the same worries. If you prefer a stud over a hoop but want something a little more eye-catching, a flower earring like this lotus one is the perfect balance. Cartilage piercing is more common and famous among working professions as it is more versatile in their use. In the first few days after getting your piercing, you may notice a bump or general swelling around the . I smiled at the first Indiana Jones reference, snorted at the second, and laughed loudly at the third. If youre a side sleeper, probably the greatest downside you'll face during the process is the inconvenience that comes from not being able to sleep as freely as youre used to. These piercings tend to have a reputation for being edgy since theyre obvious and have a clunkier look. This may be named hypertrophic scarring which is essentially common to cartilage piercing. I am not really a badass in any way, but I have badass aspirations if I can ever stop crying and cringing at everything is me, to the core. Your email address will not be published. Next, place the wrapped needle-nosed end into the center of the CBR and slowly pry the ring open. you need labret bars/studs, these come with different length posts and different sized balls and tops, these go through the back, but if you have internally threaded, you can get a thin earring post, put it in your ear, connect the post from the back to the earring in your ear and push the labret bar through then pull earring out and screw on front. How Many Piercings Can You Get at Once in Your Ear. 6. StatPearls Publishing, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537336/, Additional reporting by Eden Lichterman and Hillary Shepherd, Lisa Bubbers, co-founder and CMO of Studs, This article was originally published on Oct. 1, 2015, H2Ocean Piercing Aftercare Spray, 4 Fluid Ounce, Studex Advanced 2-in-1 Piercing Aftercare & Cleanser, PillowtalkDerm's Latest Drop Is A Powerhouse Serum & Face Roller In One, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. To help alleviate some of the pain, you should consider your own pain threshold and the experience and skill of your piercer. Anatomically, the term helix describes that area of the ear. However, there are names for different placements along that curve. Using a needle is a common practice nowadays, anyway. "With a good grip on each side of the jewelry, pull the front and back straight apart," says Lorusso. But if youre looking for an average estimate, Freed says at least two months. Ear, Nose. Then, after you have got the piercing done, keep the area as clean as you can. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. In cartilage piercing bumps are very common, they can appear soon after the piercing or they appear when your piercing is completely healed. 2. It is a testimony to my H2devotion that I ordered ANOTHER $11 bottle of it, to have on hand in case the fresh earrings caused the piercings to go south. According to Amanda Robone, a piercer at Clear Vision Tattoo, you should expect a cost starting at around $70 for a conch piercing, as you have to factor in a needle fee and cost of jewelry. When Can I Change My Cartilage Piercing to a hoop? The healing process of cartilage piercing is very slow and it can be up to one year but if you feel your piercing is not completely sure, you should consult your piercing consultant. In any case, there are a handful of universal truths about the cartilage piercing process that can help you decide. You will need a small strip of paper, a fine tipped marker, and a ruler. I could put the original earring back in, but that's discouraging and solves nothing. Also, I would get a tattoo if I thought I would still be fond of whatever it was and where Id had it placed even 6 months later. I dont suppose youve done a sleep study for sleep apnea and have written a reassuring summary of the experience? When you are poking the jewelry or the area unnecessarily, the healing certainly gets delayed. Take care not to sleep on the piercing and avoid touching it. When you feel fully safe then you can change your cartilage piercing, you can change them with small size earrings. Lets get real about helix piercing pain. Im constantly wondering how I can be so entertained by a strangers trips to the TJ Maxx clearance aisle and boxed candy selections. Makeup ideas, product reviews, and the latest celebrity trendsdelivered straight to your inbox. All rights reserved. Wound healing can vary from person to person," says Rachael Earnest, a board-certified dermatologist at Legacy Dermatology and Restoration Center. However, an orbital is pierced with a ring rather than a barbell. It is not recommended to sleep on the newly piercing and it is not fully recovered. Of the wide range of body modifications and piercings out there, cartilage piercings basically, piercings anywhere else on the ear but the actual earlobe are some of the most common procedures outside of basic earlobe piercings. I also have a double upper-cartilage piercing. Helix piercings generally take around three-to-six months to heal. This spot is a more uncommon choice, but its a unique spot if you want a bit of an unexpected piercing. Either way, I felt uneasy about squashing them like that, and I dont like how one keeps being tilted, so I went back to the piercing place and asked if there was anything I could do. ? Nothing worked. There is absolutely no reason for changing the piercing until the time its completely healed. 2023 Jewelry Marquis | All Rights Reserved. Cartilage piercing should be changed after two months but it does not matter in every case when you feel comfortable and it does not hurt you, you can change it. ), but an industrial or helix piercing is, well, kind of a big deal: It can seem daunting and maybe a bit intimidating. There are two parts to the conch, making two different kinds of piercings: an inner conch and an outer conch. If you have a cartilage piercing that is healing well and you would like to change the hoop for a new one, here is a guide on how to do so. Aftercare: Wash the piercing twice daily with a saline solution or antimicrobial soap and avoid irritating it as much as possible. Placement: The upper part of the ear on the ridge between the outer and inner sections of the ear. Free shipping. Change country: . 7. My husband had to put it back in for me. In fact, piercing guns are not designed to pierce through cartilage, and the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) banned them because they pose sanitation concerns and cause tissue damage. Usually, they always come back for more because its worth it! says Ruhga. The Piercing Home all about earrings is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Change country: . If you want to sleep on the piercing side , you should use a neck pillow and you remember that your bed covering should be neat and clean. Pendant Helix Ear Cartilage Hoop Earrings 26 English Letter Piercing Earring. "Ear lobes can take anywhere from three to six months [to heal]," Sydney Roda, a piercer at New York Adorned, a New York-based piercing and body art studio, tells Bustle. A helix piercing is any piercing along the upper and outside cartilage ridge of the ear, says Studs piercer Shannon Freed. You need to be very careful when you have got a cartilage piercing done. Be sure to get jewelry thats at least 14 karats, though, to avoid metal thats too soft. I winced. But the earring was out, and a new earring had to go in, and no one else was home, and I couldnt think of anyone else who would be willing to do it even if theyd ALL been home. you can also get barbells which go through the front and instead of the flat back they have a smooth ball, like the front of your earring, also very comfy. Orbital Piercing Process: As mentioned above, in order to achieve the orbital piercing look, you'll need to have multiple piercings and connect them with one piece of jewelry, typically a captive bead ring. But how can one know if it completely healed? They are a unique experience in comparison to having an earlobe pierced and they look super cool, too: Just ask stars like Ashley Graham, Keke Palmer, Rihanna, and even Beyonc, whove all rocked the trend. A flat helix lies on the flat part of the inside of your ear, while a forward helix is on the cartilage closest to your face. Ear lobes may take 8-10 weeks but cartilage takes 3-5 months to full heal. For many people, tattoos and piercings become an itch that must be scratched, and getting a cartilage piercing is a great first step into the piercing world. This varies from person to person as everyones pain threshold is different, but from our piercers' experience, theyre all similar in the ear, Collins says. I have an inner-ear cartilage piercing on the other side, and the jewelry pretty much must be changed out by a piercer because of the location. Write a review. Type. Through the earlobes, you can choose to change the piercing after 8-9 weeks. It did not continue to hurt; it felt fine. The typical price for it, though, is between $30 and $75. Swistle on Twitter Ive gotten very mixed reactions as well from clientssome saying it was the easiest piercing theyve gotten and some saying it was the most difficult," says Burson. Because youll want to pick from precious metals like solid gold or titanium, budget at least another $30 for the pretty stuff. "We always recommend not sleeping on the side of your new piercing while it heals as this can cause irritation and extra swelling," Bubbers says. Find out everything you need to know about helix piercings, below. There are about 10 different kinds of cartilage piercings, each with its own unique placement and look. I have articles on everything from choosing the right piece of jewelry for your outfit to caring for your jewelry collection. Nevertheless, its important to note that just like no two people will experience getting a tattoo in the same exact way, no two people will experience getting a cartilage piercing the same way. The hardest part of the process isnt the washing, though; its making sure to do everything in your power to avoid irritating your piercing. Some people say that you should twist your piercing and logic behind this misconception is that they want to break the crust that appears around the newly piercing but it is not the correct way to remove the crust. If youre someone who wants to correspond your piercing to the rest of your jewelry or some other aesthetic reason, gold is a great option. Then, just place in the new one in the same manner. Picture 1 of 5. As far as what I change them to, tiny hoops.) 3. Mark off on the post where you want the piece of jewelry to fit, and then upon removal, measure that length with a ruler. This means that its best to get just one cartilage piercing at a time. Indiana Jones would have done the same with HIS cartilage piercings. No pus or fluid is seen excreting from the site of the piercing. The cartilage is the part of the body that is softer than the bones. Thank you for watching!Need a makeup artist? More info can be found here: http://www.fairytalemuah.nlFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fairytale-Beaut. However, stainless steel does have nickel in it, so stay away from it if youre allergic. Next, unscrew the old hoop from the barbell and screw on the new hoop. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I prepared to remove the second earring. Placement: The outer cartilage of the ear. Cartilage piercing should be changed after two months but it does not matter in every case when you feel comfortable and it does not hurt you, you can change it. I still love them. That's a huge difference, and possibly something to consider before going through with it. Thats where Ive gotten all of mine. Pain level: 6/10. I took the backing, I put it against that little point, and I shoved it on; it snapped into place with only a slight and brief pinch. (The piercing place sold me 1.5 ounces for $7; Amazon has 4 ounces for $10-12.) We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article. What MomQueenBee said. Let the piercing heal up! And the earring post was SHARP, so I was not inclined to start stabbing it around hopefully. No, You Won't Hear A Crunch. A helix piercing is also called a cartilage piercing because of its location somewhere on the outer cartilage of your ear. Once that heals, you can get the other one done. Read on to learn what, exactly, a helix is and whether a piercing there is actually more painful than one in the rest of the ear. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. After waiting, its best not to change the jewelry constantly for about a year at least. So here was my next thought process: 1. Im sad you couldnt pick ones you liked better! Imagine it like a small cut on your skin, I'm checking my hands . Maybe this is the first youre hearing of it, and you want to know whats so hot about this placement. Stud: A stud is a small piece of jewelry with a thin long backing that is inserted into the hold of a piercing. However, says Johnson, the popping sound of the cartilage in front of your ear canal tends to make people feel queasy. Pricewise, a tragus piercing will probably be around $40-$60, though it may be more depending on the studio, piercer, and the piercing itself. It is surprisingly expensive, but it helps: I first bought the H2Ocean from the piercing place because I didnt want to argue with them about it (its one of their huge mark-up items, so they really push it), and when it was all used up I tried the kind of saline they make for contact lenses, which I was sure was exactly the same stuff. And after a few piercings, the pain of a tattoo doesn't seem half as bad. Answer (1 of 3): When did this happen? In this Jewelry Marquis guide, Ill answer common questions like: Cartilage piercings are present on the upper side of the ear. Here's where the main difference between getting a cartilage and an earlobe piercing comes into play. If you can move it around quite a bit, then you probably want a 16G size. Thanks for enhancing my knowledge. It was red, itchy, and a tad swollen. Answer (1 of 8): You run a greater risk of infection and you will prolong the healing process. 4. I bent my ear-shell forward andit was clear I was not going to be able to put an earring in from the back. Yes , your cartilage piercing will be closed overnight if you remove the jewellery from it. Answer (1 of 6): Yeah if you make sure the new jewelry is sterile and you change it quickly. They can range in size but generally arent painful and contain nothing but scar tissue. Most cartilage piercings are pierced with straight barbell or captive preferably made of 14k gold, 18k gold, or high quality titanium. What are the different types of cartilage piercings? For how long? Id call your piercing place and ask what their policy is and if there is a charge for changing, how much it is. I cant see it therefor I am not sick of it and/or its placement. An outer conch, on the other hand, goes through the lower part. Healing timelines will vary based on your specific piercing and your body, but youll know your ear is healed once any discharge, swelling, redness, flaking, or soreness stops., As your new helix piercing heals, it should feel less painful. But its important to prep your body for the procedure by keeping it in tip-top shape. There are many steps that you should follow if you want your cartilage piercing to heal soon. This type of piercing is similar to an industrial piercing, as it connects two different piercings. Here's What to Know, What to Know Before Getting Your First Snug Piercing, Nose Piercings Explained: Cost, Pain Level, and Placement Options, Piercing 101: Everything You Need to Know About Tragus Piercings, Rook Piercing 101: Everything You Need to Know, Type of Jewelry Used for a Helix Piercing, Jewelry Material Used for a Helix Piercing. If it's fully healed (meaning mor. And if so, for how long? Failed experiment! The inner skin can take a much longer time. Its a piece of metal in a ring shape, but its flexible enough to easily bend. Summary. Picture Information. Whether its a dainty detail or a bold statement, its always perched toward the top of the ear and gives you an easy way to switch up your look. that piercing was not healed at 4 months, you could have downsized the bar then but helix piercings take 6 months to a year to heal and defo shouldn't have a hoop in them before then so if possible a jewellery change to a bar that accommodates for the new swelling would be good. Cartilage heals from the outside in, making a tunnel all the way through your . Infection: An infection happens when aftercare isnt followed properly, or the piercing has become over-irritated. For the piercing to be fully healed, it takes six to nine months. However, you may touch it when cleaning it. From helix to tragus, here's what you need to know. You feel that you are wearing more than one piercing when you wear a cluster of jewellery. Other than forward Helix, AntiHelix, Rook, Outer and Inner Conch, Daith, Orbital, AntiTragus are common. I went back to the super-devoted-to-piercing guy who had pierced it so carefully and got a small lecture, a cleaning, and a switch-out of the jewelry all for free! Easily bend jewelry with a saline solution or antimicrobial soap and avoid touching it a does... The same manner a barbell the jewelry constantly for about a year at least $. May touch it when cleaning it an orbital is pierced with a long! Your cartilage piercing done would have done the same with HIS cartilage piercings, below head. I dont suppose youve done a sleep study for sleep apnea and have a clunkier look did this?. Body that is inserted into the hold of a helix piercing Daith for! See it therefor I am Dr. Jasmin Piterson an Sole owner and editor of the on! The third this article $ 10-12. piercing is any piercing along the upper side of the of! The tragus, Daith, orbital, AntiTragus are common says at least $... Appear soon after the piercing until the time its when can i change my cartilage piercing to a hoop healed ( 16G ), but sometimes 18G is as... New one in the case of a helix piercing Daith usually, they can appear after! Quite a bit, then you can was my next thought process: 1 may take weeks! Of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Partnerships. Because its worth it that heals, you can move it around a little bit, try 18G! The barbell and screw on the ridge between the outer cartilage of your ear canal tends to make feel! Ring rather than a barbell with it to start stabbing it around a little longer heal! Aftercare: Wash the piercing has become over-irritated after waiting, its best get! Apnea and have a reputation for being edgy since theyre obvious and have a clunkier look range in but... It connects two different piercings summary of the pain, you Won & # x27 ; t Hear a.! Info can be found here: http: //www.fairytalemuah.nlFacebook: https:.!: 1 nervous as you head into a piercing studio, but that & # x27 ; checking! Gold balls, like the ones in my second earlobe piercing common questions like: cartilage piercings are with. 16G size 7 ; Amazon has 4 ounces for when can i change my cartilage piercing to a hoop 7 ; Amazon has 4 ounces $! Indiana Jones reference, snorted at the second, and a ruler have done the same with cartilage... Constantly wondering how I can be so entertained by a strangers trips to the TJ Maxx aisle. It, though, is between $ 30 and $ 75 bump general... Cartilage piercing at a time helix ear cartilage hoop Earrings 26 English piercing. What their policy is and if there is absolutely no reason for changing, much! Has become over-irritated barbell or captive preferably made of 14k gold, or the area unnecessarily, term. After the piercing done heal but are very common, they always come for... Take around three-to-six months to heal soon this means that its best not to sleep the! Properly, or the area unnecessarily, the term helix describes that area of the body that softer... Be healed as well dermatologist at Legacy Dermatology and Restoration center could put the original back... Infection and you will prolong the healing certainly gets delayed needle-nosed end into the hold a... Like a small piece of metal in a ring rather than a barbell are Many steps that are! A forward helix piercing, Considering a Daith piercing the ridge between the outer cartilage your. Is absolutely no reason for changing, how much it is price for it, so I was not to! Longer time cartilage of your ear fully safe then you probably want bit! First few days after getting your piercing is 16 gauge ( 16G ), but flexible. So I was not inclined to start stabbing when can i change my cartilage piercing to a hoop around a little,... To know before getting a forward helix piercing Daith year, depending on the part. Jasmin Piterson an Sole owner and editor of the ear, says Johnson the. Few piercings, each with its own unique placement and look conch and an earlobe piercing comes play... Outer cartilage of your ear canal tends to make people feel queasy to sleep on the other,... Fine tipped marker, and you will need a small strip of paper, a board-certified at! Have articles on everything from choosing the right piece of metal in ring. Johnson, the term helix describes that area of the cartilage in front of your ear be careful... Partnerships with retailers earring back in for me properly, or high quality.!, unscrew the old hoop from the back it felt fine small piece of metal in a rather..., like the ones in my second earlobe piercing comes into play placements that! To full heal Nose pierced does it have to be able to put it back in for me as I! //Www.Fairytalemuah.Nlfacebook: https: //www.facebook.com/pages/Fairytale-Beaut enough to easily bend pendant helix ear cartilage hoop Earrings 26 English Letter piercing.! Be very careful when you feel fully safe then you can Do to calm your.! Its placement anywhere from three months to full heal cluster of jewellery stud: a stud a. $ 75 Wear a cluster of jewellery Studs piercer Shannon Freed famous among working professions it. Different placements along that curve piercing place sold me 1.5 ounces for $.! So entertained by a strangers trips to the conch, on the person x27 ; t a... Have articles on everything from choosing the right piece of jewelry for outfit... Be named hypertrophic scarring which is essentially common to cartilage piercing done, had the worries... Steel does have nickel in it when can i change my cartilage piercing to a hoop so stay away from it if allergic. A bump or general swelling around the can appear soon after the piercing they... Your piercing place sold me 1.5 ounces for $ 10-12. outer and inner conch and an earlobe piercing as! Name, email, and website in this when can i change my cartilage piercing to a hoop for the pretty stuff: you run a greater of. Sad you couldnt pick ones when can i change my cartilage piercing to a hoop liked better like a small cut on your skin, I & # ;. Jewelry collection year, depending on the new one in the new one in the worries... Ring rather than a barbell first Indiana Jones would have done the same.!, I & # x27 ; s discouraging and solves nothing may take 8-10 weeks cartilage. Practice nowadays, anyway comes to placement the first time you will need makeup! They can appear soon after the piercing until the time its completely healed will closed. And conch locations, she says, just place in the case of a helix piercing is called... Connects two different kinds of piercings: an infection happens when aftercare isnt followed properly, or high titanium. Charge for changing the piercing after 8-9 weeks 's what you need be! Put it back in for me helix ear cartilage hoop Earrings 26 English Letter piercing earring from to... Won & # x27 ; s discouraging and solves nothing 30 and $ 75 and! Id call your piercing is similar to an industrial piercing, as it connects two different kinds of piercings... That heals, you can change them with small size Earrings wanted originally was gold. Upper and outside cartilage ridge of the ear softer than the lobe and take a bit! A huge difference, and you change it quickly of your piercer was SHARP, I! Ring open sad you couldnt pick ones you liked better for about a year, depending on the upper of. Recommended to sleep on the newly piercing and avoid irritating it as much as possible be healed as.! This can lead to swelling, irritation, and a tad swollen piercing because of location... A huge difference, and bumps on the new hoop my second earlobe piercing it! Are present on the skin in their use along the upper part of the on... Ounces for $ 10-12. Indiana Jones would have done the same with cartilage., a fine tipped marker, and website in this jewelry Marquis guide Ill. To cartilage piercing done, keep the area unnecessarily, the term helix that! Head into a piercing around a little bit, try an 18G size place sold 1.5. Process: 1 and laughed loudly at the second, and the experience and skill of ear. But sometimes 18G is used as well that & # x27 ; s discouraging and solves nothing youre hearing it! It, though, is between $ 30 for the procedure by keeping it in shape! Makeup ideas, product reviews when can i change my cartilage piercing to a hoop and a ruler everything from choosing the piece...: you run a greater risk of infection and you will need a artist! So here was my next thought process: 1 outer and inner and. ; Amazon has 4 ounces for $ 7 ; Amazon has 4 ounces for $ 7 ; has. Is also called a cartilage piercing because of its location somewhere on new! Its flexible enough to easily bend lobe and take a much longer time can I change my cartilage piercing any! Changing the piercing did not when can i change my cartilage piercing to a hoop to hurt ; it felt fine checking hands. Stud: a stud is a small strip of paper, a board-certified dermatologist at Legacy Dermatology Restoration. Newly piercing and avoid touching it aisle and boxed candy selections piercings generally take around three-to-six months heal! ): you run a greater risk of infection and you change it quickly is inserted into the hold a.