15 Types Of Ear Piercings - Your Ultimate Guide for 2023
Shalu Bhati
Updated At 08 Jul 23
Want to know about the various types of ear piercings? You have come to the right place.
The trend of ear piercings is something that has refused to go out of style. It has only developed into being more creative and fun. Everyone from your favorite celebrities to fashion bloggers and editors is going gaga over the ear-piercing trend. And we get why. Ear piercings are extremely fashionable and take your whole look to an entirely new level.
Instagram and Pinterest are filled with different types of ear piercings and it can make choosing one style full of confusion. But don’t you worry. We have done the homework for you. Whether you are an ear-piercing newbie or on your tenth piercing of the year, it is important to know exactly what style you want, how much it would cost, where to get it, and most importantly, will it be painful among other things.
So, to make sure that you make an informed decision, we have come with this complete guide on ear piercings. Read on to find everything related to ear piercings all in one place starting from the top 15 types of ear piercings to ear piercing ideas.
We have specifically covered:
- Types Of Ear Piercings And How To Style Them
- Pain Factor
- Process Of Ear Piercing
- Cost of Ear Piercing
- Things To Keep In Mind
- Ear Piercings Aftercare
- Frequently Asked Questions About Types Of Ear Piercings
15 Types Of Ear Piercings
Ear piercings are not a new kid on the block. They have been popular for many years. They are also an important aspect of multiple cultures across the world. With time, the level of creativity and imagination involved with ear piercings has evolved to a greater extent. Do you know that you can get more than 20 different types of ear piercings now?
We have brought for you the top 15 types of ear piercings which are popular and in trend in the year 2023.
Let’s begin!
1. Lobe Piercings
What: The lobe piercing is a traditional piercing done on the earlobes. Your earlobes are the fleshy part of your at the bottom—the one that we held when we said sorry as a kid. This is a classic style that also happens to be extremely versatile. If you are new to this whole ear piercing shebang then this can be a good place to start. You can also go for a double or a triple piercing on the lobes to give it a more edgy and stylish look.
Pain factor: Since lobes are fleshy, this is a spot where piercing would be the least painful
Healing time: Up to six weeks
How to style: From studs to hoops to chunky dangling earrings, you can experiment a lot with this piercing
2. Transverse Lobe Piercings
What: The transverse lobe piercing is a unique and modern take on the classic style. It does not go from front to back like the traditional lobe piercing. Instead, it goes horizontally through the lobe. Get this piercing if you want to make a statement. But remember, that this is a tricky one and depends entirely on the shape and structure of your lobe.
Pain factor: Again, since lobes are the fleshy part of the ear, the pain would be relatively lower
Healing time: This piercing comes with a longer healing period and also an increased risk of infections. It takes two to ten months to heal.
How to style: The most suited option with this piercing is the barbell
3. Conch Piercings
What: This piercing is one of the most popular types of ear piercings. It gets its name from the conch seashells. The thick piece of cartilage that forms the inner dip of the ear (below the antihelix and before the ear canal) is where the conch piercing goes. This part of the ear resembles a conch shell. Hence, the name. There is an inner conch piercing and an outer conch piercing too.
Pain factor: The pain is greater as the piercing is made through a piece of cartilage.
Healing time: Three to nine months and in some cases, a whole year
How to style: Bead rings look good with this piercing. But, cuffs and hoops look even more amazing.
4. Orbital Ear Piercing
What: When any two piercings are done on the same part of the ear and have a single piece of jewelry that passes through both, this is what is termed as the Orbital ear piercing. It can be made on quite a few parts of the ear. The most famous are the orbital lobe, orbital helix, and orbital conch piercings.
Pain factor: The amount of pain that would be experienced is slightly more in with this one depending on the location of the piercing
Healing time: Three to four months
How to style: Hoops are most suitable. There are more unique jewelry designs available in the market these days which let you experiment to the fullest.
5. Tragus Ear Piercings
What: Tragus ear piercings go on that tiny little piece of cartilage that is located just outside the ear canal. It is one of the most unique and unconventional types of ear piercings. These piercings allow you to experiment with several styles and look cute. If you are feeling extra experimental and courageous, you can also go for the double tragus piercing.
Pain factor: This piercing goes through a piece of cartilage that has a small area. The process of getting this piercing can get a bit uncomfortable. The amount of pain would depend on the size of the tragus. But one thing is sure—it will hurt.
Healing time: Up to eight months
How to style: Studs are the best tragus earrings but you can also go with hoops to create an edge
6. Anti Tragus Piercings
What: Anti tragus piercing is not much different from the tragus ear piercings. The difference is only in their location. Anti tragus piercing goes on the tiny piece of cartilage above the lobe in the opposite direction of the tragus.
Pain factor: It goes on a very tiny and thick piece of cartilage which makes this piercing quite a lot painful. It is going to hurt during as well as after the process.
Healing time: Around 6 to 8 months
How to style: Studs and hoops
7. Helix Ear Piercings
What: Helix ear piercings are made through the rim of the ear to the upper side. Any piercings made in the outer cartilage portion are known as helix piercings. They are differentiated further as low helix piercing and mid helix piercing. When two such piercings are placed one below the other, it is termed as a double helix piercing.
Pain Factor: This piercing goes through cartilage and thus, is painful. It is, however, is the least painful amongst other cartilage piercings.
Healing Time: Up to three months
How to style: You can play around with a variety of earrings including studs, bead rings, barbells as well as hoops and cuffs. Helix hoop earrings of various sizes are extremely popular.
8. Forward Helix Piercing
What: This is a type of helix piercing. It is placed at the portion of the helix above the tragus. Two piercings placed over one other are called a double forward helix and three are known as a triple forward helix. This is also a popular piercing option for 2023.
Pain factor: Since it happens to be a cartilage piercing, it will be painful.
Healing time: Up to three months
How to style: Studs are very popular for this type of ear piercing
9. Snug Ear Piercing
What: This ear piercing is placed at the inner cartilage of the ear and passes through both inner and outer rim. It is quite distinctive and one of the most noticeable amongst the various types of ear piercings. This piercing type is also known as the antihelix piercing.
Pain factor: Due to its location, it will hurt a lot
Healing time: Up to six months
How to style: Micro jewelry works best for this piercing be it studs or hoops
10. Auricle Ear Piercing
What: This is similar to the snug piercing. The difference is that this piercing is on the outwards. It is placed in between the helix and the lobe. This is a versatile piercing that suits almost everyone.
Pain factor: It will be a little more painful than the lobe piercing
Healing time: Three to four months
How to style: One word. Hoops. Small and delicate or thick and bold, hoops are best suited for this ear piercing.
11. Daith Ear Piercings
What: This piercing is placed at the innermost piece of cartilage that is right above the tragus. This is a tricky and challenging piercing thanks to its location. Its outcome depends upon the size, structure, and shape of the ear. But overall, it can suit most of the people and is considered a versatile option.
Pain factor: This is one of the most painful of the various types of ear piercings
Healing time: Three to six months
How to style: A hoop or a statement stud. But, always start with a hoop and then experiment with studs once healed
12. Rook Ear Piercings
What: Rook ear piercing is placed on the cartilage fold on the upper inside of the ear. This piercing is not just distinct but also rather impressive and goes on to show the creativity that has developed over time concerning ear piercings.
Pain factor: Rook ear piercings can get pretty painful because it is a cartilage piercing and has a tricky location.
Healing time: Up to ten months
How to style: Hoop and barbell
13. Flat Ear Piercing
What: This piercing sits perfectly flat on the cartilage inside of the ear just below the upper rim. It is a unique piercing that looks amazing on its own as well as with other piercings of the cartilage. You can go for one or three piercings as per your desire
Pain factor: Thin cartilage means this piercing is going to be very painful
Healing time: Three to six months
How to style: This is a stud cartilage piercing type. Studs with little dangles will also look good with this piercing.
14. Industrial Piercing
What: This is one of the most stylish types of ear piercings to date and is not for the faint-hearted. It includes two distant piercings on the upper ear cartilage which are connected with a barbell. It is also known as scaffold, bar or construction piercing. It is a unique and eye-catchy piercing that is gaining popularity with each day.
Pain factor: it looks the prettiest and it also happens to be the most painful.
Healing time: Up to nine months
How to style: Barbell jewelry in unique shapes such as the arrow, snake and dragon. The market is full of options for you to experiment with.
15. Snakebites
What: This is another one of the different types of ear piercings that are going high on the popularity charts this year. It includes two piercings placed very close to one another.
Pain Factor: Due to the close position of two piercings, this one would be painful not just during but also after the process is done. It also comes with an increased risk of swelling and infection.
Healing Time: Six to eight months
How to style: Dainty hoops and studs for a minimalist approach
The Ear Piercing Process: How Is It Done?
The ear-piercing process takes place in the following steps:
- The piercer will first discuss with you the various options that are available to you as per the size, shape, structure, and anatomy of your ear. He/she will walk you through the whole process.
- Once the talks and discussions are over, the area of the ear you want to be pierced will be marked and sterilized. Here, you will be asked for final confirmation because after this there will be no going back.
- The final step would be to pierce the ear where intended. It will not take more than a few seconds.
Cost of Ear Piercings
The cost of ear piercings depends on a variety of factors including healing time and difficulty level involved among other things.
On average, it would cost you anywhere between $15 and $100 and would include the cost of piercing as well as the jewelry. This cost can, however, go up depending upon the jewelry you choose.
Precautions: Things To Keep In Mind
- Do your research. Piercings are permanent and come with health risks so it is better that you do your homework before getting a piercing
- Always opt for a reputable place. If you cannot afford it at the moment, then wait until you can
- Ensure the instruments used are sterile. Needles are single-use so make sure that they are not being used again. If you see a piercing gun, that salon is not good for you
- Find out the exact type of piercing you would like, how much it would cost, what sort of aftercare would be required and so on
- Talk to your friends, family members or colleagues who have had ear piercings done. Take them with you for your piercing appointment
- Listen to the professional as he/she would be the only one who can tell you if the type of piercing you want would suit your ear structure or not
- Look at the jewelry options available to you. Ensure you don’t have allergies to the metals commonly used in making jewelry
- Take a look at Instagram and interest to get more ear-piercing ideas
- Avoid any strenuous activity for the day of your piercing appointment and after getting the piercing
- Do not take painkillers
- Eat at least two to three hours before
Ear Piercing After Care
Following are some of the most important aftercare tips:
- Don’t ever ignore the instructions of the piercer
- Do not touch your wound
- Clean it with saline to speed the healing process
- Don’t sleep on the piercing
- Use clean sheets, pillow covers, and towels
- Keep your ears clean
- Avoid public swimming pools
- Increase the intake of potassium and vitamins C, E, and K to speed up healing and reduce the risk of infection
- After the wound has healed, moisturize it regularly
- Do not overburden your piercing with heavy jewelry. Wait it out before shifting to different styles than what you started with
- Always do a metal test to check for allergies
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are tragus ear piercings?
A tragus ear piercing is the piercing of tragus which is located right in front of the ear canal.
Q. What is anti tragus ear piercing?
Anti tragus ear piercing is the one that is done on the tiny piece of cartilage that is present opposite to the tragus and above the lobe.
Q. What is the Kylie Jenner ear piercing type?
Kylie has multiple ear piercings which include lobe, daith, industrial, and helix piercings. Her cartilage is lined up with piercings from the lobe to the uppermost rim of her ear. Her daith piercings are often confused for the Kylie Jenner tragus piercing.
Q. Which is the most popular ear piercing type?
Different forms of helix piercings are the most popular types of ear piercings.
Q. How to style tragus ear piercings?
You can either go for a tragus hoop earring or a stud that is not too heavy.
Q. What is orbital ear piercing?
An orbital piercing is the one where two piercings are connected with one jewelry piece. It is usually done on the helix, lobes and the conch.
Q. What are the risks involved in ear piercings?
Ear piercings come with a risk of bacterial infections, redness, swelling, abscess, and metal allergies. If a contaminated needle is being used, in the worst-case scenario, there is also a risk of contracting AIDS which is why always ensure that a new needle is being used to give you a piercing.
Q. Is a piercing needle better than a piercing gun?
Piercing gun is merely a blunt object with a high impact. It would leave you feeling sorer and comes with a relatively greater risk of infection. Piercing needles, on the other hand, must be preferred as they are single-use, sterile and won’t hurt much.
Q. How much do ear piercings hurt?
Pain is a subjective concept. It depends on person to person and a lot of other factors including the quality of needles and the skill of piercer.
Q. Which types of ear piercings hurt the least and which the most?
The traditional ear piercings such as the lobe piercing will hurt less whereas cartilage piercings such as daith and tragus piercing will hurt the most.
Q. What can be done to make piercings less painful?
Do not get a piercing appointment if you are on your periods. Periods increase the pain sensitivity and getting ear piercings then would hurt more than ever. It might sound like a good idea but do not take painkillers before appointment as most of these are blood thinning. Have a good meal two to three hours before the appointment. During the piercing process, you can try some breathing techniques to calm down.
Q. What to do when ear piercing gets infected?
It is important to identify an infection in your ear piercing. If your piercing feels extra itchy and swelled up, go to your piercer or your doctor. Do not try to take out the piercing on your own. Do not touch it. You can clean it with saline solution.
