Helix Piercing 101
Helix piercings are growing in popularity all over the world. Here are some basic facts about Helix piercings. Helix piercings are a type of cartilage piercing that is placed along the upper inner or outer cartilage of your ear. There are many variations of this piercing. First, we will go over the different variations.
Classic Helix Piercings are a single puncture in the outer cartilage of your ear. There are many jewelry options for a classic helix piercing. You can choose from a ring, clicker, flat back labret stud, or barbell.
Double & Triple Helix Piercings are just as they sound. Instead of a single puncture like the classic helix, there are two punctures for a double and three punctures for a triple. Jewelry for these styles are usually studs and rings. Industrial piercings are also part of the helix family. Industrial piercings are when you have two punctures that are connected by a long barbell.
Forward Helix piercings are when you are pierced in the upper front cartilage of your ear above the tragus area. What’s cool about forward helix piercings is the fact you can also double and triple pierce the area like the classic helix. Some people say a forward Helix piercing in the right spot can actually be a form of acupressure. If you are pierced in the acupressure area, it will help with blood circulation and relieving muscle tension.
Now that we have gone over the variations of Helix piercings, we can talk about the procedure. Always seek a reputable piercer to preform any piercing. The piercing is typically preformed using a 16GA piercing needle. Keep in mind, depending on your anatomy, the piercer may opt for a 14GA piercing needle. As far as pain goes, you can expect it to hurt more than a standard lobe, but still be tolerable for most people. You will feel a pinch and pressure followed by a pop.
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Healing for a helix piercing can take anywhere from 3-6 months. You will want to have a saline solution spray to sterilize the area, like our NeilMed Spray. While you are healing, it’s recommended to keep your hair away from your piercing. It’s also recommended to dry your ear with the lowest setting on a hair dryer after showering until your piercing is completely healed. Do not twist or fidget with your piercing until completely healed. Any movement can cause prolonged healing, scarring, and infection. Itching swelling bleeding and discharge is normal. Never clean with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or ointments as this will dry out your piercing and may extend the healing process.
Now that you are all healed, here comes the best part, the shopping! When you are ready to switch out your jewelry, keep in mind that if you are having any difficulty or are confused, you can always go to your local piercer, and they will help you switch out your jewelry as well as show you tips and tricks to switch it out yourself in the future. When choosing new jewelry for your helix piercing, you will want to stick with Stainless Steel, 14Karat or higher gold, & Titanium. You can curate the perfect ear using many combinations of jewelry. For helix piercings, it’s recommended to choose a stud or hoop style. Here are some of the helix piercing styles we carry at BM25 😊