What To Know Before You Get A Helix Piercing

Que our simple 'how-to' guide designed to empower you to make the most of your stack styling... And perhaps take the leap with an easy, ear-elevating piercing: The helix. But, before you take the plunge, get to know what a helix piercing actually is, what you can expect from the piercing process, and then get excited with some styling inspiration (AKA the fun part).Whatever the reason for our collective love affair with ear stacks, this is a trend that more and more of us are getting on board with. So, if you’re reading this, chances are you’re looking to adopt the trend for yourself.Maybe you’ve made the foray into ear stacks with second lobe piercings, and now you’re looking to level up. After all, it’s when your piercings hit your helix zone that it really becomes an ear party.Before you take the plunge, get to know what a helix piercing actually is, what you can expect from the piercing process, and then get excited with some styling inspiration (AKA the fun part).

A helix piercing is made to accommodate an earring in the helix part of your ear.Your outer ear anatomy is largely made up of two zones – lobes and cartilage. However in the world of piercing, this cartilage is further divided up into zones including the conch, helix, rook, daith, and tragus. If those names mean nothing to you, you aren’t alone – you can get a run-down on the variousear piercing types here.

Let’s focus on the helix for now, though. Your helix is the cartilage that runs along the outer edge and top of your ears, finishing where it curves in to meet the side of your face.

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There are a variety of different helix piercing styles that have become increasingly popular due to their aesthetic appeal and endless styling possibilities! Wondering if the helix could be your next piercing? We break down the most common helix types below:

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Want a helix piercing that makes a visual impact? A double helix piercing is typically two helix piercings stacked vertically with one piercing above the other. This sits on the outer edge of the ear below the natural curve of the top of your earlobe. A common styling technique is to include two small diamond studs next to each other for a simple and minimalist jewellery approach. 

Ear And Cartilage Piercing 101

If you’re looking for the ultimate curated ear look, a triple helix piercing is a simple way to elevate your ear styling. This group of piercings line the outside of the ear following the natural curve at the top of your earlobe. It creates a beautiful shape to the ear and with small studs can provide the simplitstic and refined fine jewellery style everyone is after. 

Directly across from a regular helix piercing, the forward helix piercing is similar to a daith piercing and sits in the inner cartilage of the ear. It sits slightly higher than the daith piercing where the cartilage is a bit thinner. This is a stunning piercing style and is often styled with a small hoop or stud. 

First things first: how are helix piercings performed? Cartilage piercings should always be done using a needle, as this is a sensitive area. It’s pretty rare to have any ear piercing done with a gun these days, but there certainly shouldn’t be a piercing gun anywhere near your cartilage!

Piercings: Everything You Need To Know

A common question with any piercing is – how much will it hurt? Cartilage piercings are commonly more painful than earlobe piercings, but the good news is that the helix is said to be the least painful cartilage spot to get pierced. So, expect a bit of a pinch or sting at the piercing site.

Cartilage piercings also take a bit longer to heal than lobes; expect it to take six to nine months, or possibly longer – everyone is different! Help the healing process by keeping your piercing clean, and by avoiding sleeping on it or moving your piercing jewellery around too much. Your piercer should be able to provide all the info you need to ensure proper healing.

But you don’t just want to take our word for it, right? Our eCommerce Coordinator, Jacqui, rocks a helix piercing so we asked her for the low-down.

The Ultimate Guide To Ear Cartilage Piercings

“I made sure I went to a professional piercing store, as I wanted someone who knew exactly what they were doing (experience and hygiene are crucial when piercing!).

My number one tip is to request having the piercing position marked on the ear with a pen first. Unfortunately, they can’t try again after they pierce... and you don’t want a lopsided piercing!

It may seem a little daunting to get a piercing through cartilage vs lobe, but to be honest, the experience is over before you know it (and totally worth it!).

An Introduction To: Cartilage Piercings

It took about nine months for my helix piercing to heal, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat! It was a little tender for a while, so I found myself sleeping on the opposite side or on my back. I also made sure to be a little more careful when brushing my hair, I didn’t want to get my hair caught up in my piercing (which happened a lot at first).”

So you’ve finally got a helix piercing but are trying to figure out the day you can finally update that standard piercing store stud into a beautiful hoop or single stud? As helix piercings often take the longest to heal, they also require the most amount of time before switching out the jewellery. But trust us - it’s well worth the wait!

While we recomend taking the advice of your professional piercer, typically it takes between three to six months for the piercing to heal before changing it out. Our top tip is to visit your piercer for the first time you change your helix piercing. This will ensure it’s healed up correctly and help to avoid infection in the long run. On top of that, you can also learn how to change out the earring like a pro right from the first switch-out.

Daith Piercing: A Miracle Piercing?

Whether you’re an earring expert or this is your very first piercing, changing your helix piercing is a simple process. Plus, once you’ve got it down it can be a really quick thing to switch out on the go!

Before touching your ear, it is important to sterilise your new helix piercing by wiping it down and spaying it with an earring disinfectant. Place on a paper towel on a flat surface in preparation to change it out.

Next, wash or sanitise your hands and take our your existing helix piercing. Once your helix piercing is exposed, wipe it down with a clean towel and water and clean the old earring. You can also use a fragrance-free soap or saline solution to clean the surface of your ear. Then add in your newly sterilised helix earring and you’re ready to go!

Forward Helix Piercing Facts: Pain Level, Healing Time

To clean a helix piercing follow a similar process to the steps outlined above in our ‘how to change a helix piercing’ section. Simply start by washing your hands and cleaning the surface with an earring cleaning spray. Next, pat the area dry gently using a paper towel or tissue and repeat the process as necessary.

Regularly cleaning your helix piercing is a great hygiene practice to get into, but it also stops the ear from getting infected - a double win!

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and treat yourself a beautiful helix piercing? The cost of a helix piercing can differ greatly depending on the type of piercing parlour you visit and the helix piercing placement. This will change between ear piercing chains, chemists, boutique piercing salons, ear curation stylists and more. 

Taking Out A Hoop Earring From Cartilage

Often pricing starts at around $40 if you’re looking to get an estimate, but we do recommend consulting with your chosen piercing expert to get an accurate quote. 

While stud earrings generally have a butterfly backing that you slide onto the earring post to secure them, helix studs are designed with a threaded screw backing, finished with a flat end.

Basically, the front section of your helix stud earring is inserted into a tube-like backing which is screwed on to ensure a secure fit. The backing has a flat section at the end to ensure comfortable wear, and prevent the earring post from poking you. This is important for cartilage piercings, because this part of your ear sits close to your head.

Cartilage Ear Piercings: All The Best Piercings To Get

You might of noticed we now offer (most) of our helix flatback studs in two sizes, a 6.5mm and a 8mm post length. You may be asking, what helix post length is best for me? Ultimately, deciding between post lengths depends on the maturity of your ear piercing and the position of that piercing on your ear. 

 We find our 8mm post length a great intro length to helix jewellery. This is perfect for when your piercing is still healing within the first 6-9 months.