If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your reflection, pondering whether your earlobes are a little too… well, boring, then an auricle piercing might just be your ticket to fabulousness, especially when paired with a forward helix piercing. This cheeky little trend takes your lobes from drab to fab, adding a sprinkle of personality to your everyday look. Whether you’re channeling your inner rock star or simply want to spice things up, an auricle piercing offers a rebellious twist that’s hard to resist. So, grab your favorite pair of earrings (the more outrageous, the better) and let’s dive into the delightful world of auricle piercings—where every poke tells a story!
What is an Auricle Piercing and Where is it Placed on the Rim of the Ear?
Auricle piercing has been trending for quite some time. It is especially popular among individuals who enjoy getting their ears pierced. You will be able to get your auricle pierced with little to no pain and ensure that your cartilage collection looks adorable together, especially if you follow everything you need to know. For those who are unaware, the auricle piercing can be found located between the helix and the lobe piercing area on the outer ear, similar to an orbital piercing, which is why the whole cartilage—when put together—looks fantastic.
Auricle piercing, as the name itself suggests, is on the auricle part of the ear, which is usually the outer region or rim of the ear. The auricle region is the perfect location as it allows enough space to experiment when it comes to fancy piercing jewelry. One of the main reasons why the auricle region is considered to be among the best places for a piercing is because of the wide space available. This piercing can be a standalone statement or part of elaborate cartilage clusters with other popular cartilage piercings like the conch or upper helix. Before you go right ahead and get your auricle piercing in place, keep one thing in mind: the exact region in which you’d like to get your piercing. Once you undergo this beautiful procedure, you will come out feeling like a much more confident and cooler-looking person.
The Auricle Piercing Procedure: What to Expect at the Piercing Studio
Have you made up your mind about getting an auricle piercing already? If the answer to this question is yes, then you might as well become aware of the procedure involved. Before anything else, be sure of choosing a reputable piercing studio that has a good reputation for satisfied customers in the body piercing community. Since the piercing is taking place in a relatively sensitive region of your body, you must allow a reliable professional to take over with the procedure, and by reliable, we mean someone who is one of the professional piercers qualified in this field.
There are two major steps involved when it comes to the piercing process for an auricle piercing. They are as follows:
Step 1- The professional will thoroughly clean the area where the auricle piercing will be placed. Once the area is cleaned using an anti-bacterial cleaner and a clean piece of cotton, the professional will then gently mark up the area wherein the piercing will take place. The mark is kept in place to ensure that a professional piercing artist has a reliable reference to where the piercing will be placed.
Step 2- Once the marking is in place, the professional body piercing artist will then make use of a sterilized gauze needle to carefully create a hole for your new piercing. A piercer will probably use this sharp needle because it easily pierces right through the auricle region without causing a lot of pain and is much safer than a piercing gun. The gauze needle is usually carrying a small piece of jewelry that can be kept in place temporarily until the time you wish to change it.
The ideal size of the auricle piercing is generally either 14G or 16G. However, ultimately, the size choice of your stud or hoop is dependent entirely on you. We would advise you to settle for a smaller size when it comes to piercing because it is much easier for one to stretch the piercing later, in comparison to wanting to make it smaller when you feel disappointed with its size. This technique is also common for a snug piercing.
How Much Do Auricle Piercings Cost Including the Jewelry?
An auricle piercing is not an expensive affair. It is quite affordable compared to other popular piercing trends. It only costs between $30 to $50 for one session, which is everything you need to know about affordable piercings. The total of what piercings cost can also depend on the studio’s location and the price of the jewelry you select. Most people are often mistaken because they often judge the quality of a piercing artist’s work based on the price that they charge, but the best type of piercing is not always the most expensive. While it is important to ensure that you are investing with the right artist by starting on the right foot, however, those who charge less or more, do not have anything to do with the quality of their work. Keep in mind that a more experienced piercer will be able to curb the pain that you feel during the piercing process. In addition to this, it is also important that you ensure that the piercing artist is making use of a sterile piercing needle, instead of a piercing gun, because it significantly reduces your chances of facing any amount of side-effects, post your piercing session.
Understanding the Auricle Piercing Pain Scale and Your Pain Tolerance
We can most definitely inform you that the pain for auricle piercing will be significantly more in comparison to a lobe piercing. However, that doesn’t mean that it is entirely unbearable, and your personal pain tolerance is a major factor. The good part about the auricle region is that it is done in the cartilage region, which is usually much thinner. Therefore, even if you feel any amount of pain, it will not last for too long, especially with a stud or hoop. According to numerous internet sources, the pain level for the auricle region falls lower on the pain scale compared to other popular cartilage piercings.
Another factor that constitutes the amount of pain involved in auricle piercing is completely owing to the level of expertise that your piercing artist has. Artists who are highly experienced in this field are usually aware of the different techniques that can be used to reduce the pain. This, in turn, limits the time involved in using the needle and makes for a more comfortable experience when you pierce the cartilage.
The Healing Time: Tips for a Healthy Healing Piercing
If you want to be able to enjoy getting your auricle piercing done, you must invest the right amount of time into ensuring that you are taking care of it during the healing time period. The healing time is the period after the auricle piercing is done. Extended healing times (like those for a septril piercing) require extra diligence and consistent aftercare practices.
The following given are a few tips to keep in mind during the auricle piercing healing period:
- The duration of the healing process varies from person to person. Some individuals have taken over 9 months to heal completely from the auricle piercing procedure, as it can take anywhere between 3 to 9 months to fully heal. However, by taking good care of your auricle piercing, you might not face the same.
- Make sure that you’re not touching the jewelry too much, as it can prevent your piercing site from healing within the right time. Touching the jewelry will irritate the skin and may cause some amount of bumps on the healing piercing.
- Don’t put too much pressure around your auricle region, once the piercing takes place as you want to be able to avoid irritating your skin too much.
Proper Aftercare for Your New Piercing
Auricle piercing aftercare can be quite tricky as the piercing is placed on the region that sticks out the most, particularly when considering the cartilage of the ear. In other words, this also happens to be the one region that is most exposed. Therefore, it is highly likely for it to come into friction with something during the healing time of your new piercing. This would ultimately lead to infection if you don’t know about proper aftercare for auricle piercings. However, you can avoid this by following some simple precautions related to body piercing, similar to those for an Ashley piercing:
- Make sure that you are cleaning your auricle piercing using a sterilized swab of cotton and saline solution, now and then so that any chances of infection are minimized.
- You can make use of sea salts as it reduces the chances of an infection during the healing time.
- Avoid applying too much pressure around the region where your auricle piercing has been placed, which means you will have to sleep on the other side.
- Avoid spraying perfumes or hairsprays around this region, as even this will lead to a rise in infection, which is everything you need to know about aftercare.
- Avoid using soap around the auricle piercing region to prevent irritation to your new piercing.
Auricle Piercing Risks and How Your Ear Shape Can Affect Them
There are a few risks involved when it comes to auricle piercing, similar to precautions for a philtrum piercing. Your individual ear shape can influence placement and healing, so a professional piercing is essential. The following given are some of the risks that you might potentially face:
- When it comes to auricle piercing, hypertrophic scars always remain a risk. This becomes even more plausible if the piercing artist makes use of improper cartilage piercings jewelry; the difference is that it’s specifically designed for that area and material matters.
- As a result of the piercing, there are chances that you might face bumps around the cartilage region. Therefore, you must be diligent in taking care of your auricle piercing.
- It is not necessary that the auricle piercing may suit you one hundred percent. You may want to consider the shape of your ear and get an auricle piercing accordingly.
Auricle Piercing Inspiration Gallery
Conclusion
If you’ve finally decided to get an auricle piercing, just keep in mind that a good-quality saline solution will be your best friend during this period. Make sure that you are constantly making use of a cotton ball to keep the area dry and clean at all times. Not only will this ensure that the pierced area remains clean but it will also further prevent any further infection from taking place. If you enjoy unique piercings, explore options like a frenulum piercing for more personalized style.
While it is important for you to take care of your auricle piercing in a timely manner to avoid any growing infection, if an infection does tend to erupt and is not disappearing for a few days, ensure that you are seeking professional help. There are some skin types which are just not suitable for this kind of piercing and that’s completely normal. If things do get out of hand, it is also important—at the same time—to see a doctor right away.
There are a lot of different auricle piercing jewelry styles that you can take a look at when it comes to your ear lobes. The internet is filled with different options that can suit your interests and exemplify the look of your ears. Pick and choose from a different range of jewelry types today and embrace your new look!
FAQs
Q: Is there another name for a helix piercing?
A: While a helix piercing refers to any piercing on the upper cartilage rim, people sometimes use “cartilage piercing” as a general term. However, an auricle piercing is distinct, as it is specifically placed midway along the outmost edge of the ear, lower than a typical helix.
Q: What is the exact location of an auricle piercing?
A: The auricle is placed midway along the outmost edge of the ear’s cartilage. If you look at an ear chart, it’s typically located on the outer rim, roughly across from the tragus but above the earlobe.
Q: What are the best jewelry types for a new auricle piercing?
A: For a fresh piercing, professional piercers usually recommend a simple stud made of implant-grade titanium or gold. Once it has fully healed, you can explore different types of jewelry like cartilage hoops or more decorative studs.
Q: Can I get multiple piercings at the same time as my auricle?
A: While you can get multiple piercings, it’s often advised to get only one or two on the same ear at a time to make the healing process more manageable. Combining an auricle with a lobe or upper helix can create a look of multiple earrings climbing the ear, but be prepared for diligent aftercare.
Q: How is an auricle piercing different from a conch or forward helix?
A: The difference is all in the placement. A conch piercing is in the inner cup part of the ear, a forward helix is on the forward-facing rim above the tragus, and the auricle is on the main outer rim. Since the auricle is in a prominent spot, it’s a great choice for showing off your earring.
