Everything you need to know about helix piercings

A standard helix piercing is the second most popular ear piercing after standard lobe piercings.

This guide contains information about helix piercings including the jewellery you can wear and pain levels as well as aftercare tips and healing times.

What is a helix piercing?

A helix piercing is the name for any piercing located along the upper cartilage of the ear. You can opt for a lower or upper helix piercing depending on your desired look.

Helix piercings can be pierced once or multiple times in a single placement.

How painful is a helix piercing?

On the pain scale, the helix ranks at about a 5 out of 10 varying from person to person.

What jewellery can you wear in a helix piercing?

Helix piercings are so versatile with the jewellery you can wear and are the perfect placements to wear clicker hoop earrings or labret studs.

You will usually be initially pierced with a stud that has a longer post length or clicker hoop with a larger inner diameter before sizing down to something smaller once the swelling has subsided.

Jewellery for healed helix piercings

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What is the aftercare for a helix piercing?

To ensure your helix piercing heals well, we would recommend the following tips:

  • Gently clean your new piercing twice daily with a sterile saline solution - we love Neilmed piercing mist. Moisture can lead to bacteria so make sure you dry the area afterwards - the cool setting on a hairdryer works well.
  • Take extra care when removing clothes and styling hair to avoid snagging the jewellery.
  • Sleep on the opposite side of your piercing or use a donut travel pillow.
  • Avoid swimming in lakes, pools or hot tubs for 2-3 weeks while the piercing is still fresh.
  • Visit your piercer for a routine check up consultation around 6 weeks after. They'll check if you need to downsize the post of your stud - downsizing can help the healing process once the initial swelling has subsided.
  • And lastly, leave it alone as much as possible and let the natural healing process occur.

How long does a helix piercing take to heal?

A helix piercing can take anywhere between 6-12 months to fully heal but this varies from person to person.

Laura says:

"Helix piercings have a special place in my heart - it was the first cartilage piercing I got when I was 14. 

It’s a versatile placement, I love wearing our seamless clicker hoops in my helix or one of our statement studs."

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