Whether you're just starting your piercing journey or you've already got a stack full, here's the Laura Bond guide to ear piercings.

Planning piercings

It can be tricky to remember the names of ear piercings and where they are on the ear, especially if you're new to the "curated ear" trend.

Use our interactive diagram to learn your conch from your daith, or your tragus from your helix. To learn more about each particular placement, simply click on the dots.

Any jewellery suggestions are for fully healed piercings and are a style guide so please check your size with a piercer before purchasing as everyone's ear anatomy is unique.

To help plan your next piercing and create your dream ear party, head over to our handy guide "Where to start your ear stack".

Wherever you are in your journey, it's worth bearing in mind that cartilage piercings are a commitment and most will take at least 6 months to heal.

It can be tricky to remember the names of ear piercings and where they are on the ear, especially if you're new to the "curated ear" trend.

Use our interactive diagram to learn your conch from your daith, or your tragus from your helix. To learn more about each particular placement, simply click on the dots.

Any jewellery suggestions are for fully healed piercings and are a style guide so please check your size with a piercer before purchasing as everyone's ear anatomy is unique.

To help plan your next piercing and create your dream ear party, head over to our handy guide "Where to start your ear stack".

Wherever you are in your journey, it's worth bearing in mind that cartilage piercings are a commitment and most will take at least 6 months to heal.

Gauge and sizing

What do we mean by jewellery gauge?

A gauge size indicates how big your piercing must be to accommodate the jewellery. Interestingly the gauge system is based on the wire gauge system used by electrical workers.

Gauge sizes work in reverse, meaning that the higher the number, the thinner the width of the stud or hoop. So higher numbers (like 20 gauge) are thinner than smaller numbers (like a 16 gauge).

For piercings in general, 18g through 16g are the most common sizes that people are pierced with. We offer a variety of gauges – from 20g to 16g.

Why is it important?

Knowing the gauge you need for you piercing is like knowing what dress or shoe size you need.
If you wear jewellery with a gauge that is thinner that the one you were pierced with then your piercing may shrink. And if you choose a larger gauge then it may be difficult and painful to change your jewellery up a size by yourself.

The good news is that a piercer will always be able to fit your jewellery safely for you – even if your piercing has shrunk a bit and you want to size up.

How do I know what size hoop or stud I need?

Everyone’s ears are unique. This means the size of jewellery you need for your piercing will vary to other peoples.

The best way to know your jewellery or post (labret/backing) size is to go and visit a reputable piercer. They’ll be able to measure your piercing and let you know what will fit and they can also check your piercing to make sure it’s healed and ready for a jewellery upgrade.

If you can’t get to a piercer then we recommend measuring the stud length or hoop inner diameter that you currently wear and determine your size that way.

How to get rid of piercing bumps

Piercing bumps occur due to irritation.

The body doesn’t like the foreign object, and fights it. But with some good aftercare you can gently convince your body to heal around it.

Most people don’t take great care of their piercings until there is a problem, then they care a lot.

Our advice is to be proactive from the start. Keep it clean and be careful with it.

No sleeping on it, no touching it – and if you must wash, your hands first – and gently clean it twice a day with a saline solution.

We're proud to be official stockists of the leading, natural, vegan and preservative free sterile saline piercing aftercare mist, NeilMed.

If your piercing becomes infected and soaking it with saline solution doesn’t work see your piercer or seek medical advice.

Book a piercing

If you're ready to start your ear stack or add some new piercings to your collection, book a piercing at our Edinburgh Piercing Parlour.

All piercings are performed using our luxury solid 14k gold jewellery.

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