13 Types Of Ear Piercing: How Much They Hurt & Cost

Which ear piercing to get next? These are the 13 spots to consider for some new sparkle

Getting an ear piercing will never lose its spark of excitement. Stepping into a piercing studio has us feeling 13 again, when we were finally allowed to get a second or third piercing after months of begging. The best thing about being an adult? You can go and get a new addition whenever you fancy.

While ear piercing placements are nothing new, the way in which your ear is “curated” (yes, your ear can now be curated and we’re here for it) has evolved. Nowadays, experts offer services to suss out the anatomy of your ears and offer a bespoke configuration to suit you best. So, you can leave a studio with an entire constellation of jewellery featuring new and old piercings that have had a beautiful revamp.

We’re not talking singularly studded lobes either. There are tons of places to get your ears embellished (some you may never have heard of), including rook, conch, daith, and helix, to name a few. Piercing experts can mix studs, hoops, dainty stars and even chains to stunning effect.

Can this piercing really cure migraines?

Even better, now brands are offering more dainty and delicate jewellery to accommodate multiple piercings, there’s nothing to stop us sprinkling our lobes with numerous tiny studs and hoops.

Leading the charge is Maria Tash who has created an empire out of intricate and unexpected piercings (and a celeb following that includes the likes of Rihanna, Blake Lively and Zoe Kravitz)). Plus brands like Laura Bond, Astrid & Miyu, Tada & Toy, Dinny Hall, Orelia, and Missoma all offer dinky studs, cuffs, hoops and huggies to embellish each piercing beautifully.

So, how many piercings is too many? We say there’s no such thing as too many – so long as you go with someone reputable and experienced to decorate your ears.

Before we dive into the trends, though, the key to getting and maintaining a beautiful curated ear is, of course, piercing aftercare. “Most people don’t take great care of their piercings until there is a problem, then they care a lot,” says Laura Bond, founder of Laura Bond Jewellery.

She recommends being proactive in your aftercare (no matter the piercing) and using a saline solution twice daily. While salt water works fine, it’s often a faff while rushing around in the morning and in the evenings after a long day so buying a premade solution such as NeilMed Piercing Aftercare Mist does the trick. In addition, never twist or fiddle with your piercings as this causes irritation and can increase the risk of injection, which is never something you want.

Now, onto the fun part — the inspiration! For those who can’t quite wrap your heads around the idea of a curated ear, we’ve got the ultimate guide to every single different positioning of your piercings. Plus, we dive into the price and the pain factor so you can start planning for your next piercing straight away..

Should I get an ear piercing?

As cool, dainty or provocative ear piercings can be, before you decide what type of piercing to get, you should consider if you should get one at all. You should always make an informed decision when choosing to get one, so here are a few things you should consider before deciding on which piercing to go for:

• Age: Although there is no specific age requirement for getting your ears pierced, some experts recommend waiting until a child is at least six months old before piercing their ears for the first time. This is because the earlobes are still developing, and the skin is more delicate in younger children. Additionally, some piercers may have their age restrictions, so make sure to check with the piercing studio beforehand.
• Health: It is essential to consider your personal health before getting ears pierced. If you have any medical conditions or are on any medications, you should consult a doctor before any piercing. Also, if they have any allergies, especially to metal, they may need to use hypoallergenic jewellery to avoid allergic reactions.
• Cost of piercing: Getting ear piercings can be relatively affordable usually under £100 but the prices rack up when you start buying the jewellery.
• Pain Factor: Getting your ears pierced in different areas of your ear have different pain factors. Although the sharp pain usually only lasts mere moments (if nothing else goes wrong) you should take into consideration if your pain threshold and your tolerance to needles.
• Commitment: Ear piercings require maintenance, and it’s essential to clean the piercing site regularly to prevent infections. If you don’t feel quite ready to commit to the aftercare routine, you might want to hold off on getting your ears pierced.
• Lifestyle: Your lifestyle i.e. day-to-day may also determine if you should get your ears pierced s they may well be a health and safety hazard. For instance, if you’re involved in sports or any physical activity, you may have to remove the ear piercings temporarily, which may affect the healing process. Additionally, some workplaces may have policies against wearing ear piercings, (for example if you work with food or children) so the person may have to remove them before going to work.
• External Factors + personal preference: You should also take into consideration wether your guardians, school or job may have an issue with your piercing. However, ultimately, the decision to get your ears pierced should be based on personal preference (as long as you’re a consenting adult of course). If you’re interested in getting your ears pierced and understand the risks and aftercare requirements, then we say go ahead.

Here’s are the main types of piercing you need to know about…

• Instagram / Studs
  
  Vertical Lobe

  If you have space for two earrings on your lobe, why not go for a vertical lobe piercing, which sees two studs stacked on top of each other. The look is continuing to get more popular, especially with those looking to go all out with curated ears.

  Pain factor: 4/10

  Price: From £15 for each hole

• Instagram/Maria Tash
  
  Upper Lobe

  Ideal for small, intricate piercings, the upper lobe piercing is exactly as the name suggests. Depending on your ear size, some people can fit up to three piercings between this spot and the lower lobe.

  Pain factor: 4/10

  Price: From £15

• Instagram / Studs
  
  Helix

  A helix piercing typically sits at the top of your ear cartilage. There’s plenty of room in this area, so double and triple helix piercings are quite common.

  Pain factor: 5/10

  Price: From £20

• Instagram/Maria Tash
  
  Forward Helix

  A forward helix sits on the inner and top half of your ear cartilage, it can be a single stud or ring, as well as a series of piercings, depending on how much space you have in that area.

  Pain factor: 5/10

  Price: From £25

• Conch

  Conch piercings are popular because they sit at the heart of the ear, so can be a real statement. There are two types inner conch and outer conch. The inner conch piercing goes through the centre of the conch, typically in the lower half of the ear, and can be done with a stud or a ring. The outer conch piercing goes through the flat area of cartilage that surrounds the inner conch, and can also be done with a stud or a ring. They can be a bit more painful than some other ear piercings because they go through thicker cartilage.

  Pain Factor: 7/10

  Price: from £20

• Instagram/Mariatash
  
  Industrial (or scaffold)

  An industrial piercing requires two holes, both in the outer cartilage. They’re usually punctured diagonally opposite each other (but the angle is up to you), and linked together with a barbell. The piercing pictured here is a modern take on the trend.

  Pain factor: 8/10

  Price: From £30

• Instagram/Mariatash
  
  Daith

  A daith piercing sits through the most inner part of the ear’s cartilage. Interestingly, some people find this piercing offers them relief from severe headaches and migraines, although there is still no hard evidence as to why.

  Pain factor: 6/10

  Price: From £25

• Instagram/monicavinader
  
  Rook

  Just above the daith sits a ridge, which is referred to as a rook. A curved barbell is usually the jewellery of choice for this spot, but sometimes a small hoop can be added

  Pain factor: 6/10

  Price: From £25

• Tragus

  Sitting just above your ear canal, is the tragus. The size varies greatly from person to person, but it’s usually only big enough for one piercing, whether it’s a stud or a hoop.

  Pain factor: 5/10

  Price: From £25

• Instagram/mariatash
  
  Anti-tragus

  The anti-tragus goes through the small, raised flap of cartilage sits opposite the tragus. It has a similar pointy shape, often pierced with a small hoop. It’s a less common piercing compared to some other ear piercings, but it can be a unique and eye-catching addition to your ear jewellery collection. It can be decorated with a variety of jewellery styles, such as captive bead rings or barbells.

  Pain factor: 5/10

  Price: From £25

• Auricle

  The auricle sits between the lobe and top cartilage. Typically this is a small space and not everyone can get pierced here because of this (your piercer will be able to let you know if you’re a good candidate) so a small stud is often used.

  Pain factor: 3/10

  Price: from £20

• Instagram/laura_bond_jewellery
  
  Snug

  Sitting slightly above the anti-tragus is a piercing spot called the ‘snug’; possibly because of how snugly a small hoop hugs it, earning top spot of the cutest piercing name.

  Pain factor: 6/10

  Price: From £25

• Orbital

  You may have never heard of the orbital piercing before but it’s an increasingly common one. It’s similar to the industrial piercing in that it involves two holes, but instead of featuring a barbell, a hoop is used instead. This is often done on the lobe, upper lobe or helix.

  Pain factor: 5/10

  Price: from £30