You’ve been thinking it over for a while, but you want to add something fresh to your look. You want to get a cartilage piercing. Not only do they look cool, but it’s believed that they can kick pain to the curb the same way that acupuncture can.

Some people get them to gain relief from chronic migraines. The question is, where are you going to get pierced? You can get one in almost any part of the ear, so there are several different types of cartilage piercings out there.

You can go with the ever-popular helix or get something a little more daring. Are you ready to get started? Check out this guide to learn more about the various piercings you can get.

Types of Cartilage Piercings

When you’re weighing your options, you’ll find that there’s a cartilage piercing for almost any occasion. Which one you choose doesn’t only depend on aesthetics. Your pain tolerance and how long you want to wait for the area to heal are also huge contributing factors.

Helix

First up on our trendy ear piercings list is the helix. When you see others with a cartilage piercing, this is most likely the one they have.

It’s any piercing placed in the upper cartilage of the ear. There are not many nerve endings found in that spot, so the pain is minimum. You may feel a slight sting, but that’s about it.

The typical healing timetable for the helix is about 6 months. You’ll spend at most 50 bucks to get the piercing done. The price can vary, depending on the location of the salon and your piercer’s standards.

Tragus

If you want to go with something that’s a little more unique, the tragus piercing has you covered. The piercer will go through the small flap of cartilage located in front of your ear canal.

We will warn you that while this piercing looks cool, it doesn’t come without its fair share of risks. The piercer doesn’t have a lot of space to work with. It’s difficult to stick the needle in at the right angle.

If you want the process to go well, you’re going to have to choose the right professional for the job. Another thing to note is that you’re going to need to have a strong stomach.

The piercing itself doesn’t hurt too much, but you’ll hear a gross popping sound when the needle goes through. It can be enough to make some people lose their lunch. You could spend up to a year healing after you get the piercing.

You can expect to pay around 60 dollars for your piercing. Again, you’ll need to put some thought into the person that you pick for the job so it may wind up being a bit more.

Industrial

The industrial piercing is technically a two-in-one deal. It’s a helix and forward helix piercing connected by a bar. Out of all the different types you can get, this one is the most clunky.

If you’re looking for something flashy and noticeable, however, the industrial look will be your bread and butter. Due to the fact that you’re getting more than one piercing, you can expect to pay more. The entire process will be a little over 100 dollars.

The good news is that the pain level for this one is pretty moderate. Any aching you feel will happen long after you leave the salon. It will take about 6 months for you to heal up.

Forward Helix

Like with the regular helix, it’s located in your upper ear. The difference is that this one, as the name suggests, takes a more forward position.

You’re going to need to find an experienced professional to take care of the forward helix for you. It’s way trickier to do than the regular helix because the piercer will have to line it up just right.

The forward helix is also a little more painful than the helix. Whereas the regular one is about a 5 on a pain scale, the forward one is at a 6.

The piercer will charge you 100 dollars or so for the process. It costs a bit extra because the jewelry has to be specially made to work with your ear.

Daith

A Daith piercing goes through the fold of cartilage that’s located between the ridge of your outer ear and inner. It’s right above your ear canal.

Daith piercing jewelry serves a double purpose. For one, it provides a unique look that will turn a few heads. For two, it can give you some relief if you suffer from chronic migraines because it goes through the right pressure points.

Something else that’s unique about the Daith is you’ll jump right into having a ring. Studs don’t work as well in that particular area.

For most people, the pain that comes from a Daith piercing is minimal. Some do complain about aching because it takes so long to do. You’ll be in the salon for several minutes because of how much precision the piercing takes.

You’ll spend about 60 dollars or less on the procedure.

Conch

The conch is the middle shell of your ear. You can do an inner ear piercing or an outer one. The inner one goes through the upper-middle shell, and the outer one goes through the lower.

The pain level is about the same as it is for any other cartilage piercing. If you go to a professional, you can expect to spend 70 dollars, at most, for the procedure.

It will take about a year to heal. Sometimes you’ll be good to go a little sooner than that.

Rook

The rook is placed on the cartilage right below where a piercer would normally put a forward helix ring. Out of all the different cartilage piercings, this one is seen as the most painful.

You may feel a sharp ache in your ear for half an hour. This piercing can also get a little expensive because it takes a very experienced person to do it. You’ll be paying extra for the precision.

It starts at about 50 dollars or so, but it can quickly go up depending on the piercer and the salon. You might still be in the healing process up to 18 months after the procedure.

Anti-Tragus

The anti-tragus is the small bit of cartilage that’s located across from the tragus. It’s even more tricker to pierce because the piercer won’t have a lot of surface area to work with.

The shape of your ears could make doing this piercing a bit too risky. If that’s the case, the piercer will send you out of the salon. We will also warn you that this piercing doesn’t feel good.

It will hurt, and it could take up to a year for the area to fully heal. You can expect to spend 60 dollars or more for this piercing because of all the extra effort that goes into it.

Orbital

Out of all the different types of piercings, this one might be the less common. It sort of works the same as an industrial piercing. The difference is that it’s two piercings connected by a ring instead of a bar.

It’s a cool piercing that looks as if it’s floating. It may not be common, but that’s not due to pain. If you put it on a scale from 1-10, it’s about a four.

Where they’ll get you is the price. It can cost more than 60 dollars, and it will take almost a year for you to heal from it.

Snug

A snug piercing goes through the ridge of your inner ear. It gets its name because the placement for it is a bit on the tight side. Only tiny horizontal barbells will fit in the area.

Unfortunately, this piercing is going to hurt. It’s about an 8 on the pain scale because it’s going through such a thick section of cartilage. It costs 70 dollars or more.

Preparing For Your Piercing

Now that you’ve chosen what type of piercing you want, it’s time for you to make an appointment at your local salon. Make sure you give yourself a day or two to prepare because there’s a few things you’ll need to do before you get the piercing.

Choose the Right Shop

As you can probably tell from the description of the different types of cartilage piercings, they can be a bit complicated. It’s not something you want to get done at your local mall unless there are piercing professionals there.

The way to tell the amateurs apart from the experts is the tools they use. If you see a piercing gun, run as fast as you can in the other direction.

If you get the job done with one of those, it can lead to a nasty infection and a horrible-looking piercing. That’s the last thing you want.

On top of using the right tools, the professionals also work in a more sterile environment. The needle they use will be way cleaner than one of those piercing guns. An expert also won’t send you away without giving you detailed instructions that will get you through the healing process.

Get All the Aftercare Stuff You’re Going to Need

We recommend going out to get your aftercare supplies the day before you’re scheduled to get your piercing. It’s less of a pain that way.

Fill your recovery kit with antimicrobial soap, a saltine-based solution for soaking, and something to apply the solution with. The piercer can recommend specific products, but this is a list of the basics.

Avoid Alcohol and Painkillers

If you’re nervous about your piercing, it can be tempting to calm yourself down with a drink or two. Fight back this urge to the best of your ability.

Alcohol acts as a blood thinner. If you drink before your piercing, you may experience extra blood loss and ugly bruising. It’s not worth it.

Certain drugs and painkillers can have the same effect on you. If you’re taking any prescription medications, talk to your doctor before you schedule your piercing. They might be able to work something out.

Eat Something

Don’t step into the salon on an empty stomach. We recommend having a meal at least two hours before your appointment. Having healthy blood sugar levels will ensure that you don’t throw up on the piercer or blackout.

You should also bring a small something with you to replenish your blood sugar after your appointment is over. It’s sort of like when you chug a box of juice after getting blood work done.

Find a Way to Keep Yourself Calm

If you’re feeling a bit nervous about getting a cartilage piercing, you’re human. It’s a normal reaction that many people go through. We’ve got a few tricks that you can use to keep yourself from freaking out.

For one, there’s strength in numbers. Bring a friend with you to the appointment who can keep you distracted from what’s going on. Do some meditation or deep breathing exercises before you step into the salon. Some people listen to their favorite music or podcasts.

Which Piercing Suits Your Style?

Are you still considering going for a cartilage piercing? They can provide a unique look, but getting one is a lot more complicated than getting a regular ear piercing.

There’s more preparation involved, and you can’t go to any old salon to get it done. No matter what types of cartilage piercings you get, if you don’t go to a professional, something could go wrong.

There’s also the little matter of choosing the right piercing for you. We hope that reading this article has helped you do that. For more ways to prepare for your appointment, feel free to explore the rest of our blog.