Helix Piercing: Pain, Healing & Aftercare Guide

The helix is the curved outer rim of your upper ear. And a helix piercing is a small hole punched through that bit of cartilage, usually with a stud or hoop.

It looks fierce AF. It’s got style. It’s got attitude. And it’s got loads of variations to choose from.

You can curate a completely personalised design with different types of cartilage piercings in different parts of your helix.

The range of different types of helix piercings includes:

Standard helix piercing - A single piercing through the upper outer rim.

Forward helix piercing - The small crease where your ear meets your head, closer to your face.

Double helix piercing - Two stylish stacked piercings.

Triple helix piercing - A vertical trio, demonstrating serious commitment to your aesthetic.

Double and triple forward helix piercing - Add two or three piercings up the antihelix for a striking stacked effect.

Think of it like the helix jewellery equivalent of putting together your dream playlist. You start simple, then go full-on ear party!

Let’s get one thing straight. If a piercer suggests using a piercing gun for a helix, cancel them immediately!

Why so? Cartilage = delicate. Piercing guns = trauma. Enough said!

As for what to expect at your appointment, it’s no biggie when you go to a professional piercer who knows what they’re doing:

Paperwork

Regular consent forms and ID check (you usually need to be 16+ in the UK, or bring a parent if younger).

Consultation

You’ll chat placement, ear cartilage jewellery, and helix piercing healing time with your piercer.

Cleaning and marking

The area gets a medical-grade wipe down, and a sterile marker is used to dot your sparkle spot.

Piercing

The act itself is done with a sharp, clean, hollow, sterile needle, which is way safer for cartilage piercings than a gun.

Helix jewellery insertion

A gold or titanium stud with room for swelling is the safest bet. You can switch up to hoops and rings when your piercing is fully healed. But they move too much for fast and efficient fresh helix healing.

Helix aftercare rundown

This can make or break your long-term comfort. So, listen up, even if you’re more interested in flaunting your sick new piercing.

On average, you’re looking at anywhere between £30.00 - £50.00 in the UK, excluding premium jewellery upgrades.

It’s more than a regular lobe piercing in a high street kiosk. But your health warrants the extra investment.

To be clear, helix piercing pain isn’t the worst on the piercing pain-o-meter. But it’s not a tickle either.

Biology plays a part. For example, you might feel more pressure if you’ve got thicker cartilage. On the other hand, some people say it’s like a quick scratch.

Overall, helix piercing pain is totally manageable - unless you’ve got an especially low pain threshold or you’re a drama queen (no judgment).

As a guideline, many people reckon helix piercing pain is worse than the lobe, but not as bad as the nose and other body parts.

Yet healing soreness can linger for weeks, especially if you sleep on it, poke it, or wear tight headphones.

Read ‘em and weep if you’re the impatient type. Because cartilage healing is a slow burn, not a sprint.

Expect the following helix piercing healing time as a rule of thumb. Although it can vary from ear to ear, because everybody’s body is different:

• 4 - 6 months if you’re a piercing unicorn
• 6 - 12 months is the average for most
• Up to 18 months if you’re fiddly, forgetful, or just have finicky ears

In addition, it’s important to bear in mind the helix piercing can look healed in six months. But the inner tissue takes longer to settle. So, don’t rush into changing your ear cartilage jewellery without giving your ears the time they need to repair and rejuvenate.

As with any type of piercing, aftercare is key. In terms of helix aftercare specifically, here are the main do’s and don’ts to keep soreness, helix piercing infection and other nasties at bay.

Do:

• Wash your hands first. Always.
• Use a saline solution, ideally LobeLove™ Professional Saline Piercing Spray. This pro grade potion keeps things clean, calm, and under control when healing a cartilage piercing. No preservatives. No alcohol. No fuss. Just a gentle, skin-loving spritz to help flush out gunk, reduce irritation, and support speedy helix piercing healing time.
• Soak a cotton pad, (not a fluffy cottonwool ball or disintegrating tissue), and gently dab around the piercing.
• Don’t twist, wiggle, or shift your helix jewellery.
• Let it air dry or pat gently with a paper towel.
• Clean your helix piercing twice daily, morning and night.

Don’t:

• Sleep on a cartilage piercing. Use a travel pillow with a hole in the middle if you’re used to sleeping on the side you’ve just had pierced.
• Submerge any types of helix piercings in baths, swimming pools, or hot tubs.
• Use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or ointments on your piercing.
• Change ear cartilage jewellery before your piercer gives you the green light.

The garden isn’t always rosy in piercing land. And the various types of helix piercings can come with quirks, just like all body mods.

So, what are the most common issues that can occur with a helix piercing?

• Irritation bumps - Often caused by sleeping on your piercing or touching it too much
• Piercing migration - When your body rejects your ear cartilage jewellery and slowly pushes it out
• Keloids - Rare with helix jewellery, but more likely if you’re genetically inclined
• Helix piercing infection - Red. Hot. Oozing yellow or green gunk. Time to get it checked out before it further festers.

Most of these pro tips and tricks are already covered during this article. But helix aftercare really matters. So, they’re worth repeating:

• Choose a reputable, experienced piercer.
• Always use high-quality, implant-grade ear cartilage jewellery.
• Don’t sleep on your fresh helix piercing.
• Clean it gently and regularly.
• Resist the urge to change your ear cartilage jewellery too soon.

Stick with the golden rules and you’ll be ready to rumble when your piercing is safely healed, with minimal to no soreness and stress along the way.

Successfully done your helix piercing healing time? It’s now time to discover the wonderful world of helix jewellery. And truthfully, we’re talking a banquet, not a soggy sandwich!

But first, common sense must prevail with new helix piercings. The most frequently used starter jewellery for fresh holes generally falls into the following categories:

Titanium labret studs

Flat backs = less irritation.

Threadless or internally threaded

Less chance of catching or tearing.

High polish finish

Fewer crevices for gunk = less chance of helix piercing infection and more opportunity for overall hassle-free healing

Longer posts

More post room accounts for initial, perfectly normal swelling Your piercer will then downsize the bar to prevent snags, bumps, and embedding when the swelling dies down.

And now for the moment you’ve been waiting for!

It’s party time when your cartilage piercing is healed. Don’t wait a second longer to go wild with the entire slamming spectrum of helix jewellery:

This goes beyond piercing. It’s an outfit for your ear.

And better still, there’s more to a helix piercing than what jewellery you’re going to rock. There’s how you’re going to rock it too!

There’s no such thing as too many helix piercings. The only thing holding you back is your imagination.

You might keep building on different types of helix piercings as you go along, without any plan in mind. Or you might have curated helix goals from the onset.

Either way, there are multiple innovative ways to shake up helix piercings, such as:

• Pair your ear cartilage piercing with a tragus and/or conch for a balanced or deliberately asymmetrical look.
• Stack multiple helix studs for a starry alignment, like a constellation.
• Use chains to link a double helix piercing or forward helix.

Can I sleep on it?

Not for a while. Use a travel pillow or sleep on the opposite side. Or get one ear pierced at a time so you can swap sides.

Can I swim with a fresh cartilage piercing?

Nope. Water = bacteria = swim in haste, repent at leisure. Wait at least four to six weeks before indulging your inner water baby.

When can I change my helix jewellery?

Once it’s healed, which is usually four to six months, or longer, depending on your unique biology. Ask your piercer to be on the safe side.

Will it close if I take it out?

Yes. Even healed cartilage can shrink. So, pop in a retainer or replace it quickly if you're taking your ear cartilage jewellery out.

Which ear should I get pierced?

It’s completely up to you. Whichever side suits your style, hair parting, or sleeping habits.

Can I wear earbuds or headphones?

Avoid both on the pierced side; stick to one-sided listening until fully healed.

Helix piercing is a whole vibe. It’s a way to express yourself and curate a look that’s very much on show, on the side of your head, for all to see and admire.

Yes, there’s a little pain. Yes, helix piercing healing time takes commitment. But you’ll forget all about it once you’re rocking an eye-catching stud or epic hoop.

At Stretch It Body Jewellery, we know cartilage like the back of our ears. So, check out our online shop to browse our helix jewellery collection. And fill your digital basket with helix aftercare essentials. Or drop us a DM with any questions.

Your helix adventure starts here.