If you've ended up here, chances are, you want to know more about the helix piercing? It is one of the most popular ear piercings and can be personalized with different placements and jewelry styles! If it's a helix piercing that you would like read on to find out the different variations you can get, the logistic behind getting your first helix piercing and how to match & style your new helix piercings!
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COST OF GETTING A HELIX PIERCING
WHAT IS A HELIX PIERCING?
The helix, one of the most popular cartilage piercings, is located on the outermost rim of your ears. A helix piercing is also called a cartilage piercing because of its location somewhere on the outer cartilage of your ear. A cartilage piercing is a pretty general term, and can be used to describe any piercing that goes through cartilage, from your nostril to your daith. A helix piercing is any piercing along that outside rim of your ear, and it's also a cartilage piercing - but there are different kinds of helix piercings. There are several variations on the piercing, including the single helix, mid helix, flat helix, triple helix, double helix and anti-helix / forward helix, what differentiates them is the location on the ear. Who knew there were so many different options available?
TYPES OF HELIX PIERCINGS
Standard Single Helix Piercing
The most common type of helix piercing, this ear piercing is located in the upper outer cartilage, near the rim of the ear. This piercing is more painful than an earlobe piercing but less so than other helix piercings.
Double Helix Piercing
This refers to two piercings in the upper outer cartilage of the ear, usually stacked vertically with one on top of the other. It looks super cute with double stud or hoop earrings!
Triple Helix Piercing
While the classic helix style involves piercing the upper outer cartilage once, if you have three piercings in the same spot, just above each other, these are called triple helix piercings. They're the same piercing, this is more a reference to the number you have on the same ear.
Forward Helix Piercing
Also known as an "anti-helix" piercing, this is located horizontally across from the standard helix piercing, on the cartilage on the outer rim at the front of the ear. You can also get double or triple forward helix piercings. This tends to be slightly more painful than the standard helix piercing and takes longer to heal.
Mid Helix Piercing
What makes a mid helix piercing different from a standard helix piercing? Well, it's actually quite simple: the difference lies in the position of the piercing. The mid helix piercing is located more so in the middle of the ear, whereas the standard helix piercing is at the top of the ear.
Flat Helix Piercing
The flat helix piercing is located on the flat upper area of the ear beside the standard helix. The cartilage in the flat area is thicker and will take longer to heal.
COST OF GETTING A HELIX PIERCING
$40 - $80
The price of a helix piercing greatly varies depending on where the piercing studio is located, how experienced your piercer is, and the jewelry you get. The typical price for it, though, is between $40 and $80.
Remember cheaper is not better always find a reputable body piercing shop with good reviews and recommendations. Consider the cleanliness of the shop and make sure that the tools and jewelry are sterile. New and sterile items should be opened from a package in front of you. Make sure they use a needle instead of a piercing gun!
PAIN LEVEL: HELIX PIERCING
5/10
The truth is, what you need to know about helix piercings is that how much it hurts to get one will depend on your personal pain tolerance level. Generally, it will probably hurt more than getting your lobe pierced, as that area consists of more fleshy tissue rather than the denser cartilage of the helix area. But, it's usually a pretty tolerable pain, so it all depends on whether or not you think the pain is worth it! Many people often complain about the healing rather than the piercing pain.
HELIX PIERCING HEALING TIME
6 - 12 Months
This is where lobe and cartilage piercings really differ. While you might get over a lobe piercing in around a month, a helix piercing can take anywhere between 6 to 12 months to heal. Unfortunately, like the pain factor, it's hard to give an exact healing time as everyone is different. Expect the piercing area to feel sore, turn red and even swell or bleed.
HELIX PIERCING AFTERCARE
Keeping the area around the helix earrings clean is the most important way to avoid infection. Spray saline solution to clean gently around the area and remember to rinse it off in the shower. While you'll probably feel tempted to start fiddling with your new addition, don't twist or change the jewellery until you are certain that the piercing has healed as this could prevent a proper healing process and even lead to infection. When your helix piercing has healed check out our helix collection here for super cute earrings!
JEWELRY FOR HELIX PIERCINGS
BEST JEWELRY FOR HELIX PIERCINGS
The helix piercing allows for endless possibilities, the location of the piercing allows for tons of adorable earrings. You can adorn your helix with a simple stud, a thin hoop, or even mix and match!
HOOPS
The most popular helix jewelry style is a hoop earring. Thin hoops are great for a simple yet chic look. One of our most popular hoops is our Glitter Earring! it is designed with comfort and easy of use in mind, this hoop is crafted with our exclusive clicking mechanism that makes insertion and removal very easy, check it out here! Thicker huggie earrings are perfect for a chunkier glamourous look.
FLATBACK STUDS
A simple stud is a cute, subtle way to decorate your helix piercing. Small gemstones add a sparkly flair to the top of your ear, dazzling without being too loud. You can also show off your personality with super cute charms. We typically recommend a flat back barbell so it is less likely to catch on your hair.
EAR CUFFS
Ear cuffs are a great choice for the helix as no real piercing is needed. They wrap around the ear, offering a style similar to the hoop. Simply slide it on to your conch or helix and you are ready to go!
RECOMMENDED HELIX PIERCING MEASUREMENTS
RECOMMENDED GAUGE SIZE: 16G OR 18G
RECOMMENDED HOOP INNER DIAMETER: 6 - 10mm
RECOMMENDED STUD BARBELL LENGTH: 6 - 10mm
The best helix earrings are high-quality stud earrings and hoops. Helix piercings are typically pierced with a 16G or 1.2mm, although some people feel that the best helix earrings are 18 gauges in size.