Worried about ear piercing pain? Don’t worry; I’ve felt that too. I’ve had multiple piercings done so I can speak from experience to help you decide what works for you based on your personal pain tolerance level, from least to most.
EARLOBE
11. Lobe piercings are in the fleshy lower area that feels the least amount of pain. The initial pinch will be the smallest of all piercings, and it also heals the fastest in about 6 weeks! Definitely the first choice for a first-time experimenter.
ROOK
10. Rook piercings, due to their location in the folded upper ear, are a little more painful than previous options. The healing process can take up to 10 months, especially with its relatively difficult cleaning location. Take care!
HELIX
9. The helix piercing, also known as cartilage piercing, are a bit less painful than other locations due to the relatively thinner area. The healing time is about 12 months, far less than some of the more unique piercings such as industrial.
TRAGUS
8. Tragus piercings are in a very small location, so the pain is lesser than some of the other entries on this list. The cartilage is thick, so it will feel more painful than a lobe piercing at the time, and the healing process can take up to 6 months.
FORWARD HELIX
7. The forward helix area, being so small, is slightly more painful than the regular helix piercing. The healing time will be at least 3 months, depending on the individual. Many people choose double or triple piercings for this location, which can add to the time.
ORBITAL
6. Orbital piercings are a bit more painful than the others since it often involves 2 punctures. You can do them separately, of course, since it may be uncomfortable to have the needle go through twice. The payoff is very worth it, with that unique circular look, but be prepared of what to expect!
SNUG
5. Snug piercings are a little more on the painful side of the scale as they are located in the middle of the outer rim of the ear. Since it pierces both the inner and outer parts of the ear, the pain can be quite intense at the start, and the healing process can take up to 6 months.
DAITH
4. Daith piercings are a tiny more painful since it’s in the inner cartilage of the ear, but still relatively high overall. The healing process will take about 3-9 months.
FLAT
3. Flat piercings have go through a very thin later of cartilage, which actually can be more painful than other areas. It is a smaller piercing where the healing process can take 3 to 6 months.
CONCH
2. Conch piercings require a large amount of pressure to go straight through a thick layer of cartilage. While the initial intense pain doesn’t last too long, the healing time can last anywhere from 3 to 9 months.
INDUSTRIAL
1. Industrial piercings are, by far, the most painful piercing due it requiring two separate piercings through sensitive cartilage. The healing time is about 9 months, so it’s definitely a large commitment for this level of beauty!
Overall, you must choose what is best for you. Some people have different pain tolerance levels, and that’s ok—we’re all unique and we all have our own lifestyles. As always, make sure to practice proper hygiene and cleaning every day and you should be fine. Make the educated choice and stay beautiful and safe!
