8 Types of Ear Piercings to Inspire Your Next Look

By Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure

Think of your ear as an empty canvas: With the help of the right piercer, it's a work of art waiting to be created. However, there are some things you should know before you're needle-ready. First, always work with a reputable piercer who makes you feel comfortable and uses hygienic techniques. "All items should be pre-sterilized and opened in front of you," says TJ Cantwell, the owner of New-York-City-based Studio 28 Tattoos and Body Piercing. Surgical-grade titanium or gold are the best metals to put in your body, as they run the lowest risk of infection. Your piercer will go over the aftercare routine they recommend, but you'll need a saline spray to cleanse your piercing as it heals. Avoid sleeping on your newly pierced ears, and wash your sheets and pillowcases regularly. With those basics out of the way, let's talk inspiration. Read on to learn the names of popular ear piercings and what to expect of each, with insight from piercer Cassi Lopez of New York Adorned and photos courtesy of Maria Tash.

The ear is full of piercing options.

A good piercer can help you design and coordinate an entire multi-earring look if you're interested in getting more than one piercing. Think of it as putting together a bouquet, where the parts make an intentional whole.

Helix and Conch

Featured here are three helix piercings, which go through the top cartilage, right along the rim of your ear. Lopez notes that the higher the piercing, the longer the healing time, as there is less blood flow the farther up the ear you go. The piercing in the inner ear is the conch, Lopez's all-time favorite ear piercing. "They’re just really beautiful. We don’t start those with rings, because the area that it’s in has a high chance of getting super irritated," she says. "So start them with studs and then swap them to a ring, usually after six months or so."

Forward Helix

A forward helix is on the upper, inner part of your cartilage, facing forward. "A forward helix is one of my favorite piercings," Lopez says. "They are so beautiful, especially when someone has a nice amount of space and there’s a really decorative piece there."

Lobe piercings can mean so much more than the studs you got at Claire's as a kid. (Also, Claire's probably used a piercing gun, which is a huge no-no.) You can experiment with the placement and number of this classic to create an unconventional look. As Lopez explained, since there's most blood flow in the lobe, these heal the easiest — so why stop at just one?

Tragus

The tragus is in that cute little area of cartilage that's closest to your face. "The tragus is one of those piercings that has never really died down. In all of the years that I’ve been piercing, they are very consistent," Lopez says.

Daith

A daith piercing passes through the ear's inner cartilage fold. "Those are super popular right now. I love when people get really decorative rings in them," says Lopez.

Rook and Industrial

The industrial piercing has a pretty punk reputation. Lopez explains it technically just means two piercings connected by one piece of jewelry. Steel isn't the only choice: "It can be a thinner, gold bar, that’s really simple, beautiful, and can look really classy," she says.

Also pictured here is a rook. "A rook piercing is the little flap of cartilage at the top of your ear but below your helix," Lopez says. "Not every single person can do every single ear piercing. I have come across a few rooks that aren’t pierceable." Lopez adds that it's important to go into your piercing studio with an open mind, because your anatomy may not be suited to the piercing you want. Experienced piercers will recognize when that's the case.

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