Your Guide to Helix Ear Piercings

By Brooke Helton

Published: July 03, 2024

If you’re ready to branch out from the standard ear lobe piercing, your upper ear can be an excellent place to start. Upper ear piercings aren’t as common as those on the lobe, so they can draw the eye more to highlight your jewelry. Several piercing styles can liven up your ears with a little extra bling, but we’re especially fond of the helix piercing. 

 

If you’re interested in learning more about this piercing or adding it to your repertoire, find our guide to helix piercings below. Plus, discover where to find hypoallergenic hoops and studs you can rock in nearly any ear piercing. 

What is a helix piercing? 

A helix piercing goes through the outer cartilage of your upper ear, AKA the helix. 

 

A standard helix piercing goes through the outer part of the upper ear. But you can also get helix piercings on the cartilage that sits closer to your face, called a “forward helix.” 

 

You can combine a forward helix with a standard helix piercing or on its own. You can have two or three helix piercings grouped in a “double” or “triple” helix piercing – either standard or forward, or both at the same time. It just depends on your personal style. 

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How bad does a helix piercing hurt? 

Pain is subjective, and everyone’s ear is a little different. However, the helix cartilage is tougher than the ear lobe and has more nerve endings. So, the initial sensation of a helix piercing might feel more intense than one on your lobe. Expect a quick pinch and mild throbbing afterward. Your ear may also be sensitive, with mild redness and swelling for a few days.

 

If you’re sensitive or squeamish with needles, you can try to minimize the pain by icing your ear beforehand, taking acetaminophen, or asking your piercer for a numbing cream. 

 

Does a helix piercing bleed? 

 

Ear piercings typically don't bleed much, if at all. But you can minimize your chances of bleeding by avoiding ibuprofen (like Advil or Motrin) right before your piercing, as they can thin your blood. If you need a painkiller, stick to acetaminophen like Tylenol or a generic brand. 

Can I get a hoop when I pierce my helix?

Just like in your lobe, a helix piercing starts with a stud. Studs are generally more secure than hoops and help prevent the jewelry from twisting or irritating your skin while healing. Once the piercing is healed, you can wear a hoop or a different earring stud in a helix as you please. 

How long does it take for a helix piercing to heal? 

A helix generally takes up to four months to fully heal, although some may take more or less time. You can also do multiple helix piercings on the same ear to speed up the process if you want a “full stack.” 

 

Which side should I get a helix piercing on?

 

That’s up to you! There isn’t a “standard” ear to start with, so it depends on your preferences. That said, it’s a good idea only to pierce one ear at a time, even if you eventually want helix piercings in both ears. This is because it’s not ideal to sleep on your helix piercing while it’s still healing. So, if you’re a side sleeper, you’ll need a “good” ear to sleep on. 

More helix piercing aftercare tips

While you’re waiting for your helix piercing to heal into its full glory, you can take care of it with the following tips. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears

  • Skip the pool. While showers are fine, you shouldn’t submerge an unhealed piercing in water. Steer clear of pools, hot tubs, lakes, and other bodies of water until your piercing is healed, or keep your head above water at all times. 
  • Sleep on a donut. If you need to sleep on the side with your fresh piercing (or will roll over anyway), try sleeping on a donut pillow that will take pressure off your ear. A neck pillow is also a good option for combination sleepers. 
  • Go hands-free. Don't play with your earring or spin it around in the hole. This can irritate the wound or expose it to bacteria from your hands. 
  • Keep it clean. Wash your piercing with a mild soap and water at least once daily, and dry it thoroughly. Don’t use harsh or drying cleaning agents, like hydrogen peroxide, and always wash your hands before touching the piercing.  
  • Add moisture. A moist (not wet) piercing heals faster than a dry one. If your piercing is too dry, you can moisten it with a dollop of petroleum jelly – ideally applied with a squeeze tube or cotton swab to minimize germ transfer. 
  • Only wear hypoallergenic jewelry. Some people develop sensitivities to nickel after piercing their ears. Since nickel is common in many types of costume jewelry, you can minimize your chances of developing a reaction by choosing an earring stud made with hypoallergenic metals, like gold, surgical-grade stainless steel, or implant-grade titanium. 

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How can I tell if my helix piercing is infected? 

While mild redness and swelling is normal in the first days after piercing, if your new helix still looks red and inflamed weeks later or is oozing or crusty, you may have an infection. You should head to a primary care doctor or a dermatologist for a diagnosis and advice on your next steps. 

 

You can minimize your chances of developing an infection by following good aftercare practices and by choosing a piercer registered with the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) who follows proper hygiene for piercings. The store or studio should also have a license from your local health department. 

Where to find jewelry for a helix piercing

If you’re looking for studs or rings that you can wear in a helix piercing, Cords Club can hook you up. 


We only use hypoallergenic metals like gold, surgical-grade stainless steel, and titanium, so you won’t need to worry about irritating your sensitive skin. Plus, our earring studs have flat backs, which helps them stay comfortable for long-term wear. 

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

I have really sensitive ears. What are your pieces made of?

My team and I have sensitive ears, too! Our goal is to provide high quality, affordable, hypoallergenic options for our sensitive-eared girlies. All materials are listed in each product's item description. We use stainless steel, surgical steel, and implant grade titanium in our earrings. These materials are rust and tarnish proof and won't turn your skin green. 

 

If your ears are extra extra sensitive, I recommend giving our flat back earrings a try! They're made of surgical grade materials. Less than 1% of the population is allergic to true implant grade titanium, which makes it the best metal for sensitive skin. 

To learn more about why implant grade titanium is awesome, read this peer-reviewed article: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/12/2/214
 

Note that our gold titanium flat back studs do have an 18K Gold PVD plating. If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. 
 

Is your jewelry waterproof?

Oh yeah! 99% of our earrings are waterproof. Unless otherwise stated (we have a few hand painted statement earrings), you're getting jewelry that you can get wet.

My clicker hoop clasp seems to be getting loose. How can I fix that?

It's inevitable. Your favorite pair of hoops won't stay shut anymore. So annoying! Simply put a little pressure on the post part that goes through your ear until it shifts a tiny bit up or down. Keep doing that until it clicks in snugly. Be careful not to press too hard though! 

Do you offer discounts?

We are priced very fairly when you look at other brands with our same caliber of quality! We do have a monthly discount and an extra special yearly birthday discount for members of our Cords Club (it's free!). 

Do you have a loyalty rewards program?

We do! Earn rewards for such tasks as referring friends to Cords Club, making a purchase, following us on social media, and more! Find out more about our rewards program here.
 

Did you have rewards points with the old Indiecords site? Fear not! Reach out to hello@cordsclub.com with the details.

Sources

Body Piercing Healing Times. (n.d.). https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=not250521&lang=en-ca

Caring for new piercings. (n.d.). https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears

Clinic, C. (2024, September 5). What to Expect When Getting Your Ears Pierced. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-expect-when-getting-your-ears-pierced

Online Research Resources Developed at NHGRI. (n.d.). Online Research Resources Developed at NHGRI. https://elementsofmorphology.nih.gov/anatomy-ear.shtml

Sleep on healing piercings. (n.d.). https://www.appbenelux.org/en/learn/faq/sleep-on-healing-piercings/

D., Szumski, B., Weber, J., & Williams, B. (2013). Procedure Manual. https://safepiercing.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/APP_Procedures_2013_A_Web.pdf

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