The Complete Guide to Helix Piercing Jewelry

First popularized in the 1990s, helical piercings have made a massive comeback in the last decade. Helix piercings are a great next step if you already have one or more earlobe piercings but want more ear piercings.

Helix piercing is becoming more socially acceptable than perhaps even a few years ago. Now, helical piercings are often admired by young people who are happy to get pierced when they are old enough. Click here to book your future helix piercing at our Mississauga studio. 

Helix piercings are gaining more media attention as many millennial celebrities, including Miley Cyrus, Lucy Hale and Bella Thorne, have worn them in public. With a quick search on the internet, you will see that these celebrities are showing off some of the many styles of helix piercings offered by the brands.

The Helix piercing is also the go-to piercing option for all genders, where it used to be more preferred by women. We believe that the more people love cartilage piercings, the better!

Read on to learn more about the helix piercing process and popular helix jewelry options.

What is a Helix piercing?

The helix is ​​the curved outer edge of the cartilage of the outer ear. Helical piercings can be located anywhere between the top of the curve and the start of the earlobe. There are also subcategories of helix piercings.

The piercing between the apex of the curve and the tragus is the anterior helix piercing. Some people even get multiple helical piercings close together, known as double or triple piercings.

Is a Helix piercing the same as a cartilage piercing?

It's possible that you've heard the term "cartilage piercing" in the past, referring to what we call a helical piercing. The term "cartilage piercing" is not inaccurate.

But, a helix is ​​just a small piece of cartilage since cartilage makes up most of the inner and outer ear. Other examples of cartilage piercings are tragus piercings, rook piercings, concha piercings, and date piercings.

What material is best for Helix piercing jewelry?

When piercing a helix, piercing jewelry should be 14k gold or titanium with implants. These are the highest quality metals for earrings. Real gold earrings, in particular, are easier to clean thoroughly and are less likely to cause infection.

Some people are also allergic to the metals found in lower quality earrings, especially nickel; 14k gold earrings are a win-win because they are unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.

If you are not allergic to other materials, you can switch to helix jewelry in a variety of materials after the wound has completely healed. Meeting with a professional piercer can help you make sure your piercing is ready to be replaced the first time.

Is a hoop or stud better for a cartilage piercing?

It is always better to pierce the cartilage first with a hairpin. A piercing heals more easily on a long, straight pin than on a curved one. This also leaves room for inflammation and swelling that occurs immediately after a piercing, which is common even if the piercing is done by a professional and you follow the care instructions correctly.

Once healed, you can replace the piercing stud with a hoop or any other style that suits your mood. Keep reading to learn more about the types of earrings that are best for helix piercings.

After you select your first stud for your fresh piercing, be sure to follow the aftercare procedure prescribed by your piercer. Also make sure you clean your piercing with the appropriate products to avoid infection. Click here to buy all post piercing skin care products. 

Do I need special jewelry for a Helix piercing?

While you don't need special jewelry for a helix piercing, it's important to make sure the earrings you use are the right size. The standard gauges for piercing the helix are 16 gauge and 18 gauge, and the standard lengths are 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", and 4/8".

We recommend having a trained piercer help you measure your piercing to make sure you are wearing the correct size.

If you would like to try sizing jewelry at home, click here to read the Complete Guide to Measuring Body Jewelry.

What earrings to use for Helix piercing?

There are many options for helix piercing jewelry. When it comes to helix earrings, most people opt for beaded rings, seamless hoops, or stud earrings.

Captive beaded rings are a great option due to their unique combination of style and functionality. A small bead or gem that adorns the spiral jewelry can also help hold the earring in place. Beads can be very simple or very complex - it's all up to you.

Many piercers recommend seam rings because they do not include the clicker earring segment found on the vast majority of petal hoops. The seamless design allows the two pieces of the hoop to easily slide together. Seamless rings are great if you are looking for smaller, thinner cartilage piercing jewelry.

Labret studs are relatively similar to traditional petal studs. The big difference is that stud earrings have longer, flat-ended studs on one side rather than an earring at the back.

Lip studs are often used with cartilage piercings, especially at the beginning, to give the ear enough room to heal. Depending on the thickness of the cartilage area, many people continue to use stud earrings as their preferred spiral jewelry.

Our favorite Helix jewelry

Where can I find Helix jewelry?

Here at pierced.co we love piercing jewelry brands that are affordable but don't sacrifice style or quality. Our favorites are Junipurr Jewelry, BVLA and Buddha Jewelry Organics. We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the assortment in our online store!