Your guide to cartilage piercing jewelry

In everyday conversation, the term "cartilage piercing" often refers to a piercing on the curved outer edge of the ear. Those who are more familiar with the piercing refer to it as the helical piercing, named after this part of the outer ear. Ear cartilage piercing can refer to any part of the ear that contains cartilage. In addition to helix piercings, these can include concha piercings, tragus piercings, and others.

Cartilage is a tissue that provides firmness and flexibility to certain parts of the body, such as the nose or ear. Cartilage has no blood vessels or nerve endings.

There is a wide variety of body jewelry available for each type of cartilage piercing, and each has its own unique style. Whether you're looking for a single delicate earring or a whole ear full of jewelry, one or more cartilage piercings can be a great choice for you.

What jewelry is best for cartilage piercing?

Choosing the best cartilage piercing jewelry depends on the type of cartilage piercing. Here, we'll cover some of the most common cartilage piercings, as well as what types of earrings are best for each.

What are the types of cartilage piercings?

Spiral:

outer edge of the ear; the most popular type of cartilage piercing over the past few years

straight spiral:

the part of the spiral closest to the head; usually located between the top of the ear and the tragus

Industrial:

two different punctures, usually at the top of the helix; connected to visible industrial strip

Antispiral:

a raised area of ​​cartilage around the middle of the ear; the nav piercing is at the top of this cartilage, while the neat piercing is at the bottom

With CH:

a rounded area just behind the inner ear designed to collect sound, much like a conch shell; Beyoncé is known as one of the celebrities who popularized this piercing.

Travel:

a tiny flap of cartilage over the inner ear; some forms of alternative medicine believe that this piercing relieves the pain of migraines and other severe headaches.

tragus:

a thick triangle of cartilage that protrudes from the side of the head and partially covers the inner ear

Anti-goat:

consists of cartilage, which is located next to the tragus, just above the earlobe

No matter what type of cartilage piercing you choose, we recommend purchasing 14k gold piercing jewelry as often as possible. Gold is a high quality material and is much less likely to cause infection than other similar metals. Another safe option for an initial piercing is a titanium implant.

After the piercing has healed, many people switch to piercing jewelry made from different materials. However, for those with more sensitive skin, we recommend sticking with gold and titanium to prevent irritation of the area as well as potential infection.

Our Favorite Unthreaded Stud Earrings

Do you need special cartilage earrings?

There are not necessarily unique earrings just for cartilage piercings, as the types of cartilage piercings vary greatly. The most valuable difference is the size of the track and the length of the post. This is based not only on your particular cartilage piercing, but also on the unique dimensions of your ear anatomy. Gauge size measures the thickness of the pin in the piercing hole.

Standard body jewelry sizes for most ear cartilage piercings, including helix, tragus, conch and dice, are 16 and 18 gauge, and standard lengths are 3/16", 1/4", 5/16". and 4/8". For industrial rods, 14 gauge is most common, and rod length varies with ear size and shape, but is often around 1 ½ inches.

Which is better: a hoop or a cartilage piercing stud?

Professionals recommend cartilage piercing with a stud. It is easier for a piercer to heal around a straight stud post because it leaves more room for possible swelling. If not enough space is left for the healing process, this can cause unnecessary irritation as well as possible infection, as there is a possibility that the earring could become lodged in the surrounding inflamed skin.

Our Favorite Cartilage Piercing Rings

Once the cartilage piercing has healed, you can choose from all the different styles of cartilage piercing jewelry, as long as they fit. Hoops are an excellent choice for cartilage piercing jewelry and are especially popular for helix and tragus piercing jewelry.

Before changing a cartilage earring for the first time, we recommend that you contact an experienced piercer. They can help you find the right size for your piercing, make sure it's healed, and even replace your jewelry.

What earrings can be worn in cartilage?

There are many options for cartilage piercing jewelry. Some of the best brands of cartilage earrings are Junipurr Jewelry, Buddha Jewelry Organics and BVLA. These brands not only offer a variety of styles, but also use high quality materials, including 14k gold, while maintaining affordable prices. We also encourage you to visit our online store!

For most cartilage piercings, after the initial stud has healed, many people opt for a hoop. The most common types of hoops for helix or tragus piercings are the seamless ring or the fixed bead ring.

Suture rings are rings without the obturator of the earring, which can be found in most hoops designed for the earlobe. Instead, one end of the hoop slides easily into the other end of the hoop. This allows them to be more understated.

Captive bead rings are hoops that close by attaching to a small bead. The bead serves the dual purpose of holding the earring in place, as well as serving as embellishment and style.

Others use ear cartilage studs, which can come in a variety of styles, from a small, simple gold bead to gemstones and a small design of a favorite cartoon character. Piercers generally recommend using silver studs for thicker sections of cartilage such as the tragus because they have longer studs and a flat base. This gives enough space for the cartilage to be pierced and also prevents any problems that may occur with a standard base.

There are so many options for cartilage piercings and the selection of cartilage piercing jewelry continues to expand. Visit our online store today to find the best jewelry for you.