Ear Piercing Chart
The Ear Piercing Chart is a reference tool covering all major ear piercing types — lobe, helix, tragus, daith, rook, conch, industrial, and more. Look up pain levels, healing times, recommended jewellery gauge, and aftercare instructions for every placement. Printable and downloadable versions are available on this page.
Ear Piercing Chart — Types and Healing Times
| Piercing Name | Location on the Ear | Pain Level (1–10) | Typical Healing Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lobe (Standard) | Lower soft lobe | 2–3 / 10 | 6–8 weeks | Most common first piercing. Fastest to heal. Can be done with gun or needle — needle recommended. |
| Lobe (Upper) | Upper lobe above standard position | 2–3 / 10 | 6–8 weeks | Popular for stacking multiple lobe piercings. |
| Transverse Lobe | Horizontal bar through the lobe | 3–5 / 10 | 2–3 months | Barbell sits horizontally through the lobe — both ends visible on the front. |
| Helix | Outer rim of the upper ear | 4–5 / 10 | 6–12 months | Very popular cartilage piercing. Gun not recommended — needle only. |
| Forward Helix | Inner fold at front top of ear, above tragus | 5–7 / 10 | 6–12 months | More complex anatomy — placement matters. Needle only. |
| Double or Triple Helix | Multiple helix piercings in a row | 4–5 / 10 each | 6–12 months per piercing | Each heals individually. Do not pierce all at once. |
| Industrial (Scaffold) | Single barbell connecting two upper cartilage points | 6–7 / 10 | 6–12 months | Challenging to heal — any movement of either end affects both. Anatomy dependent. |
| Rook | Inner ridge above anti-tragus inside the bowl | 6–7 / 10 | 6–12 months | Only possible on ears with defined rook anatomy. |
| Daith | Innermost cartilage fold entering the ear canal | 5–6 / 10 | 6–12 months | Popular — some people report migraine relief though evidence is anecdotal. |
| Tragus | Small cartilage flap at front of ear canal opening | 4–6 / 10 | 6–9 months | Feels more uncomfortable than painful. Pressure sensation during piercing. |
| Anti-Tragus | Raised fold opposite the tragus across the ear opening | 6–8 / 10 | 6–12 months | Requires suitable anatomy — not everyone can have this piercing. |
| Conch (Inner) | Central bowl of the ear | 5–6 / 10 | 6–12 months | Large flat cartilage — needle only. Large flat back disc required for initial jewellery. |
| Conch (Outer) | Outer portion of the bowl | 5–6 / 10 | 6–12 months | Cuff jewellery can sit in this location. |
| Orbital | Two holes connected by one ring — usually helix or lobe | 4–5 / 10 per hole | 6–12 months | Usually placed in the helix or lobe. Both holes must heal simultaneously. |
| Snug (Anti-Helix) | Inner ridge parallel to outer helix | 7–8 / 10 | 6–12 months | Very anatomy-dependent — painful due to thick cartilage. High rejection risk. |
| Flat | Flat cartilage between helix and conch | 4–6 / 10 | 6–12 months | Good surface for flat-back labret studs. |
Source: Association of Professional Piercers (APP) healing time guidelines
Ear Piercing Aftercare Guide
Piercing Jewellery Materials Guide
| Material | Safe for Initial Piercings? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Implant-grade titanium (ASTM F136) | Yes — recommended | The gold standard for initial piercings. Lightweight, anodised to any colour. No nickel. |
| Implant-grade steel (ASTM F138) | Yes | Excellent option. Slightly heavier than titanium. Confirmed nickel-free grades only. |
| Solid 14k or 18k gold | Yes — high quality | Real gold is safe. Avoid gold-plated — the plating wears and exposes base metal. |
| Niobium | Yes | Good alternative for nickel-sensitive individuals. |
| Sterling silver | No for initial piercings | Tarnishes and releases copper compounds that irritate healing tissue. Fine for fully healed piercings. |
| Surgical steel (unspecified) | Caution | Low-quality surgical steel may contain nickel. Ask for ASTM F138 certified steel specifically. |
| Acrylic or plastic | No | Porous and cannot be sterilised. Appropriate only for short-term use in healed piercings. |
| Gold-plated, brass, or mystery metals | No | Plating wears and exposes base metals. High risk of irritation and allergic reaction. |
Source: Association of Professional Piercers (APP) jewellery standards
Ear Piercing Guide
Click any piercing type in the grid below to see pain rating, healing time, recommended jewellery, and aftercare instructions for that placement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the least painful ear piercing?
The standard earlobe piercing is consistently the least painful ear piercing — typically rated 2 to 3 out of 10. The soft tissue heals quickly and the pain is brief.
How long do ear piercings take to heal?
Lobe piercings heal in 6 to 8 weeks. All cartilage piercings (helix, tragus, daith, rook, conch, industrial) take 6 to 12 months to fully heal regardless of how they feel from the outside.
Can I change my earring after 6 weeks?
You can typically change a lobe piercing after 6 to 8 weeks if it feels fully healed. Cartilage piercings should not be changed for at least 6 months — and many professional piercers recommend 9 to 12 months before downsizing jewellery.
Can you get a daith piercing with a gun?
No — daith, helix, tragus, and all cartilage piercings should only be done with a needle by a professional piercer. Piercing guns cannot be fully sterilised, cause more blunt tissue trauma than needles, and are not suitable for cartilage anatomy.
Does the daith piercing really help with migraines?
The daith piercing is located where acupuncture points associated with headaches are mapped — the anecdotal evidence from people reporting migraine relief is widespread. However no clinical trials support daith piercing as a migraine treatment and the APP and most neurologists do not endorse it as medical treatment.
What is the hardest ear piercing to heal?
The industrial (scaffold) and snug (anti-helix) piercings are considered the most challenging to heal. Both involve significant cartilage and are easily disturbed by sleeping, glasses, or headphone use — making them prone to irritation bumps and extended healing.
Why won't my cartilage piercing heal?
The most common reasons cartilage piercings fail to heal are: incorrect jewellery (too short causing pressure, wrong material causing reaction), physical disruption (sleeping on it, snag, hair products), or inadequate aftercare. See a professional piercer for an assessment if a cartilage piercing is not healing after 3 months of proper care.
Is a helix or tragus more painful?
Most people report the tragus as slightly more uncomfortable than the helix — there is more pressure and the sensation of needle through firm cartilage near the ear canal is psychologically intense. However many people also report the snap through the tragus is quicker and the helix may be more uncomfortable because of its larger surface area.