The piercing is the insertion of jewelry into various parts of the body. Ear piercing is one of the practices from ancient times. It is also called Karna Vedha. For some, ear piercing is still a tradition; however, it has become a style statement now, especially for men. There are a lot of factors that one needs to consider before going under the needle. You should know how much it will hurt, where to have it from, and how much it will cost.
So, we have tried to put everything in one place as a definitive guide to anything and everything about ear piercing.
Type of ear piercing
Ear piercings have gained enormous popularity over the years, which is not surprising. You can customize or wear it as per the occasion or your own personal style. Many types of ear piercings are available; each one holds some importance in your outfit. You can even mix those and match them with how you want to look. Before going for piercing, one should consider pain scale and healing time. There are mainly three types of ear piercing. These are lobe piercings, outer ear piercings, and inner ear piercings, which are further sub-divided into different categories.
1. Lobe Piercing
This is one of the most popular piercings among women and men, which is also accepted universally. Some of its examples are standard lobe piercing and transverse lobe piercing.
2. Outer Ear Piercings
This piercing is done on the outer part of the ear. It includes forward helix piercing, industrial piercing, auricle piercing, tragus piercing, and snug piercing.
3. Inner Ear Piercings
The piercing done on the middle and innermost parts of the ear is called inner ear piercing. It includes outer conch piercing, orbital piercing, helix piercing, rook piercing, daith piercing, and anti-tragus piercing.
Ear Piercing Chart
The good thing about ear piercing is that one can mix with different types to get a unique look. Below are some cool ear piercings, also called ear piercing chart. Let us get into each type to know more about these.
1. Standard Lobe Piercing
This one is traditional. Most people prefer this piercing since it is one of the least painful piercings. It is also easy to wear and is recommended to start with.
2. Transverse Lobe Piercing
This piercing is done from side to side of the lobe. It does not pass from the front to the back of the ear. This is usually done freehand, and the typical jewelry to wear is the barbell. It is also considered one of the least painful piercings.
3. Forward Helix Piercing
This piercing is done towards the outer part just above the tragus. It is considered to be painful since it is done through the cartilage of the ear. One can have a double or triple forward helix piercing too.
4. Industrial Piercing
This piercing comes in different variations and is considered to be great for modern looks. Instead of a single piercing, it is usually two or more piercings through the cartilage. A common type of industrial piercing is between the helix and forward helix and connecting it through a piece of barbell jewelry. The pain of this piercing is on the higher side.
5. Auricle Piercing
This piercing is usually done halfway up on the outer part of the ear between the lobe and helix. Being a cartilage piercing, it is painful and takes a longer recovery time.
6. Tragus Piercing
The tragus is the inner part that covers the ear canal. This is one of the most iconic spots for ear piercing because it looks great with other jewelry. One should keep in mind that the tragus contains cartilage which is also the hardest part of the outer ear, so it will be extremely painful to have this type of piercing.
7. Snug Piercing
Snug piercings are the most painful types since they get pierced through the inner cartilage of the ear. This is done through the inner ridge of the cartilage of the ear and sits above the anti-tragus. It looks unique and makes it an exceptionable ear piercing for standing out.
8. Outer Conch Piercing
This is in between the antihelix and helix. The outer conch is located on the upper cartilage. Large hoops are popular in the outer conch.
9. Orbital Piercing
As the name says, it orbits a particular part of the ear. In this piercing, two holes are made in the same area of the ear so that an earring can pass through both ends. The most common area for this piercing is the outer area and helix.
10. Helix Piercing
It is mainly found near the ear’s outer edge. This is just above the ear lobe and outside the tragus. It is fancy, and people also do two piercings (under one another) called double helix piercings. This is one of the most popular US ear piercing styles that are famous in India.
11. Rook Piercing
This is vertical in position and resembles the rook piece available in the game of chess. Rook piercing is on the same area of cartilage where the snug piercing is found. Both snug piercing and rook piercing are on the antihelix; however, there is a difference between the two. Rook piercing is towards the upper part of the ear, and snug piercing is towards the lower side.
12. Daith Piercing
This is the closest piercing towards the ear canal. It is connected to the innermost part of the cartilage near the tragus. Daith piercings look exceptional when paired with Tragus piercings.
13. Anti-Tragus Piercing
This is just above the tragus. The anti-tragus is an area in the ear cartilage. So, piercing the anti-tragus is extremely painful.
So, if we rank these piercings based on the pain level, industrial piercing is by far the most painful piercing. The recovery time for this piercing is about eight to ten months. On the other hand, lobe piercing is the lowest on the pain meter because of its placement towards the softer side of the ear. It usually heals within a month.
Ear piercing to match the face
Some people find it difficult to choose the best ear piercing according to the face. First, it is important to know and understand your face shape and then decide on the correct type of piercing that can best flatter your features and enhance your looks. The common face shape types are round, oval, square, rectangle, and triangle. It is also essential to know the forehead, cheekbones, and chin which are critical for the face shape.
1. Oval Face
Almost every earring suits this shape; however, simple studs or triangular earrings will stand out.
2. Round Face
To make a face look slimmer, one should try a drop or dangle earrings and should avoid hoops or button studs.
3. Square Face
Earrings that are medium to long with rounded edges will suit best on a square face.
4. Rectangle Face
To provide some lift to the face, one should wear round styles.
5. Triangle Face
The ones with the triangle faces should go for lobe piercing and choose the earrings that narrow to the bottom, for example, chain link huggies and chandelier earrings.
Ear piercing in different countries
Ear piercing is not new. It has many years of history and has touched almost every country on Earth. In ancient times, ear piercing and wearing jewelry is considered to be a symbol of royalty and courage. These days, ear piercing in different countries holds different values and importance. When traveling to a foreign country and you are a pierced traveler, you should know whether the country you visit accepts piercings or your jewelry’s cultural implications.
Most people in US and Canada have a culture of ear piercing. But people avoid ear piercing if we look at other countries like Japan, Israel, or UAE. Many religions in these countries have even banned piercings or any kind of body modifications, including tattoos. So, there is a risk of not getting entry to such countries if you are a pierced traveler, and more importantly, it is a matter of respect for their local culture. Places like Australia and Europe have acceptance of ear piercings.
Conclusion
Though ear piercings are common and trendy, one should also consider their risks. One should be capable of tolerating the pain that occurs during ear piercing followed by taking care of it. The studies show that there is a chance of 24% of infection after ear piercing; however, the risk is very low. Ear piercing also has some benefits; for example, it helps digestion, appetite control, insomnia, and migraine relief. So, ear piercing will not just make you look good but also has excellent health benefits.
