Piercing types: ear and face piercing guide

Piercings are named after the part of the body they go through. Knowing the names makes it much easier to ask a studio for exactly what you want, and to understand why some piercings take a few weeks to heal while others take most of a year.

The maps below show where 13 popular piercings sit on the ear and face. Under each map you will find what each piercing is, a typical healing time and the jewelry most piercers start with. Everyone heals differently, so treat the times as a rough guide and follow the aftercare your own piercer gives you.

Ear piercing types

Ear piercing map labelling the lobe, helix, forward helix, tragus, daith, rook, conch and industrial piercings — Where the eight most popular ear piercings sit.

Lobe piercing

The soft, fleshy bottom of the ear. It has no cartilage, which makes it the classic first piercing.

Typical healing time: About 6 to 8 weeks, often a little longer before you change jewelry
Starter jewelry: Flat-back labret stud or threadless stud; rings once healed

Lobes can be stacked (first, second and third lobe) and are the easiest piercings to look after.

Helix piercing

The outer rim of cartilage that curls around the top and side of the ear.

Typical healing time: About 6 to 12 months
Starter jewelry: Flat-back labret stud to start; a ring can follow once fully healed

Cartilage heals slowly and dislikes pressure, so try not to sleep on that side while it heals.

Forward helix piercing

The front part of the rim, just above where the ear meets the face, near the tragus.

Typical healing time: About 6 to 12 months
Starter jewelry: Small flat-back labret studs

Often done as a pair or trio of small studs in a line.

Tragus piercing

The small flap of cartilage in front of the ear canal.

Typical healing time: About 6 to 12 months
Starter jewelry: Flat-back labret stud

Earbuds and phone calls can press on a fresh tragus piercing, so be gentle with it.

Daith piercing

The fold of cartilage just above the ear canal, where the rim of the ear (the helix) runs into the bowl of the ear.

Typical healing time: About 6 to 12 months
Starter jewelry: Small ring, seam ring or curved barbell

A tricky placement that needs an experienced piercer, because the needle has to pass through a tight, curved fold.

Rook piercing

The ridge of cartilage in the upper inner ear, between the inner and outer conch, running parallel to the rim.

Typical healing time: About 6 to 12 months, sometimes longer
Starter jewelry: Curved barbell

Fit depends a lot on ear shape. A good piercer will tell you if your rook ridge is pronounced enough.

Conch piercing

The bowl-shaped middle of the ear. An inner conch sits in the bowl; an outer conch sits on the flat area between the bowl and the rim.

Typical healing time: About 6 to 12 months
Starter jewelry: Flat-back labret stud; a large ring can be fitted to an outer conch once healed

One of the larger cartilage areas, so there is plenty of room for placement.

Industrial piercing

Two holes in the upper ear, usually a forward helix and a helix, joined by one straight bar.

Typical healing time: About 9 to 12 months or more, since it is really two cartilage piercings
Starter jewelry: Long straight barbell sized to your ear

Swelling in one hole affects the other, so some piercers suggest healing two separate holes before fitting the bar.

Face piercing types

Face piercing map labelling the nostril, septum, eyebrow, lip and tongue piercings — Where five common face and oral piercings sit.

Nostril piercing

The side of the nose, on the curve of the nostril.

Typical healing time: About 4 to 6 months, sometimes up to 9
Starter jewelry: Flat-back labret stud or nostril screw to start; a ring once healed

Placement is usually lined up with the crease of the nostril.

Septum piercing

The thin strip of soft tissue at the front of the nose, just in front of the cartilage, between the nostrils (not the cartilage itself).

Typical healing time: About 2 to 3 months
Starter jewelry: Circular barbell (horseshoe) or ring

A circular barbell can be flipped up inside the nose to hide it when needed.

Eyebrow piercing

A vertical surface-style piercing through the outer part of the eyebrow.

Typical healing time: About 2 to 3 months
Starter jewelry: Curved barbell

Because it sits close to the surface, an eyebrow piercing can migrate or reject over time.

Lip piercing

Usually below the bottom lip (a labret) or at the side of the lip; there are several named variations.

Typical healing time: About 2 to 3 months
Starter jewelry: Flat-back labret stud, with a longer post at first to allow for swelling

Ask your piercer about downsizing the post once swelling goes down, to protect your teeth and gums.

Tongue piercing

A vertical piercing through the middle of the tongue.

Typical healing time: About 4 to 6 weeks for the first stage
Starter jewelry: Straight barbell, starting long and swapped for a shorter one once swelling settles

Expect noticeable swelling for the first few days. Downsizing the bar and choosing small balls helps protect teeth and gums.

Healing time and jewelry at a glance

Piercing	Area	Typical healing time	Starter jewelry
Lobe	Ear	About 6 to 8 weeks, often a little longer before you change jewelry	Flat-back labret stud or threadless stud; rings once healed
Helix	Ear	About 6 to 12 months	Flat-back labret stud to start; a ring can follow once fully healed
Forward helix	Ear	About 6 to 12 months	Small flat-back labret studs
Tragus	Ear	About 6 to 12 months	Flat-back labret stud
Daith	Ear	About 6 to 12 months	Small ring, seam ring or curved barbell
Rook	Ear	About 6 to 12 months, sometimes longer	Curved barbell
Conch	Ear	About 6 to 12 months	Flat-back labret stud; a large ring can be fitted to an outer conch once healed
Industrial	Ear	About 9 to 12 months or more, since it is really two cartilage piercings	Long straight barbell sized to your ear
Nostril	Face	About 4 to 6 months, sometimes up to 9	Flat-back labret stud or nostril screw to start; a ring once healed
Septum	Face	About 2 to 3 months	Circular barbell (horseshoe) or ring
Eyebrow	Face	About 2 to 3 months	Curved barbell
Lip	Face	About 2 to 3 months	Flat-back labret stud, with a longer post at first to allow for swelling
Tongue	Face	About 4 to 6 weeks for the first stage	Straight barbell, starting long and swapped for a shorter one once swelling settles

Aftercare basics

Clean the piercing with sterile saline wound wash, usually once or twice a day, and let it dry.
Leave the jewelry alone: no twisting or turning, and wash your hands before touching it.
Avoid pressure on new cartilage piercings, including sleeping on them, tight hats and earbuds.
Keep fresh piercings out of pools, hot tubs, lakes and the sea until healed.
Go back to your piercer to downsize jewelry once the first swelling goes down, especially for cartilage, lip and tongue piercings.
Redness, heat, spreading pain, fever or yellow-green discharge can mean infection. See a doctor, and do not take the jewelry out unless they tell you to.

Choosing a piercer

Look for a clean studio with an autoclave and single-use needles (not a piercing gun for body piercings), implant-grade jewelry such as ASTM F136 titanium, a clear aftercare plan and a piercer who is happy to answer questions. Many experienced piercers belong to the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). Body and cartilage piercings should be done with a sterile, single-use needle rather than a piercing gun. Rules for minors vary by state, so ask the studio what ID or parental consent it needs. Browse piercing shops by state or use the button below to find studios near you.

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Frequently asked questions

Which ear piercing hurts the least?

Most people find the lobe the least painful, because it is soft tissue with no cartilage. Cartilage piercings such as the helix, tragus, daith, rook and conch usually feel sharper and take longer to heal.

How long do cartilage piercings take to heal?

Typically around 6 to 12 months, and an industrial can take longer because it is two cartilage piercings joined by one bar. Lobe piercings usually take about 6 to 8 weeks.

What jewelry is best for a new piercing?

Implant-grade titanium (ASTM F136), niobium or solid 14k or 18k gold. Flat-back studs are common for ear and nostril piercings because they sit comfortably while you heal.

What is the difference between a daith and a rook?

Both are in the inner ear. A daith goes through the fold just above the ear canal and usually holds a small ring. A rook goes vertically through the ridge higher up in the ear and usually holds a curved barbell.

Can I get several piercings at once?

Often, yes, but many piercers suggest limiting how many cartilage piercings you heal at the same time, and avoiding piercings on both ears if you need to sleep on one side.

Illustrations are original drawings made for this site. This guide is general information, not medical advice.