13 Delicate Piercings to Upgrade Your Ear

The ever-reliable go-to, the standard lobe is a great place to start if you’re new to piercings. These are typically less painful, and they heal more quickly than most other ear piercings, which makes them a reliable staple for anyone who hasn’t been pierced before. They can also give you an idea of how your body heals, and make for a strong first step in your earring upgrade.

The upper lobe is another easy piercing positioned just above the standard lobe. For those who want something more than a standard lobe, but are worried about the pain, these are great piercings to try, since they mostly involve the fleshy lobe and not any major cartilage. Accompanied by a standard lobe, there are endless jewelry options to make these piercings stand out. Try two matching hoops or a pair of studs for a more classic feel, or up the ante and go for three lobe piercings to really stand out.

The conch piercing is done to the inner, rounded cartilage of your ear, appropriately named because this area often mimics the appearance of a conch shell. Although everyone deals with pain differently, this tends to be a slightly more sensitive piercing since the cartilage is fairly thick. However, it’s still totally doable, especially with an experienced piercer, and it can be customized with a hoop that wraps around the outside of the ear (an outer conch piercing) or with a stud that rests within the cartilage (an inner conch piercing). Whichever way you do it, this is a simple, versatile piercing to add to your collection.

The auricle is often overlooked as another helix piercing, but it tends to be much lower on the ear. A good way to think of it is near the conch, but on the outer edge of the ear instead of the inner area. It also deals with quite a bit of cartilage, but it’s oftentimes not as thick as an upper cartilage piercing would be, which makes it less painful than a true helix, but more painful than a lobe. This piercing is great for hoops, and is perfect if you’re worried about the pain and want something a little more unexpected for your next piercing.

A snug piercing is definitely lesser known, but it’s a beautiful option for smaller, more delicate jewelry. It hugs the lower, inner part of your ear, positioned right where the inner cartilage meets the outer cartilage, just inward of where an auricle piercing would be. However, because of its specific placement, it’s not the right choice for everyone, so make sure to consult your piercer before moving forward with this one. When done right, it can make for a modern, unique piercing that not everyone has. Be prepared for a decent amount of pain though, since this cartilage is especially strong.

An anti-tragus piercing is located right below where a snug placement would be, which puts it in the triangular cartilage directly above the ear lobe. It’s another delicate piercing that’s not quite as common as other cartilage piercings, which makes it the perfect choice for someone looking for their own custom look. But because the anti-tragus is such a small area, it does come with a bit more pain than your typical ear piercing, and can take up to a year to heal.

For a more noticeable piercing to show off, the helix is a great place to turn to. Helix piercings are done in the upper cartilage of the ear, and can offer some aesthetic balance if your ear feels a little bottom-heavy. These piercings definitely tend to hurt more than lobes, but they’re said to be easier than the thick cartilage piercings of the snug and anti-tragus. For jewelry, consider an attention-grabbing stud, or maybe even go for multiple helix piercings for that badass look.

The forward helix is one placement where multiple piercings are not uncommon. Located on the opposite side of the upper ear, across from where a traditional helix would be, double or triple helix piercings are small, but they pack a punch. If you’re looking for something subtle but more uncommon, a forward helix (or two, or three) would make an ideal addition.

There are tons of fun jewelry options for every piercing, but with the daith, there’s so much you can do to make the piercing your own. From sleek metal hearts, to golden hoops, to bright gemstones, the daith can be personalized to match your own aesthetic. Daith piercings are found in the small strip of cartilage where the top of the ear connects to the inner ear. This piercing is pretty average on the pain scale, with more intense discomfort post-piercing, but some people have said that their daith piercing also helped reduce migraine pain (although there is no substantial scientific evidence to back this up). Sounds like a potential win-win for your next piercing.

The tragus piercing is found on the inner piece of cartilage closest to your face, which serves to protect the ear canal. It’s a fairly thick piece of cartilage and not an ideal choice for beginners, but it shouldn’t be too much worse than any other cartilage piercing (although pain is still relative). The only real difference is how close the needle is to your ear canal, which makes for a piercing you can really hear. The jury is still out on whether that’s cool or terrifying, but the beautiful end result is so worth it.

The rook is hidden in the cartilage near the tragus and right above the daith. It’s another more modern piercing that you don’t see everyday, but isn’t that the point? The other good news is that the pain is similar to any other cartilage piercing, and it only takes a few months to fully heal (around six on average). Try a barbell to start, then consider some fun hoops after the piercing has had some time to heal.

Finally, the orbital is one of the more modern piercings to grace the world of body modifications, but it’s a fantastic choice if you want to stand out from the rest and try something completely new. It’s similar to the industrial piercing in that it also involves two or more piercings, but the jewelry used is typically rounded. Another unique thing about the orbital piercing is that it can be set virtually anywhere, like the helix or lobe area, depending on your anatomy. For a next-level piercing that will fulfill all your cosmic fantasies, the orbital is the perfect choice.