From me and my sister: names, pain levels, healing, and what they actually feel like
Disclaimer: This guide is based on our personal experiences, and pain levels can vary for everyone. Before getting my piercings, I liked hearing other people’s honest opinions about pain and healing, so hopefully this is helpful or a little comforting if you’re thinking about getting pierced!!
All ratings are based on needle piercings, not piercing guns.
Lobe Piercings (Firsts, Seconds, and Thirds)
Pain Level: 2/10
Honestly, this one is barely anything — just a quick pinch. All three of my lobe piercings felt pretty much the same to me. However, my sister mentioned that her thirds hurt a lot more than her firsts and seconds, so even with the same piercing, experiences can vary.
Healing*: 9/10
Lobe piercings heal super quickly compared to cartilage piercings. For the first 3–5 nights, sleeping can feel slightly uncomfortable because your ears are a little sore against the pillow. After that, if you treat them properly, you usually don’t feel them at all.
Looks: 6/10
They’re super versatile and easy to style, but also very basic. Still, they’re a great base if you want to build a stacked ear look.
*the higher the healing score, the harder / more annoying it was to heal
Helix (Upper Outer Cartilage)
Pain Level: 4/10
Surprisingly, this piercing wasn’t very painful. It might also be because it was my first cartilage piercing, and I was expecting something way worse.
Healing: 5/10
My first helix piercing healed terribly, but that was completely my fault. I removed the jewelry after two weeks (which you should ABSOLUTELY NOT do), which caused it to get infected and even started bleeding.
The second time I got my helix pierced, the healing process was much calmer. That said, helix piercings can still be annoying because they’re on the outer edge of your ear, so they can get caught in hair, clothes, or masks. Sleeping on that side can also be uncomfortable for a few weeks.
Looks: 9/10
Helix piercings really elevate an ear stack. They look especially cute with small hoops (and if you get double helix on one ear), which is why I’m obsessed!!
Forward Helix
Pain Level: 8.5/10
This was actually the most painful piercing for me, which completely surprised me. I assumed it would feel similar to a regular helix, but I definitely felt more pressure. But my piercer also told me that I have a very small forward helix area, which may have made it more painful.
Healing: 6/10
Healing wasn’t too bad overall. One advantage is that forward helix piercings don’t get caught on things as easily as regular helix piercings because they’re tucked toward the front of the ear.
Looks: 7.5/10
At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked it, but over time, it really grew on me. It’s a small detail that adds something extra to the front of the ear.
Rook
Pain Level: 7/10
This one was about what I expected. Maybe even less painful than I thought. The actual piercing process felt like a split second. That being said, this was the only piercing where the pain lasted for a couple of days afterward. With my other piercings, the pain disappeared within an hour or two, but with the rook, I felt a small throbbing sensation throughout the day for 2-3 days.
Healing: 7.5/10
Because the rook sits inside the ear, it’s easier to sleep on your side compared to outer cartilage piercings like the helix. It also doesn’t get snagged on things as often.
The downside is the healing time. I got mine pierced about 7 months ago, and it’s still not fully healed. If I press on it, it can feel it’s still slightly sensitive.
Looks: 10/10
I love them. No notes.Â
From here on out is my sister’s opinions: (since I don’t have these pierced haha)Â
Daith Piercing
Pain: 2/10
Surprisingly, not really painful, she said she just felt a lot of pressure.
Healing: 8/10 (with some issues)
Healing wasn’t terrible, but moisture irritation caused a bump for her. It’s also difficult to see in the mirror, which makes cleaning very difficult.
Overall Look: 12/10
So worth it!! Daith rings look amazing and stand out a lot.
Conch Piercing
- Pain: 6.5/10
One of her most painful piercings (and according to her, she has a pretty high pain tolerance). - Healing: 6/10
Healing was okay overall, but not perfect. This was mainly because she accidentally touched it a few times (which definitely didn’t help, oops).
Overall Look: 10/10
Super versatile. Looks cute with both a hoop and a stud, so you can switch up the style easily.