14 Unique Types of Ear Piercings & Care Tips

Trendy Types of Ear Piercings for Females You’ll Love

It is time to go beyond the classic, always-elegant ear lobe piercing and get trendy with these new ear piercing types.

1- Industrial Ear Piercing

The industrial ear piercing is probably the most popular ear piercing trend. It works with two ear piercings in your ear cartilage, or the hardest part of your ear. It is painful but the jewelry will look great with industrial ear piercing.

• Healing time: Approx 9 months to one year
• Pain: Very painful

2- Tragus Ear Piercing

The tragus is the small bump in your ear that is close to your ear canal. The tragus ear piercing makes a bold fashion statement like no other.

• Healing time: Approx 9 months to one year
• Pain: Truly painful

3- Anti-Tragus Ear Piercing

The bump right in front of the tragus is anti-tragus. Both tragus and anti-tragus look good with thoughtful jewelry combinations of other ear jewelry.

• Healing time: Approx 9 months to one year
• Pain: Truly painful

4-Brian Keith Thompson's Signature Constellation Piercing

Brian Keith Thompson is a star piercer. He is known for working with Beyonce, Adele, Jenna Dewan, Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence, and many other celebrities. Constellation piercing style is his signature style. This ear piercing style was also a top trend on Pinterest.

The constellation piercing has multiple piercings, think of 4 or more, that are mostly in your ear lobe. These are perfect for small ear jewelry and give a look of star constellations

• Healing time: Approx 3-6 months
• Pain: Low if all ear piercing are in the ear lobe, medium if you get piercing on the cartilage too

5-Triple Lobe Piercing

The times of single ear lobe piercings are gone. Try this new triple lobe ear piercing style to make your ear look the  best it can.

You can experiment with the ear piercing design jewelry for all three lobe piercings or you can make a stunning show of the beautiful ear jewelry you have.

• Healing time: Approx 2-3 months
• Pain: Not much pain

Get Good Sleep When Your Ear Piercing is Healing

The ear piercing pain and discomfort can get in your way of getting sound sleep at night, our  Ear Piercing Pillowhelps you get good sleep with ear piercing.

Piercing Pillow works by creating a cushion between your ear and the bedding/pillow. Your ear piercing doesn't touch anything and doesn't get pressed or squeezed. You are sure to have a quality sleep with your ear piercing which will also help you heal quickly. 

6- Daith Ear Piercing

Looks like it is inside the ear, the daith ear piercing is not something you see every day. It is unique and it will stay unique for many years to come. If you can bear the pain of getting your daith ear pierced, you won’t regret it.

The daith ear piercing is one the latest in ear piercing fashion.

• Healing time: Approx 9 months to one year
• Pain: Truly painful

7-Double Inner Conch Piercing

Inner conch will always look cooler. It makes you look different, even in a crowd. This new year, don’t get single inner conch piercing, get double inner conch piercing.

• Healing time: Approx 3-6 months
• Pain: it will test you pain tolerance

8-Double Ear Lobe Piercing

Double ear lobe piercing is close to classics but correct jewelry will make it a fashionable-classic. Use small string jewelry for two ear lobe piercings or experiment with new jewelry and see how great it looks on you.

• Healing time: Approx 3-6 months
• Pain: Low

9-Triple Helix Piercing

Helix piercings are painful. A triple helix piercing looks great and gives you an edge over the crowd.

• Healing time: Approx 9 months to one year
• Pain: Will test you pain tolerance

10-Double Forward Helix Piercing

Double forwars helix piercing looks greate when you use gemstone studs. Small, gold-colored or gem stud will complement your style.

• Healing time: Approx 4–8 months
• Pain: Moderate

11. Orbital Piercing

An orbital piercing is one of the top ear piercing ideas that features a single ring that links two separate holes, usually located on the earlobe or outer helix. This connected look creates a stylish, continuous loop that is both trendy and elegant. You can customize your orbital piercing with hoops adorned with beads, charms, or gemstones to make it truly your own.

• Healing time: Approx 9 months to one year
• Pain: maybe the most painful

12. Rook Piercing

The rook piercing is positioned in the fold of cartilage just above the daith and below the rim of the ear. It’s an excellent spot for curved barbells or delicate rings. While subtle, the rook piercing packs a punch in style and makes a bold statement, especially when combined with other cartilage piercings to create a curated ear look.

• Healing time: Approx 6–12 months
• Pain: Truly painful

13. Auricle Piercing

Located between the earlobe and upper cartilage (helix), the auricle piercing is a versatile option that works well with both hoops and barbells. It adds an interesting layer to your ear stack and offers endless possibilities for personalizing your style with unique jewelry.

• Healing time: Approx 6–12 months
• Pain: Medium

14. Forward Helix Piercing (Single)

The forward helix is located at the front of the upper ear, right above the tragus. While you already have a double version listed, the single forward helix is still a popular and stylish choice for those looking for subtlety.

• Healing time: Approx 6–9 months
• Pain: Medium

How to take care of your ear piercing?

Your ear piercing care is easy if you keep the discipline. Here is how you should take care of your ear piercing to make it heal quickly.

• Don’t touch your ear piercing with dirty hands, always wash your hands before you touch your ear piercing.
• Clean your ear piercing with saline or salt water or anti-bacterial soap twice daily.
• Apply antibacterial ointment or cream on your ear piercings to make it heal even quicker and almost painless.
• For adults, don’t remove your ear jewelry for at least the first 6 weeks or your ear piercing hole may close.
• Lightly move your ear-piercing jewelry daily to keep it unstuck.
• Use an ear piercing pillow to get a quality sleep.
• Keep on the lookout for the signs of ear piercing infection. Some ear infection symptoms include redness of the ear piercing area, pain, fluid discharge, swelling, and fever.
• Consult your doctor if your infection in piercing is persistent. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other body parts like the neck, etc.

For more practical guidance, explore tips for ear piercing care to support faster and safer healing

How to find an Ear Piercer?

Finding an ear piercer, especially the one who is worth his salt, may be a challenge. Here are some places to start your search for ear piercers that can do a quality job.

• Start your search with tattoo parlors or piercing studios. Many piercing studios have ear piercings and a good , hygienic environment.
• Another great place to find the right ear piercer is by looking on the Association of Professional Piercers.
• For your shortlisted ear piercers, look into their portfolio, see their instagram feed, check the instagram posts they have been tagged in and read all the reviews you can find about them. Search 'pierce name + reviews" on Google to find their reviews.
• Prefer needles over guns for getting your ear pierced. It is good for both the quality of the piercing and hygiene.

Understand How to Select an Ear Piercer

How to Clean Ear Piercings?

Here is the simple, step-by-step process of cleaning ear piercing yourself.

• Wash your hands with an antibacterial soap
• Prepare sea salt and water solution by mixing 1/8th-1/4th teaspoon salt in a cup of water. You can also use saline for washing your ear piercing.
• You can also wash your ear piercing with antibacterial soap.
• Dab a cotton ball in the mixture and gently clean ear piercing
• Tap dry the ear piercing with a tissue or cotton
• Do this process and wash your ear piercing twice daily.
• Apply antibacterial ointment or cream on the ear piercing.
• Keep checking your ear piercing for any signs of ear infection in piercing. 

If you're looking for high-quality ear care products, check out the CNH Pillow Division Brands for a range of trusted options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it usually take for different ear piercings to heal?

Healing times vary depending on the piercing location—ear lobes typically heal in 2-3 months, while cartilage piercings like industrial or daith can take 9 months to a year.

What is the best way to clean a new ear piercing?

Use a saline or saltwater solution twice daily, avoid touching with dirty hands, gently clean with a cotton ball, and apply an antibacterial ointment as recommended.

Can I sleep comfortably with a fresh ear piercing?

Yes, using a specialized ear piercing pillow, like the SleepEasy Ear Piercing Pillow, can cushion your ear and prevent pain or irritation while sleeping.

What type of jewelry is best for new piercings?

Hypoallergenic, tarnish-resistant metals such as surgical steel or gold-plated minimalistic jewelry are ideal to reduce irritation and promote healing.

Is it better to get pierced with a needle or a gun?

Needle piercings are safer and more hygienic, providing cleaner holes and reducing the risk of complications compared to piercing guns.

How can I tell if my ear piercing is infected?

Signs of infection include redness, swelling, pain, discharge, and fever. If symptoms persist, consult a healthcare professional promptly.

Where can I find a reputable ear piercer?

Look for licensed piercing studios or tattoo parlors with good hygiene practices, check reviews online, and consider recommendations from the Association of Professional Piercers.