Ear Piercings For Men: Best Types, Healing Time And Which Ear
Quick answer: the most popular ear piercings for men are the lobe and the helix. A lobe heals in a minimum of three months and a helix in six. Beyond the ear, the septum and eyebrow are popular face piercings for men. Any of them can be done with Surgical Steel jewellery.
If you're thinking about getting pierced and not sure where to start, the most useful first question isn't 'which looks best'. It's 'what suits my anatomy, and how much of a commitment am I signing up for?'
The lobe is forgiving. Cartilage takes longer. Some face and body piercings carry a risk that your body pushes the jewellery out, which doesn't always get mentioned upfront. This guide covers what you actually need to know before you book, and every piercing is done by a SkinKandy piercing specialist.
What Are The Best Ear Piercings For Men?
The lobe is the most popular ear piercing for men and the easiest place to start, followed by the helix. Here's how the five most popular placements compare. For the full picture, see our ear piercing placements guide.
Pain is subjective, so treat this as a general guide rather than a guarantee of what you'll feel. Everyone's pain tolerance is different.
Lobe
The lobe is the most popular ear piercing for men, and a logical starting point. It heals faster than any other placement, takes flatback studs or hoops equally well and is easy to downsize once the initial swelling settles.
Stacked Lobe
A single lobe is a popular first piercing for men, often followed by a second or third stacking point later on. The stacked lobe look is what a lot of men who've been pierced a while are working towards.
Helix
After the lobe, the helix, the curved rim of cartilage at the top of the ear, is a popular next piercing for men. It's visible, versatile and works with either a hoop or a flat disc stud without looking out of place on most styles.
Tragus
A tragus sits in the small flap of cartilage just in front of your ear canal, and it's a subtle choice if you want something understated. We start with flatback jewellery, a sterile downsize happens at 6 to 8 weeks and it's fully healed after a minimum of six months. For more on this placement, see our beginner's guide to tragus piercings.
Conch
For something a bit more considered, the conch (the inner bowl of the ear) is worth a look. A flat disc stud sits flush, clean and modern. It has more presence than people expect without being immediately obvious.
Which Ear Should You Get Pierced?
It doesn't matter which ear. It comes down to what you like.
If you want a practical tiebreaker, pick the side you don't sleep on, because you'll need to stay off a fresh piercing while it heals. Or go both. Many men who've been pierced for a while go for both ears, with two or three piercings at different heights on each side.
Stud Or Hoop? What Jewellery Works Best For Men
Start with a flatback stud and move to a hoop once it's healed. For a fresh lobe or helix piercing, the starting jewellery is a flatback labret stud. The flat back sits flush against the skin, reduces snagging on clothing and is much easier to manage day to day than a traditional butterfly-back stud. Browse our lobe piercing jewellery for styles that work for an initial piercing.
All piercings at SkinKandy start with Surgical Steel as the standard jewellery. If you have sensitive or reactive skin, Implant-Grade Titanium is the upgrade to consider: it doesn't contain nickel and is gentle on sensitive skin.
Once a helix or conch has healed, a segment ring or seamless hoop is one of the favourites.
How Long Does A Men's Ear Piercing Take To Heal?
A lobe is fully healed in a minimum of three months, and cartilage piercings like the helix, conch and tragus take a minimum of six. A lobe piercing done by needle is ready for a sterile downsize at 6 to 8 weeks. A helix, conch, rook or tragus has the same downsize point but takes longer to heal fully, because cartilage has a more limited blood supply than a lobe. For more placements, see healing time by piercing type.
For aftercare, clean your piercing twice a day, morning and night, with your aftercare spray, then let it dry. Don't twist the jewellery. Avoid swimming in pools, spas or the ocean until your piercing specialist says it's safe. Not sure which aftercare to choose? Our NeilMed vs SkinKandy Advanced Aftercare comparison explains the difference. Our post-piercing aftercare guide covers the full process from day one to a fully healed piercing.
Does An Ear Piercing Hurt For Men?
A lobe piercing is a quick pinch, rated 2 out of 10. A helix is rated 4 and a conch 4 to 5, because cartilage is denser. Pain is subjective, so treat this as a general guide rather than a guarantee of what you'll feel. Everyone's pain tolerance is different.
Face Piercings Men Also Book
The septum and eyebrow are popular face piercings for men.
A septum piercing suits workplaces with jewellery policies, because a horseshoe or circular barbell can be worn openly or flipped up inside the nose. Placement depends on your anatomy: it goes through the columella, the narrow strip of soft tissue at the base of the nose, and not every nose has a pronounced one. We'll check before piercing and tell you honestly if the sweet spot isn't there.
Eyebrow piercings are popular too, but they sit close to the surface of the skin, so there's a risk your body pushes the jewellery out (called rejection). Good placement and the right gauge of curved barbell reduce it significantly.
Ear Piercing For Men FAQs
What Is The Best Ear Piercing For A Man Who Hasn't Been Pierced Before?
A lobe piercing is the most practical first choice. It heals in a minimum of three months, carries minimal rejection risk and adapts to most jewellery styles once healed. A helix is a good next step for men who want a cartilage placement without committing to a longer, more intensive heal.
Can Men Get A Septum Piercing For Work?
Yes. A horseshoe or circular barbell in a septum can be flipped up inside the nose so it isn't visible, which makes the septum one of the most practical face piercings for workplaces with jewellery restrictions. If you need to keep it tucked, our aftercare guide recommends keeping it that way for the whole healing period.
How Old Do You Need To Be For A Piercing At SkinKandy?
Most ear and nose piercings are available from 13 with a parent or legal guardian's consent. First lobes are available from 5 years (needle) or 6 months (needle-free), and second lobes from 10 years. The parent or guardian stays for the appointment and brings their own photo ID. From 16 you can consent yourself (18 in WA). Nipple piercings are 18 and over. Our ID and consent page has the full rules.
Can Boys Get Their Ears Pierced?
Yes. A needle-free first lobe piercing is available from 6 months, a needle first lobe from 5 years and second lobes from 10 years, all with a parent or guardian's consent.
Can I Get Both Ears Done At Once?
Yes, you can have two piercings in one appointment, and for needle-free lobes we offer a double operator option, where two piercing specialists do both lobes at the same time.
Will A Men's Ear Piercing Close Up If You Stop Wearing Jewellery?
Yes, it can. A healed lobe can close or tighten significantly without jewellery, particularly in the first few years. How quickly depends on how long it's been healed and how consistently you've worn jewellery. Cartilage piercings tend to close more slowly than lobes, but they're not permanent. Even a well-healed helix will shrink without something in it.
Find Your Nearest Studio
Ready to get pierced, or just want an anatomy check before you commit? See our piercing menu for the full list of placements. We have over 100 studios across Australia and New Zealand, and you can find your nearest studio here.
Walk-ins are welcome at most studios. For a stacking consultation or a more involved placement, book ahead to get more time with our team.
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