Helix piercing 101: Types, healing times and care

The helix piercing has become one of the most iconic piercings in the last decade — and with good reason. With its unique position on or near the line where your ear’s curved outer cartilage rim meets the ear itself, the helix is the perfect place to add to your stack styling or create a statement piece on its own.

Thinking about getting a helix piercing yourself?

At SkinKandy, we’re lucky to have performed thousands of these for our customers. And we take expert care using the highest quality jewellery to make the process a breeze. Before you book in, read on for the basics of helix piercing to get in the know.

Types of helix piercings

One of the best things about the helix piercing is how many ways you can do it. And if you’re looking for a new piercing that’s a little out of the ordinary, it certainly meets the brief.

So, where is the helix exactly?

Your outer ear has two parts: the lobes and the cartilage. From there, your cartilage has several parts, with the helix being the specific area that runs along the curved outer edge and top of your ear rim.

In this space, there are lots of different types of helix piercings we can do.

Single Helix Piercing

A traditional single helix piercing is done on the arc of your curved outer cartilage rim, furthest from the face. Even though it’s just one piercing, it still makes a statement, and you can choose from a large variety of jewellery both initially and after healing!

Double Helix Piercing

Two is always better than one, and our customers who get a double helix agree. You’ll receive two helix piercings stacked vertically on each other, one on the outer edge of the ear below the curve and the other sitting on top of your earlobe. Style it any way you like, two hinged segment rings, two cubic zirconia claw set gems.. the possibilities are endless!

@skinkandy Obessed with this double helix 😍 #skinkandy #helix #piercedbysk ♬ original sound - SkinKandy

Triple Helix Piercing

Curated ears your goal? This group of piercings features three pieces of jewellery that dot along the outside of the ear, following the curve of the ear.

Forward Helix Piercing

This one is positioned straight across from where a traditional single helix is done, but this one sits in the inner cartilage of your ear either above or below the ‘rook’. Some people are just born lucky- with room for multiple forward helix piercings vertically along their ear.

Mid-Helix Piercing

The mid helix piercing is another type of single helix piercing, but its positioning is what sets them apart. As the name suggests, the mid helix sits in the middle zone of your outer ear, directly across from your ‘tragus’. Their placement within the ear curve means that they’re perfectly fitted for crescent shaped multi gem jewellery, like our CZ ROUND GEM CURVE TOP TITANIUM LABRET.

Hidden Helix Piercing

This unique hybrid combines a helix and flat piercing and is done underneath the curl of the helix rim. You’ll wear specially designed jewellery featuring a curved front attachment that hides under the helix rim. Then, a showstopping chain or dangle drops from the front to give the illusion of a floating earring.

Vertical Helix Piercing

Want something a little bold? A vertical helix may be for you. This piercing is placed along and through the upper helix rim. Better still, you can place a vertical helix in multiples along the rim — including using gemmed or premium tops — to get a standout ‘mohawk’ look.

Everything you need to know about getting a helix piercing

Getting a new piercing is both exciting and sometimes nerve-racking! It’s only normal that you have questions! Before you book in for your helix piercing with us, read through these commonly askedQ’S, and their answers, to learn the basics.

How old do I have to be for a helix piercing?

At SkinKandy, you’ll be allowed to have a helix piercing from 13 years of age with parental/ legal guardian consent. Without parental/ legal guardian consent, you must be 16 years old. Our WA customers, however, must wait until they’re 18 years old to have their helix pierced without parental/ legal guardian consent.

How much does a helix piercing cost?

At SkinKandy, our helix piercings start from $45 per piercing with steel jewellery. We also offer basic externally threaded titanium, and implant grade internally threaded titanium- these options are not only nickel free- but also higher quality for optimal healing. But it doesn’t have to be boring! We stock a huge range of different shapes, coloured gems and even ring options- to ensure you walk away IN LOVE with your new Helix piercing. 

Want some inspiration for other piercings? Check out our piercing menu and price list, and start dreaming of those curated ear goals.

How is a helix piercing performed?

Thankfully, the process for a helix piercing is pretty fast. As trained professionals who’ve been doing them for years, we make the process as simple and pain-free as possible. 

Before we start, we’ll quickly check your ear anatomy to make sure a helix piercing will work on it. Then, we’ll talk you through the process so you know what to expect, mark where the piercing will go, and let you check it out in the mirror to make sure you’re happy.

Ready to go? Our piercers will ask you to take a big breath in and exhale as we pierce and insert your chosen jewellery. VOILA!

Does it hurt to get a helix piercing?

Good news. Helix piercings are considered some of the less painful piercings, thanks to the thinner cartilage in this area. But that being said, our customers find they hurt slightly more than your standard lobe piercing. As always, your pain threshold is the biggest indicator of how things will go, and what hurts for some- doesn’t hurt to others. There’s only one way to find out for sure..

 

What’s the average helix piercing healing time?

You can expect to wait a minimum of six months for your helix piercing to be fully healed and ready for a change in jewellery. Just like any other piercing, everyone’s healing experience and timeline differ.

What’s involved in aftercare?

Once you leave SkinKandy, your aftercare begins. Your piercer will give you a rundown of what’s required, but typically, it includes:

• Cleaning your new piercing twice daily with a sterile saline solution until your piercing is fully healed. Don’t worry, we stock this!
• Avoid swimming in freshwater, salt water, or the pool for the first six to eight weeks.
• Avoid touching, playing or twisting your new piercing. 
• Try not to sleep on your piercing while it’s healing.
• Don’t change from a stud to ring, or non-sterile fashion jewellery until your piercing is fully healed.
• Be careful wearing hats, sunglasses, hair products, and earphones, as they can bump and irritate your new piercing.

What if I get an infected helix piercing?

A way to minimise the risk of infection is to follow our aftercare advice! While an infection is unlikely, it can sometimes be unavoidable.. Some signs to look for in an infected piercing include: swelling, redness, green discharge, and potentially a fever. If you suspect your piercing may have an infection, visit a GP for advice. 

Helix piercing jewellery

With your helix pierced, the fun begins—choosing jewellery. The placement of the helix and your anatomy determine what jewellery you can wear! Here are a few helix piercing jewellery options we have at SkinKandy to get you started.

• Flatback or Ballback (can be used for initial piercing)
  Also known as the traditional ‘stud’,  is elevated when worn as a helix piercing, and most of our range comes with a flat back. Choose from all kinds of metals, shapes, and sparkles to get the curated look you’re going for.

• Rings (can be used for initial piercing)
  Love the look of a beautiful ring through your helix? There are so many types of rings to explore, including hinged segment rings, bendable rings and more.

• Chains
  Think a standard straight ball or flatback piece of jewellery with a chain attachment, made specifically for this type of piercing. Shop our chain selection here!

• Horseshoe
  Horseshoe jewellery can also be used in the helix. It offers a delicately curved shape without closing entirely like a standard ring piercing. The pieces come in a range of metals with various ends, so you can let your imagination run wild.

All of our jewellery is high quality and made with no nasties. So, there’s no need to worry about what you’re putting in your ears.

Let the styling begin

A helix piercing offers a creative and versatile body jewellery option that works just as beautifully with multiples or on its own as a standout. Use our easy online booking form and see us at SkinKandy to make a statement.