Helix Earrings

Helix piercing jewellery at SkinKandy

Helix piercing jewellery is designed for the upper cartilage of your ear, one of the most popular placements for building a curated ear stack. Whether you're after a subtle flatback or a sleek segment ring, you'll find helix-friendly pieces in 16G across our range. Standard post lengths are 6mm or 8mm depending on your anatomy and healing stage. For everything you need to know about this placement, read our helix piercings 101 guide.

What jewellery styles suit a helix piercing?

Flatbacks, ballbacks and segment rings are the three styles that suit a helix, and all three sit at 16G.

Flatbacks are what we fit in a fresh helix, because the flat disc sits flush against the back of your ear instead of a butterfly closure that catches on hair and clothing. Ballbacks use a small rounded bead at the back instead, which some people prefer once the piercing has settled. Segment rings are for a healed helix, since a ring shifts against the rim as you move and cartilage that's still healing doesn't tolerate that well. Any studs you see in this collection are flatbacks, so the back of the piece stays flat against your ear.

What size jewellery do I need for a helix piercing?

Every helix sub-placement is pierced at 16G on a 10mm post, downsized to 8mm, then finished at 6mm or 8mm depending on your anatomy.

The long initial post leaves room for swelling in the first few weeks, which is why a fresh helix sits higher off your ear than a healed one. Your downsize appointment is where that extra length comes off, and your piercing specialist measures rather than guesses, because ear thickness varies a lot between people.

Segment rings for a helix run 8mm or 10mm in diameter, and which one suits you depends on your own anatomy and how close to the rim you want the ring to sit. Pop into your nearest SkinKandy studio and we'll measure your gauge, post length and diameter for you.

How long does a helix piercing take to heal?

A helix takes 6 to 9 months to fully heal, and you'll come back for a downsize at 6 to 8 weeks, well before that.

The downsize is only a change of post length once the initial swelling settles, so it isn't a sign your piercing has healed and it isn't the point to start swapping jewellery. Do not remove your jewellery during the healing phase, including overnight, because cartilage closes quickly and putting a piece back in can set off irritation. Stick to the simple saline routine in our aftercare guide and leave the piercing alone the rest of the time. Our helix piercings 101 guide walks through what each stage of the heal actually looks like.

Are flatbacks or ballbacks better for a helix piercing?

Flatbacks are the better pick for a helix, especially while it's healing, because the flat disc sits flush behind your ear with nothing for hair or a hairbrush to catch on. Ballbacks swap that disc for a small rounded bead, which reads neatly from behind and suits a healed helix if you like the finish.

Both sit at 16G and both take the same post lengths, so the difference comes down to comfort and the look you want from behind, not fit. Every cartilage placement we pierce follows the same rule, flatbacks over butterfly-back closures, since butterfly backs trap product and pull on the piercing channel. Once you're healed you can also change just the front of a flatback with our decorative tops and leave the post where it is.

Which metals suit a healing helix piercing?

Implant grade Titanium is the metal to wear through a healing helix, because it's light, nickel free and biocompatible, which counts over a 6 to 9 month heal.

Surgical Steel can be used in fresh piercings, though our piercing specialists recommend implant grade Titanium during the healing phase. Steel carries trace nickel and isn't hypoallergenic, so we point anyone with sensitive skin or a known nickel reaction towards Titanium. 14K Gold is solid rather than plated, so it won't wear through, and it's the usual upgrade once your piercing specialist clears you to change jewellery. Weight matters more on cartilage than it does on a lobe, so a lighter piece is generally the more comfortable one to wear through the middle of a heal.

Which helix placements does this collection cover?

This collection covers every helix sub-placement, so that's the standard upper helix, forward helix, mid and lower helix plus double and triple helix sets along the same rim.

All of them sit on the outer cartilage rim of your ear and all of them are pierced at 16G, so the jewellery here fits across the lot. A forward helix has less room than a standard helix, so it usually finishes on a 6mm post rather than 8mm, and a smaller top sits more comfortably against your head.

What you won't find here is jewellery for the inner bowl of your ear or the flap in front of the ear canal, which are the conch and tragus placements, or your lobe piercings at 18G and 20G. Our ear piercing placements guide maps out where each one sits if you're planning a stack.

Book a piercing at SkinKandy

Ready to start your helix, or add to the stack you've already got? Our piercing specialists will talk you through placement, jewellery and sizing for your ear. Browse our piercing menu and book your next experience at SkinKandy.