Ear Jewellery

Ear Jewellery at SkinKandy

Ear jewellery at SkinKandy covers piercing jewellery for every ear placement, from lobes to cartilage, in Titanium, Surgical Steel and Gold. It includes studs, hoops, flatbacks, segment rings and curved barbells, with gauges ranging from 20G for a first lobe piercing through to 14G for an industrial bar. This collection suits anyone building out an ear curation, whether that's a first set of lobe studs or a fully stacked ear of helix, tragus, conch and daith piercings. With so many placements and styles to choose from, our piercing specialists can help you plan a stack that works for your ears.

What jewellery styles are available for ear piercings?

Ear jewellery spans studs, hoops, flatbacks, ballbacks, segment rings, curved barbells and horseshoes, depending on the placement. Lobe piercings typically wear studs, sleepers or segment rings, while cartilage placements like helix, conch and rook are best suited to flatbacks over butterfly-back closures. Tragus piercings are also recommended in flatbacks, while daith and anti-tragus piercings suit curved barbells, horseshoes and segment rings instead. Industrial piercings use a single long barbell that spans two helix points, giving a completely different look to a curated stack of smaller pieces.

What gauge do I need for different ear placements?

Gauge varies by placement, so it's worth checking before you buy rather than assuming one size fits all your ears. First, second and third lobe piercings are typically 18G or 20G, while most cartilage placements including helix, conch, rook, tragus and anti-tragus sit at 16G with a 6mm or 8mm post once healed. Industrial piercings are 14G, spanning 34mm to 38mm across the two points, while daith piercings use a 16G ring at 8mm to 10mm diameter. Our piercing specialists measure every placement individually, since anatomy varies from ear to ear.

What materials are available for ear jewellery?

Ear jewellery at SkinKandy is available in Titanium, Surgical Steel and Gold. Surgical Steel can be used in fresh piercings, though it contains trace nickel, so Titanium or Gold are the better choice if you have sensitive skin. Titanium is our go-to recommendation for healing cartilage placements, since it's lightweight and puts less pressure on the piercing. Gold is popular for lobe jewellery once you're fully healed and want a premium everyday piece.

Flatback vs ballback, which is better for cartilage?

Flatbacks sit flush against the skin with an internally threaded top, while ballbacks screw a small ball onto the end of the post. We recommend flatbacks over ballbacks and butterfly-back closures for cartilage placements like tragus, helix and conch, since they sit more comfortably and reduce the risk of snagging. Ballbacks are still a solid option for lobes and select placements, but for tragus specifically, a ballback isn't recommended, since there's a small risk of the ball unscrewing into the ear. Our piercing specialists can help you choose the right closure for your specific placement.

How long do ear piercings take to heal?

Healing time depends heavily on placement: lobe piercings typically heal in 6 to 12 weeks, while cartilage placements like tragus and helix take much longer, from 6 to 12 months. Do not remove your jewellery during the healing phase, and keep the area clean as directed by your piercing specialists. Helix piercings are usually downsized from a 10mm post to 8mm at around 6 to 8 weeks, though this downsize isn't the same as being fully healed. For a full breakdown by placement, our healing time guide covers what to expect at every stage.

Book a piercing at SkinKandy

Planning your next ear piercing or ready to start curating your stack? Book your piercing experience with our piercing specialists via our piercing menu.