Helix Piercing

Heya,
you may of noticed me posting around a bit even though I've quit, but the main reason I'm on here for today is to ask about the Helix piercing.

I've tried googling most stuff, such as how long approx does it take to heal, but the answers are all varied from website to website. Eg one website may say 6weeks, another says 6months! Also because the information on all of these are so varied, I don't feel right in trusting in which is correct. So I'm double checking with you guys :)

So yeah. Basically I just want to know the basic facts such as:

• School won't allow piercings - there's a way to hide piercings right? Like using a clear stud?
• How long is the healing process?
• Piercing gun or needle?
• Where do I actually get it done? Do tattoo shops normally do piercings and is that the best place to go?
• People have it done on different areas of the ear, like right on top or almost on the side. Which is better/which do you prefer?
• How do you clean it?

I'm getting it done the 2nd week into the summer holidays!

Cheerss (:

It probably says 6 weeks to 6 months because it will be different for everyone. And the person who pierces it for you will tell you how to clean it and stuff :)

the time for a cartilage piercing to fully heal is actually 18 months!
helix piercings aren't exactly noticeable with a small labret, i have two and one u can barely see as i have a screw in labret.
get it done with a needle, a gun can shatter your cartilage and is much less sanitary.
get an cotton bud, some rock ssalt and hot water, but a pinch of the rocksalt in boiling water and use the cotton bud to clean it.
any tattoo shop that offers piercing will do it. don't go to clares or a pharmacy.

i have two at the ridge of my ear, like near the top, then my conch, tragus and forward helix.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alcopop

the time for a cartilage piercing to fully heal is actually 18 months!
helix piercings aren't exactly noticeable with a small labret, i have two and one u can barely see as i have a screw in labret.
get it done with a needle, a gun can shatter your cartilage and is much less sanitary.
get an cotton bud, some rock ssalt and hot water, but a pinch of the rocksalt in boiling water and use the cotton bud to clean it.
any tattoo shop that offers piercing will do it. don't go to clares or a pharmacy.

i have two at the ridge of my ear, like near the top, then my conch, tragus and forward helix.

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Thanks for the information ;D Exactly what I was looking for. Also, I forgot to meantion this before, but in the bath/shower on a newly pierced ear.. I'm guessing it stings if you get shampoo into it? Is it just something you have to put up with or will putting a plaster or something over it stop it from being so bad? :)

Thanks alot!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by -Amyy

It probably says 6 weeks to 6 months because it will be different for everyone. And the person who pierces it for you will tell you how to clean it and stuff :)

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Cheers Amy (:

Clear studs do make the piercing less obvious, and as long as you don't draw attention to it they probably won't notice. It's also good if you can cover it up with hair, or at least draw attention away from it, they're less likely to notice.

Cartilage piercings can take up to a year to properly heal, as it's a tough area. You should be fine to change the earring at about the 3 month mark, as long as you look after it right and it doesn't get infected. When you get it done, don't play with it too much as the scabbing inside makes it heal quicker. If you get it done with a gun, it'll probably be quicker but it's better to have it done with a needle *shudders*. Caring for it isn't difficult, try not to get it too dirty and clean it gently with warm saline or salt water and a cotton ball/q-tips a few times a day.

Wherever you go, make sure it's a proper, licensed place, and they have good metals - silver, surgical steel etc, and they'll give you respectable advice on how to care for it and reassure you on everything you need to know, probably better than other people will! You can also go in before you get it done for advice, that's where I got most of this info!!

As for the place, I like them halfway up, and I really want one but I'm too scared of needles!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lawrawrrr

Clear studs do make the piercing less obvious, and as long as you don't draw attention to it they probably won't notice. It's also good if you can cover it up with hair, or at least draw attention away from it, they're less likely to notice.

Cartilage piercings can take up to a year to properly heal, as it's a tough area. You should be fine to change the earring at about the 3 month mark, as long as you look after it right and it doesn't get infected. When you get it done, don't play with it too much as the scabbing inside makes it heal quicker. If you get it done with a gun, it'll probably be quicker but it's better to have it done with a needle *shudders*. Caring for it isn't difficult, try not to get it too dirty and clean it gently with warm saline or salt water and a cotton ball/q-tips a few times a day.

Wherever you go, make sure it's a proper, licensed place, and they have good metals - silver, surgical steel etc, and they'll give you respectable advice on how to care for it and reassure you on everything you need to know, probably better than other people will! You can also go in before you get it done for advice, that's where I got most of this info!!

As for the place, I like them halfway up, and I really want one but I'm too scared of needles!

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That's actually a good idea - going into the shop before you have it done - thanks!
As for the needle part, I'll probably put a headphone into my other ear and blast some music to try and distract myself :P

Thankyouu x

Quote:

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Originally Posted by :Cerys

That's actually a good idea - going into the shop before you have it done - thanks!
As for the needle part, I'll probably put a headphone into my other ear and blast some music to try and distract myself :P

Thankyouu x

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even the thought of it makes me cringe! When my friend had her tattoo done she asked me to sit with her to take her mind off it, squeezed my hand so hard but she said i made her feel better so i'd suggest taking someone!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lawrawrrr

even the thought of it makes me cringe! When my friend had her tattoo done she asked me to sit with her to take her mind off it, squeezed my hand so hard but she said i made her feel better so i'd suggest taking someone!!!

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Yep, no way am I doing it alone. I'd pass out xD I hope it isn't as bad as it sounds!
Anyway, goodluck if you ever get over the needle fear and get yours done! x

I've had my helix pierced for over two years now and it's still not properly healed in my eyes tbh. You may or may not get like a lump around the piercing like I did but for me it came then went and occasionally I get a hard lump but it doesn't hurt or anything and I often get crusty stuff around it and I wash it everyday to get this off but it isn't a problem for me really, I'm used to it. When I first had it done I cleaned it by putting some warm water into a cup then putting a pinch of salt into it then dipping a cotton bud in and then dabbing it. Atm I have a small one in and the teachers never notice it but when I had my large one in obviously they noticed haha but you don't have to wear a clear one. I have a clear one and have never used it :L Mine was done with a needle but I'm not an expert so couldn't tell you whether a gun or needle is better but from what alcopop said it seems best to go with a needle. Personally I can't tell you the 'best' place to go but I had mine done in a tattoo and piercing place and I agree with alcopop - don't go to claires. Mine is on the top but on the side if you get me haha? Like diagonal to my ear lobe and I prefer this if people have just the one but I am getting a couple more down the side of my ear simply because I think it looks lush. Hope this helped any more :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by :Cerys

School won't allow piercings - there's a way to hide piercings right? Like using a clear stud?

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While many people won't see these, they're still quite visible in open areas such as the upper cartilage, so be prepared for the possibility that you'll get found out even with a clear barbell

Quote:

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Originally Posted by :Cerys

How long is the healing process?

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This varies from person to person, and the difference you've seen where various people state a few weeks or a few months may be down to what different people will call "healed". For me, a fully healed piercing is one that will not significantly shift even after a few days of not having jewellery in, but for more conservative measures a few weeks is often stated as a safe time for the changing of bars/studs (good god I hope you have a bar in your helix rather than a simple butterfly stud) but this time does not guarantee that you will have no adverse affects, especially if you are making physical changes to the piercing

Quote:

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Originally Posted by :Cerys

Piercing gun or needle?

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If anyone even contemplates getting a cartilage piercing with a gun they need to go home and do a hell of a lot of research. Piercing guns are ONLY (in my view, and the view of the guy from whom I gained most of my piercing knowledge who happens to be a world renowned body modifier) acceptable for lobe piercings, and even then it's actually better to have it done with a needle in most cases

Quote:

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Originally Posted by :Cerys

Where do I actually get it done? Do tattoo shops normally do piercings and is that the best place to go?

---

Trust is the key. The guy I mentioned above runs a shop that used to only do piercings, and has since incorporated a tattoo artist as part of the business on his premises. Her inclusion in no way takes anything away from the fact that he is a world class piercer who knows just about everything there is to know about body modification, in the same way that having her there adds nothing to his own personal practice. I really suggest having a proper chat with whoever runs your local piercing studio, and if it seems like they're just making a salesman pitch you ought to try elsewhere, because anyone who is serious about what they do will be telling you absolutely everything that can go wrong as well as how much you might love it

Quote:

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Originally Posted by :Cerys

People have it done on different areas of the ear, like right on top or almost on the side. Which is better/which do you prefer?

---

100% down to personal preference. Again, it's a good idea to have a chat with whoever you're planning on getting to put holes in you, but different areas have different names and different piercing techniques, all of which a half competent piercer will know and all of which a good piercer will tell you about if you ask

Quote:

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Originally Posted by :Cerys

How do you clean it?

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This again is something that the people at the studio ought to tell you, but generally the cleaning process doesn't have any necessity past the use of salt-water solution a couple of times a day. Far more important that this is not playing around with your new piercing, as agitating it will only force your body's natural healing processes to attempt to remove the foreign body from you - which can come about in the form of abscess, keloid infection, full body rejection, or a whole host of other problems if you don't do things right. Whatever you choose and however you choose to do it, aftercare is an essential part of the entire experience and no matter how much you want to flick your shiny new barbell it's best to look after your own sanitation and safety before trying to show off how cool and individual you think you are

---------- Post added 12-06-2012 at 03:30 AM ----------

Quote:

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Originally Posted by :Cerys

School won't allow piercings - there's a way to hide piercings right? Like using a clear stud?

---

While many people won't see these, they're still quite visible in open areas such as the upper cartilage, so be prepared for the possibility that you'll get found out even with a clear barbell

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by :Cerys

How long is the healing process?

---

This varies from person to person, and the difference you've seen where various people state a few weeks or a few months may be down to what different people will call "healed". For me, a fully healed piercing is one that will not significantly shift even after a few days of not having jewellery in, but for more conservative measures a few weeks is often stated as a safe time for the changing of bars/studs (good god I hope you have a bar in your helix rather than a simple butterfly stud) but this time does not guarantee that you will have no adverse affects, especially if you are making physical changes to the piercing

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by :Cerys

Piercing gun or needle?

---

If anyone even contemplates getting a cartilage piercing with a gun they need to go home and do a hell of a lot of research. Piercing guns are ONLY (in my view, and the view of the guy from whom I gained most of my piercing knowledge who happens to be a world renowned body modifier) acceptable for lobe piercings, and even then it's actually better to have it done with a needle in most cases

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by :Cerys

Where do I actually get it done? Do tattoo shops normally do piercings and is that the best place to go?

---

Trust is the key. The guy I mentioned above runs a shop that used to only do piercings, and has since incorporated a tattoo artist as part of the business on his premises. Her inclusion in no way takes anything away from the fact that he is a world class piercer who knows just about everything there is to know about body modification, in the same way that having her there adds nothing to his own personal practice. I really suggest having a proper chat with whoever runs your local piercing studio, and if it seems like they're just making a salesman pitch you ought to try elsewhere, because anyone who is serious about what they do will be telling you absolutely everything that can go wrong as well as how much you might love it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by :Cerys

People have it done on different areas of the ear, like right on top or almost on the side. Which is better/which do you prefer?

---

100% down to personal preference. Again, it's a good idea to have a chat with whoever you're planning on getting to put holes in you, but different areas have different names and different piercing techniques, all of which a half competent piercer will know and all of which a good piercer will tell you about if you ask

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by :Cerys

How do you clean it?

---

This again is something that the people at the studio ought to tell you, but generally the cleaning process doesn't have any necessity past the use of salt-water solution a couple of times a day. Far more important that this is not playing around with your new piercing, as agitating it will only force your body's natural healing processes to attempt to remove the foreign body from you - which can come about in the form of abscess, keloid infection, full body rejection, or a whole host of other problems if you don't do things right. Whatever you choose and however you choose to do it, aftercare is an essential part of the entire experience and no matter how much you want to flick your shiny new barbell it's best to look after your own sanitation and safety before trying to show off how cool and individual you think you are