Normally, ear piercings are done in the earlobe. The soft fleshy part of the ear. However, cartilage piercings are growing in popularity, with many different cartilage earring styles to choose from, especially with multiple ear piercings.
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Types of Cartilage Piercings
There are four common types of cartilage piercings: helix piercing, tragus piercing, orbital piercing, and conch piercing.
Helix Piercing
Helix piercings run along the part of the cartilage that curls on the outer edge of the ear. Normally, the helix piercing passes through the ear once. However, with industrial helix piercings, it can pass through twice.
Tragus Piercing
The tragus piercing is above the earlobe where there is a small area of cartilage. It’s close to the side of the face. You can see an example in the image above (the second and last photo in the grid above).
Orbital Piercing
An orbital piercing enters and exits the same piece of cartilage. Both the entrance and exit points of the earring are visible in the front of the ear. Conch piercings, though similar to orbital piercings, are found in the middle of the ear cartilage.
Types of Cartilage Earrings
There are many earring types and cartilage earrings are no different. They can be made of silver (sterling), gold (yellow, white), titanium, and even surgical steel. In most cases, you can get any type of earring for a cartilage piercing. Popular cartilage earring types include
- Stud: Stud earrings are comfortable and can be worn on the outer cartilage of the ear.
- Hoops: Tiny hoop earrings for cartilage piercings have a similar look to the larger hoops for earlobe piercings, but are much smaller.
- Captive Beads: A popular hoop style with a single bead in the middle.
- Posts or Studs: Can be metal only or metal with gemstones.
- Circular barbells: A metal half hoop that passes through the ear with a beaded end piercing out of both sides of the ear.
- Cuffs: Cuffs go well with helix piercings. The cuff part of the earring curves around the ear cartilage.
- Industrial: Horizontal bar earrings that pass through the ear twice. They can be plain bars, twisting bars, and bars with beads or gemstones.
Read more:
- Types of earring backs: A Guide with pictures
- Types of earrings: A visual guide
