Helix Piercings: Jewellery, FAQs & Guide

Helix piercings have become a fairly common type of ear piercing and are generally thought of as being a good stepping stone from lobe piercings to other cartilage ear piercings. This is due to the low pain most people experience from getting the helix piercing.

How long do helix piercings take to heal?

The helix piercing healing time can take between 6 – 8 months to completely heal. While your helix piercing healing may take time, it is important to keep up with a regular aftercare routine and not to change the jewellery until your piercer has recommended. We usually advise waiting 1 year before changing cartilage ear piercings.

How bad do helix piercings hurt?

Helix piercing pain is generally thought of as being low on the pain scale. Compared to most cartilage ear piercings it doesn’t hurt too much due to being located on the outer edge of the ear which has few nerve endings. It can be uncomfortable during the healing process and extra care should be taken not to knock the piercing due to its location. By averaging out peoples experiences, the helix piercing tends to be described as a 3 out of 10 on the pain scale.

How long will a helix piercing hurt?

The swelling that usually occurs after getting your helix piercing may cause your new piercing to hurt for several weeks or at least feel uncomfortable. This may last for up to a month depending on how your body responds to the swelling. Ensure your piercing jewellery is long enough to allow the area to swell. If you do experience extreme pain or pain that lasts longer than a month then visit your GP or return to your piercer for advice.

Why does my helix piercing still hurt?

The thing to remember when getting a cartilage piercing such as a helix piercing is that the cartilage does not have blood cells which means the healing process takes longer. This may contribute to the piercing hurting for longer than a lobe piercing. If you have knocked the piercing or slept on it, you may cause more pain so take care not to put pressure on your piercing to ensure successful healing.

How to clean helix piercing?

Helix piercing aftercare is important for successfully healing your piercing. Before beginning cleaning, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands with antibacterial soap. Once you are ready to begin cleaning your piercing, prepare a saltwater solution or use Tea Tree Oil to gently bathe the area and clean off any liquid that has come from the piercing.

Is a helix piercing dangerous?

Most people find that a cartilage piercing such as a helix piercing will heal with no problems with the correct aftercare. However, it is important to be aware of the issues that can arise from not regularly cleaning the piercing. If you believe your piercing has become infected it is best to seek advice from your GP. You may require specialist antibiotics, especially if you have an infection called Pseudomonas which can occur in rare cases with cartilage piercings.

What does getting a helix piercing feel like?

While the piercing needle is going through your ear, you are likely to experience a sharp pain. In some cases, this can make a person feel woozy or light-headed. After the helix piercing, you may experience a throbbing sensation for a short time. During the healing process, you may experience some discomfort, but if you have any significant pain then you should seek medical advice. The helix piercing is not considered among the most painful piercings because it is in an area with few nerve endings.

Can you sleep on a helix piercing?

One of the most inconvenient aspects of getting your helix piercing is that you cannot sleep on the side of your piercing. It is important to avoid putting pressure on the piercing and knocking it. Sleeping on a helix piercing can change the angle of the piercing, therefore, re-opening the wound and also effecting the final appearance of your piercing. We recommend not sleeping on any cartilage piercing.

How long before I can sleep on my helix piercing?

There is no definitive answer to ‘Can I sleep on my healed helix piercing’. If you want your piercing to remain straight you should try to avoid sleeping on it for it for as long as possible. It is advisable to at least wait until it is fully healed but there is no guarantee after that, that you won’t experience some tilting. You may find it easier to sleep on the ear once you have changed the piercing bar for a shorter one. Some people find a U shaped or doughnut pillow can be a good alternative as this allows you to leave a gap for your ear piercing but still sleep in comfort.

What side do you get a helix piercing?

Sometimes the shape of your ear will determine which side you will get pierced on. With some ear piercings, the success of a piercing is dependent on the shape or size of the ear in which case your piercer will advise you the best course of action. When getting your helix pierced, you will need to make the decision of the location along the rim of the ear too. Once you have a single cartilage piercing, you may find you want to add to it with a piercing cluster or constellation.

Can you get two cartilage piercings at once?

Most piercers, including our Blue Banana piercers, are happy to perform as many piercings as you like at once. As long as you can take the pain, you can get multiple cartilage piercings at one time. If you want several piercings at once, the main factor to consider is will there be enough space for each piercing to swell. This may affect you and your piercer’s decision.

If you are looking to get multiple helix piercings at once then you can opt for a double helix piercing or even a triple helix piercing. If you are looking for a more unusual alternative to the classic helix piercing, make sure to check out more information about the forward helix piercing which is placed on the opposite rim of the ear nearest the head.

How much does a helix piercing cost?

The helix piercing cost will vary depending on where you go to get your piercing. At Blue Banana, it can cost £30 - £35 depending on the jewellery you choose. The price of a piercing often reflects the level of experience needed to perform the piercing.

As you can see helix ear piercings are one of the most versatile options of ear piercing. This classic cartilage piercing is a great introduction to ear piercing and piercing in general. It offers something a little less common than lobes but with not much more pain. You can also enjoy getting creative with helix earrings which come in a variety of designs and colours.

Want to know more about piercing at Blue Banana? Be sure to check out more of our Piercing Guides.

Helix Piercing Procedure

Looking to get a helix piercing? Use our store locator to find your local Blue Banana Studio. There’s no need to book an appointment; you can simply go to the store of your choice and be pierced on the day.

Please ensure that you have checked the helix piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the helix piercing age restriction is 16 (ID may be required) or 13 with parental consent from a parent or guardian who is present.

Once you’re all booked in, you will have some forms to fill out. A member of Blue Banana staff will go through the steps and can help you pick out jewellery. Then you can meet the piercer! They too will give you a quick consultation and briefing before discussing the helix piercing location. There are several locations to choose from as the helix can be placed almost anywhere along the outer rim of the cartilage.

The helix piercing typically involves a sterilised gauge needle which your piercer will pass through the cartilage, inserting the jewellery in the process. For the helix piercing, the piercing may ask you to lie down to ensure you head stays still while the piercing is performed. Sometimes you will be asked to wear some form of earplug, to prevent any small objects from accidentally entering your ear canal. The piercing site is cleaned thoroughly and marked with a pen first so you can check that you are happy with the location.

Helix Piercing Aftercare Advice

A helix piercing can take 6-8 months to fully heal due to the piercing passing through the cartilage of the ear. The healing time varies from person to person and will need top aftercare to ensure speedy healing.

During the healing process, it is important to avoid knocking the piercing or putting pressure on the area as this will slow down healing and can even cause unnecessary problems. For example, make sure not to sleep on the side with the new piercing and don’t touch the piercing unless absolutely necessary. The location of the helix piercing means it can be prone to getting knocked more than other ear piercing locations. Other steps that can be taken to aid with healing include tying back long hair, not wearing earphones or other ear coverings, and avoiding contact with any kind of cosmetics including moisturiser and hair products.

Like any piercing, it is important to maintain top hygiene when caring for your helix piercing. Sticking to your aftercare routine for your helix piercing will help limit potential infections and ensure your piercing gets the best chance at healing quickly. Gently clean your helix piercing twice a day with salt water solution or Tea Tree Oil by gently bathing it using cotton wool.

While it is important to ensure your general ear hygiene is first rate, it is also advisable to avoid using soap on your new piercing so be sure to take extra care while washing your ears and removing ear wax.

If you would like further information, make sure to read our full Piercing Aftercare Guides to learn about side effects to look out for.

Choosing Helix Piercing Jewellery

There’s plenty of options when it comes to helix piercing jewellery from Blue Banana. Some popular styles include:

Helix Piercing Earrings
Helix Piercing Stud
Helix Piercing Hoop

We tend to recommend choosing piercing jewellery such as a labret or barbell for the first year of having your helix piercing as this is much less likely to become caught or get knocked against anything, therefore helping your piercing to heal. Once your piercing is fully healed there are plenty of ring and hoop options to try out, which circle around the rim of the ear. This is one of the most popular jewellery choices for helix piercings. It is vital for the healing process that you remain patient and don’t change your jewellery until your piercer has advised you to do so.

With so many different types of jewellery available for your helix piercing it is easy to customise your look. From the cool arch of the curved barbell to a classic labret or a seamless ring – it’s all available at Blue Banana. When choosing your piercing jewellery there are a few things you should consider:

Jewellery Size – everyone’s ears are different sizes, so make sure to pick helix jewellery that sits just right in your ear. If you pick a hoop with a diameter or gauge that is too small it may not fit around the outer rim of your ear. At the same time, you don’t want your jewellery to be too large as it may increase the chance of it catching.
Jewellery Material – piercing materials differ not only through their look but also how they could react to your skin. If you have sensitive skin that may be prone to irritation, one of the many Titanium jewellery options is recommended. This material comes in a variety of colours and is durable too!

If you regularly participate in sports, you may want to discuss the best piercings for you with your piercer. Alternatively, it is advised that during sport you wear a retainer or some form of flexible bar jewellery to make sure your piercing won’t cause problems if knocked or caught.

When searching for a piece of jewellery make sure you know your measurements. We display the piercing jewellery measurements as Gauge first (displayed in millimetres) then Diameter/Length, e.g. 1.2mm x 8mm.

Gauge – this is the thickness of the jewellery itself.
Diameter – the width across the widest point of the jewellery for hoops and rings.
Length – the length of the piercing bar, usually not including the ball.

We generally recommend that for new piercings you choose jewellery with a wider diameter or length. This can allow for extra room in case of any swelling. Make sure to check out the tips from our piercing guides for information about changing and removing piercing jewellery.

Other Guides & Ranges

Please Note: Blue Banana piercing information is based on knowledge from our experiences as one of the UK's top piercing studios. All details provided should be read alongside professional advice. Please see our full Piercing Articles Disclaimer, here.