The industrial ear piercing, sometimes known as the scaffold piercing is becoming a popular piercing due to its striking visual effect. It is done by placing two piercings on the outer rim of the ear and joining the piercings together using a long bar. There are several orientations for the industrial piercing but the diagonal scaffold is the most common.

What is industrial ear piercing?

The industrial ear piercing, in its most common placement, features an forward helix and helix piercing placed on the outer rim of the ear and connected by scaffold piercing jewellery. Scaffold piercing is the alternative name for an industrial piercing. The piercing can also be placed vertically or horizontally.

How painful are industrial ear piercings?

 The thing to remember with an industrial ear piercing is that you are getting two piercings done at once so you will need to fully commit to completing this piercing procedure. However, we found when most people are asked ‘Does a scaffold piercing hurt?’ they describe it as being one of the less painful ear cartilage piercings due to being placed on the rim. Industrial piercing pain is often described as about a 3 out of 10 on the pain scale.

How long does a scaffold piercing take to heal?

Industrial piercing healing will take time as the piercing is placed through cartilage. Allow 1 to 6 months for your new piercing to fully heal. You should find that if you have opted for a classic scaffold, the industrial piercing healing time is quicker than a vertical industrial bar as the cartilage is not as thick. With the correct scaffold piercing aftercare, you should have no problem successfully healing your ear piercing.

How much does a scaffold piercing cost?

How much does it cost for an industrial ear piercing will depend on the type of scaffold piercing you would like. At Blue Banana, it ranges from £40 - £50. The Industrial piercing price will increase if you are getting a custom industrial piercing which is not located between the forward helix and helix on the ear rim. If the location for your piercing is the standard then you can expect the lower price. The industrial piercing cost will also take into account the type of piercing jewellery you would like and remember your piercer will be performing two piercings in one sitting for the industrial bar.

Is my ear suitable for an industrial ear piercing?

In answer to ‘can all ears get an industrial ear piercing’, the quick reply is no but most can. The industrial piercing won’t work for all ears as you need a defined ridge or rim to your ear. This will give the industrial piercing bar enough space to comfortably sit on the helix without the risk of breaking through the skin. It is usually best to seek a piercer’s advice when asking ‘Do I have the ear shape for an industrial piercing’.

Can I get an industrial piercing with small ears?

While generally, you will need plenty of space to accommodate an industrial piercing, your piercer may be able to offer you a small industrial piercing to fit the size of your ear. This means the barbell or industrial bar used in the piercing will be short in order to suit your ear size. Ultimately, it is the piercer’s decision as to whether they can safely carry out a scaffold piercing for you. If you have a smaller ear you may want to consider other piercing options such as a forward helix or daith which are lighter and easier to support.

What ear should I get my industrial piercing on?

There is no right ear to get your industrial or scaffold pierced on but your anatomy may play a part. Your piercer may advise that one ear is more suited to supporting a scaffold piercing due to the size and shape of the ridge of your ear. Other factors such as your existing ear piercings or any new piercings you plan to get in the future should also be taken into account.

Some people ask should I get my industrial piercings in one ear or both?  Again, there is no right answer, however, our recommendation is that you don’t get both at the same time. Healing piercings on both ears can prove difficult especially if you like to sleep on your side. We would say go for it and get both done but be patient and wait for your first industrial piercing to heal before getting the second.

You may also want to consider what kind of scaffold piercing you would like to get. The classic piercing features a diagonal bar placed between the helix and forward helix but you can also get a vertical industrial piercing or horizontal industrial piercing. The vertical scaffold piercing enters through the upper rim of the ear and goes through the ‘shell’ of the ear, similar to the conch position. You can take this a step further and pass the piercing through a third hole in the rook position of the ear.

What piercings look good with industrial?

The industrial piercing makes a bold statement and can limit the options for other upper ear piercings. Popular combinations include a scaffold piercing with a transverse lobe piercing which is placed up through the lobe rather in the traditional lobe position. Other accompanying piercings include tragus and auricle which can balance out the top of your ear to give a satisfying aesthetic.

While it can be said the industrial piercing is for the more experienced piercee, this is not due to the pain level but simply due to the fact that this is a statement piercing. If you are ready to take the plunge then there are plenty of cute and badass industrial piercing jewellery options to help you customise your ears. If you would like to find out more about any of the other piercings offered by Blue Banana, then be sure to head to our Piercing Guides.