Industrial Piercing: Jewellery, FAQs & Guide

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.

Industrial Piercing Procedure

Looking to get an industrial or scaffold 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 scaffold piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the scaffold 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 scaffold piercing location. There are several locations to choose from but the most common is between the forward helix and helix.

The industrial piercing typically involves a sterilised gauge needle which your piercer will pass through the cartilage, inserting the jewellery in the process. When the piercer has passed the needle through the first hole for your scaffold piercing, a plastic retainer will usually be inserted to preserve the hole until the second piercing has been performed and the jewellery can be inserted. Some piercers prefer to partly insert the jewellery in the first hole while performing the second piercing. The piercing site is cleaned thoroughly and marked with a pen first so you can check that you are happy with the location.

Industrial Aftercare Advice

A scaffold piercing can take 3-12 months to fully heal due to the piercing passing through the cartilage of the ear. It can be faster than some other types of cartilage piercing because it is passed through the outer rim of the ear if performed in the common position. Vertical scaffold piercings will pass through thicker parts of cartilage so may take longer to heal. The healing time varies from person to person and the process can be aided by top-notch aftercare.

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. For this reason, we recommend getting one ear pierced at a time. 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 industrial piercing. Sticking to your aftercare routine for your industrial piercing will help limit potential infections and ensure your piercing gets the best chance at healing quickly. Gently clean your scaffold 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 Industrial Piercing Jewellery

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

Industrial Piercing Bars
Scaffold Piercing Bars
Industrial Piercing Jewellery

We tend to recommend choosing a straight barbell for the first year of having your industrial piercing as this will help retain the correct angle for the piercing, therefore helping your piercing to heal. Once your piercing is fully healed there are other styles of industrial piercing bars that include designs with decorations in the middle or unusual shapes such as spirals. 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.

Once your industrial piercing has healed you can also change your barbell to a labret or BCR in order to create two separate piercings. This can be handy in situations where you need to cover up or make your piercings less visible. 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 industrial jewellery that sits just right in your ear. If you pick a bar with a length or gauge that is too small it may not comfortably connect your two ear piercings. 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.
Length – the length of the piercing bar, usually not including the ball.
Diameter – the width across the widest point of the jewellery for hoops and rings.

We generally recommend that for new piercings you choose longer jewellery. 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.