Ear Lobe Piercing: Jewellery, FAQs & Guide

One of the most common and popular ear piercings is the lobe piercing. This may be due to the low amount of pain, quick healing time, and low age restriction on this classic piercing. Ear piercings are becoming a great way to customise your look with plenty of people opting for second, third, and even fourth lobe piercings. Lobes are usually pierced with a low gauge of about 20ga (0.8mm) which means you will need to get piercing jewellery specifically for lobes. The good news is there’s plenty of styles to choose from, including from us at Blue Banana.

How long does it take a lobe piercing to heal?

Earlobe piercings are perfect for quick healing. Lobe piercing healing time only take 6 - 8 weeks with no complications. This easy healing process makes them perfect for getting at the beginning of summer. After the initial ear lobe piercing healing time you can change your jewellery but don’t leave the jewellery out for too long or the piercing may close over.

How do I know if my ear piercing is healed?

Ear lobe piercing healing is a quick process lasting from 6 – 8 weeks. You may initially experience swelling and bruising for about a week. You may also notice some fluid from the piercing. This is your body’s natural reaction and you should find after a few weeks your piercing starts to feel more comfortable. If you aren’t sure if your earlobe piercing is healed then wait a few more weeks before changing your jewellery or ask the advice of your piercer. If you are having problems healing your piercing or think it may be infected then talk to your piercer or consult your GP.

Can I stop cleaning my ear piercing after 6 weeks?

Lobe piercing aftercare should be carried out for 6 weeks for a quick and easy healing process. To ensure you have no problems, bathe the area twice a day with saltwater solution or Tea Tree Oil. After 6-8 weeks, you can reduce cleaning. Do continue to regularly check your ears and adjust your cleaning routine accordingly. Remember, even after you have finished regular ear lobe piercing aftercare it is important to keep your ears clean and to not touch your piercing unless you have to, to prevent infection (and only with hands that have been washed with antibacterial soap).

Can I take my newly pierced earrings out for an hour?

If you take out the jewellery of your newly pierced ears you will find even after an hour the hole may start to close. After 6-8 weeks, you can take it out for a couple of hours but the shrinking is likely to still occur. It is best to wait at least 6 months to a year before leaving your jewellery out and the lobe piercing should not be left without jewellery for any more than 24 hours. Everyone has different experiences and there have been rare cases where even after several years of having a piercing it can start to close if jewellery is not worn regularly. However, most people find after a few years they can take jewellery out of lobe piercings overnight with no problems.

Is it bad to leave earrings in all the time?

There is no limit to how long you should leave earring in. Wearing earrings all the time will not cause you any problems but you should make sure the jewellery is made of high-quality non-corrosive metal such as titanium, silver, or gold. Make sure you continue regularly cleaning your ear lobe and piercing jewellery to maintain proper hygiene and check for any reactions to the jewellery.

Which hurts more needle or gun?

For all other piercings, a needle is the safest way to perform a piercing. However, the lobe can be pierced with a gun because the lobe is made of soft flesh. Many people still opt for a needle as this is still considered generally to be the less painful option however others report a piercing gun to be faster.

How long should I wait between ear piercings?

If you have had your first ear lobe piercing, we usually recommend waiting for it to be fully healed before getting the second lobe piercing to allow space for the piercing to heal. Most people find it is easier to heal one piercing at a time. For earlobe piercings, this healing time is relatively quick so you will only need to wait 6-8 weeks between each piercing.

Can you get more than one lobe piercing at once?

As we have said, we usually recommend waiting between piercings but lobe piercings can be performed together due to the ease of the healing process. If you are getting a cartilage piercing, we definitely recommend waiting in between each piercing but as long as there is room for the lobe to swell and the jewellery allows for that swelling, it can be possible to perform multiple piercings. We would say why not enjoy the piercing experience and take your time getting them done. Let your body heal and slowly add to your collection so you have time to think about which ear piercing combos will look best.

How far apart should lobe piercings be?

Lobe piercings need to be far enough apart to support their own jewellery and to reduce the risk of the holes breaking through. Most piercers will leave at least an 8mm gap between ear lobe piercings however if you have a larger lobe they may increase this. Part of the decision on how close your piercings are will be down to what will look the best and another factor may be if you want to get third and fourth lobe piercings.

Do second lobe piercings hurt?

A second lobe piercing is pierced through the same type of soft flesh as a first lobe piercing so it won’t hurt any more than a first lobe piercing. Some people do say as you get into high lobe piercing the ear can become gristlier so you may experience more of a sharp pain compared with your first earlobe, which many people describe as a pinch. We definitely recommend getting your upper lobe piercing done with a needle as this is thought to be less painful. The stacked lobe piercing effect from a second lobe piercing is becoming a popular look so our piercers have plenty of experience with performing multiple lobe piercings.

If you want to take your lobe piercings even further then it may depend on the size of your ear. If you have a large ear lobe you may be able to get a third lobe piercing. While still popular, the 3rd lobe piercing is slightly less common than first and second lobe piercings so could give you the alternative look you are after.

Can you get 4 lobe piercings?

You can get four lobe piercings if you have a large lobe but most people find that three lobe piercings is plenty and gives a balanced look to the ear. You may want to wait until your other lobe piercings have had time to heal and settle before getting a fourth piercing. This is just to make sure they are established into position. The main things your piercer will consider will be is there enough flesh between each piercing to support the jewellery. You won’t want to cause any issues with migration or breaking through.

If you are hoping to make your lobes stand out from the crowd then there are alternative options for lobe piercing such as the transverse lobe piercing which is placed vertically through the bottom of the lobe using a curved barbell. This unusual look is perfect for piercing pros who are looking to stand out from the crowd with an alternative piercing. Many people pair a transverse lobe piercing with a scaffold/industrial piercing so make sure to check out this other alternative piercing if you are planning on getting multiple ear piercings.

Does fourth lobe piercing hurt?

The closer to the cartilage the piercings are the more pain you are likely to feel and you may find the piercings take a little longer to heal. This is because the earlobe is not as soft the higher up you get. This gristly tissue will hurt more but it should only be for a moment. We definitely recommend getting upper lobe piercings done with a needle, which most piercers will opt for anyway.

As you can see ear piercing has come a long way in recent years and the piercings generally thought of as common are constantly changing. Customising your ear lobe piercing can help you create a unique look and will give you the chance to try out a range of different jewellery styles. Want to know more about other ear piercing options? Make sure to check out the related links provided.

Lobe Piercing Procedure

Looking to get a lobe ear 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 ear piercing age restriction before coming to store. In a Blue Banana studio, the lobe piercing age restriction is 14 (ID may be required) or 8 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 the piercer will give you a quick consultation and briefing before discussing the lobe piercing location.

The piercing site is cleaned thoroughly and marked with a pen first so you can check that you are happy with the location.

Lobe Piercing Aftercare Advice

The lobe piercing has one of the quickest healing times of any piercing due to passing through flesh rather than cartilage. It takes just 6 – 8 weeks to heal so with great aftercare you should have no problems.

During the healing process, there are some activities you will want to avoid such as sleeping on your new piercing and swimming. Take care not to catch your new piercing jewellery and keep up with your aftercare.

Clean your lobe 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 Lobe Piercing Jewellery

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

Ear Lobe Studs
Ear Lobe Rings
Ear Lobe Hoops

We tend to recommend choosing a stud for the first few months of having your lobe piercing as this will reduce the chance of it getting caught. Once your piercing is fully healed there are other styles of jewellery such as a ring. 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.

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 lobe jewellery that sits just right in your ear. If you are wearing a ring in your ear you will want to make sure it fits snugly. Make sure you also find out what gauge you have been pierced with.
Jewellery Material – piercing materials differ not only through their look but also how they could react to your skin. Surgical steel is a common material for earrings but you can also try out silver or gold jewellery.
Gauge – this is the thickness of the jewellery itself. Most lobe piercings are 0.8mm/20ga.

When searching for a piece of jewellery make sure you know your measurements. For lobe jewellery, the measurements describe the gauge of the item in millimetres. Jewellery with gemstones will sometimes include the size of the stone too. Some people find it best to choose a plain stud during the healing process as this makes cleaning much easier and quicker.

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.

Ear Lobe Jewellery

Ear Lobe Jewellery

Lobe Piercing Procedure

Lobe Piercing Aftercare Advice

Choosing Lobe Piercing Jewellery

Other Guides & Ranges