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.