Tragus Piercing: Jewellery, FAQs & Guide

A tragus piercing is located on the nub of cartilage over the ear canal. This small piercing is growing in popularity and can be decorated in a number of ways. After lobes, many people opt for a tragus piercing as their second ear piercing. We have gathered your FAQs to put together a guide on tragus piercing.

How long does a tragus piercing take to heal?

Tragus piercing healing will take 3-9 months because it is a cartilage piercing. The tragus piercing healing time can be helped by avoiding activities such as sleeping on your piercing or wearing headphones. Keeping up with tragus piercing aftercare by regularly cleaning your piercing with saltwater solution will help your ear to heal.

Is tragus piercing painful?

Tragus piercing pain varies for each person but this piercing can be quite painful because it is located on a thick piece of cartilage. Many people say it hurts no more than any other ear cartilage piercing. Every piercing will hurt to some degree and the pain from this piercing is said to average a 3 or 4 out of 10.

Is a hoop or stud better for tragus piercing?

During the initial healing process, your piercer will most likely recommend a stud or labret as this won’t move around as much as a hoop. Your piercer may choose a slightly longer labret to accommodate the initial swelling but you will be able to swap this later for a short tragus stud or ring. Hoops are also more prone to getting knocked or caught which is why they are better saved for healed piercings.

What side should you pierce your tragus?

The tragus piercing is located right above the ear canal on the ridge of cartilage. The tragus piercing side may depend on the shape of your ear. If your tragus is too small it may not be able to support a piercing. Discuss with your piercer the best side for your piercing based on your anatomy. Depending on other piercings you already have in your ear, you may decide with the space you have left that the tragus will look more balanced or have more room to heal in one ear compared with the other.

Is my tragus too small for a piercing?

Most ears are suitable for a tragus piercing however you should check with your piercer that your tragus is big enough to be pierced and support the piercing. If your tragus is too small it may lead to difficulty in piercing the area. If this is the case, then you may want to opt for a tragus surface piercing which is located in the skin next to the tragus as an alternative option.

How much does a tragus piercing cost?

The average tragus piercing cost is £30 - £35 at a Blue Banana UK store. The price will vary depending on the type of piercing jewellery you choose. Prices of piercings tend to reflect the experience needed by the piercer to carry out that specific piercing. Ear cartilage piercings are becoming fairly common but remember that how much it costs may be reflective of the quality of piercing and jewellery you are getting.

What is a tragus piercing good for?

What the tragus piercing is good for is based on anecdotal evidence rather than scientific research. Some believe in a similar effect in tragus piercing for migraines compared to daith piercings. This is because of the acupuncture pressure points used to relieve migraines. Many people have reported great success in using daith piercings to relieve migraines.

Do tragus piercings help you lose weight?

Some people believe tragus piercings can help control appetite or curb food cravings but this is not based on scientific evidence. Similarly, a tragus piercing is thought to also relieve migraines. However, most people opt for the daith piercing as a method of migraine relief. Tragus piercing meaning is debated but generally this piercing is for decoration. This small and simple piercing can be a great addition to your ear piercings.

Does a tragus piercing really work?

Tragus piercings are thought to be possible ways to relieve migraines and food cravings. Suppressing appetite is sometimes a reason for a person to try a tragus piercing. These ideas work on the theory that acupuncturist’s use for stimulating different pressure points. There is no scientific evidence that this could work however anecdotal evidence seems to show some people have found a tragus piercing does work for migraines and food cravings. This could be a placebo effect or could be based on the pressure points.

Can you go deaf with a tragus piercing?

It is very rare for tragus piercings to cause you to go deaf. Like with any piercing, it is usually an infected tragus piercing that will cause problems meaning it is the infection and not the piercing itself. With the correct aftercare you should not get a tragus piercing infection and if treated quickly there is no reason to believe it will cause deafness. The problem occurs if left untreated, doctors and scientists believe that the infected fluid that could leak from a tragus piercing bump into the ear canal could cause problems.

There are variations on the tragus piercing such as the anti tragus piercing which is located on the ridge opposite to the tragus, the surface tragus piercing which is beside the tragus, and the double tragus piercing which consists of a cluster of two tragus piercings.

Tragus piercings are small piercings that can be very effective when added to an ear piercing constellation. This small piercing is also useful if you want to be able to cover up or hide your piercings for certain occasions.

Want to know more about our other ear piercings? Check out more of our Piercing Guides.

Tragus Piercing Procedure

Decided on getting your tragus 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 the store. In a Blue Banana studio, the tragus 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 the piercer will give you a quick consultation and briefing before discussing the piercing location.

The tragus piercing typically involves a sterilised gauge needle which your piercer will pass through the cartilage, inserting the jewellery in the process. The piercing site is cleaned thoroughly and marked with a pen first so you can check that you are happy with the location. The piercer may ask you to lie on your side for the tragus piercing. They will also put a cork or plug in your ear to protect your ear canal.

Tragus Aftercare Advice

The tragus piercing typically takes 3-9 months to fully heal due to it being a cartilage piercing.

During the healing process, there are some activities you will want to avoid such as sleeping on your new piercing and swimming. Knocking or putting pressure on a cartilage piercing can cause the angle to change and the healing process to take longer so be sure to take extra care not to catch your new piercing jewellery and to keep up with your aftercare.

Clean your tragus 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 Tragus Piercing Jewellery

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

Tragus Piercing Stud
Tragus Piercing Ring
Tragus Piercing Jewellery

Your tragus piercing will most likely be done with a tragus bar as this reduces the risk of the jewellery catching during the healing process. 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 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 (thickness of jewellery) you have been pierced with.
Jewellery Material – piercing materials differ not only through their look but also how they could react to your skin. Titanium jewellery is a popular choice due to the hypoallergenic and non-corrosive qualities.

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.