Location: through the inside of the upper rim of the ear cartilage; placed where the helix meets your head, usually angled parallel to the face
Jewelry: initially, a circular ring or straight barbell ranging from 18 gauge (1mm) to 14 gauge (1.6mm) is usually used in diameters typically ranging from 5/16″ (8mm) to 7/16″ (11mm) and lengths ranging from 1/4″ (6mm) to 5/16″ (8mm); jewelry types used can also include BCRs, horseshoe circular barbells, curved barbells, and labret/monroe studs with disc backs
Healing: total healing time is anywhere from 3-9 months; may be longer since the cartilage of the ear lacks adequate blood supply, making healing more difficult than areas receiving better circulation
Aftercare: wash with warm water and antibacterial soap and always make sure your hands are clean; sea salt solutions and sprays can aid with the process as well; avoid smoking, using public telephones, and sleeping directly on your new piercing; resist the urge to change jewelry prematurely – it’s worth the wait to do it right!
Since the anatomy of every individual person’s ear varies, this popular ear piercing may not be possible if your ear’s shape doesn’t display curvature pronounced enough in the helix/scapha area. Also, the area in which the forward helix piercing is located provides much thinner cartilage than in other parts of the ear, which can make this piercing more susceptible to migration. These limiting factors are further increased should you choose to get double/triple/etc. forward helix piercings in your ear. The forward helix can also be referred to as the inner helix, ear head, forward pinna, or helix root piercing.
Piercing Pro Tip: If you wear glasses or sunglasses frequently, to have the best experience with your new forward helix piercing, be sure to show your piercer where your eyeglasses typically rest on your ear to aid in proper placement and decrease the possibility of potential issues down the road.
Welcome to the Body Piercing Encyclopedia!
This post is included in the Ear Piercing category of our encyclopedia and is joined by many other blog posts about the other piercings available as options in the ear and surrounding areas.
- Standard Ear Lobe Piercing
- Upper Ear Lobe Piercing
- Standard Helix Cartilage Piercing
- Forward Helix Cartilage Piercing
- Rook Cartilage Piercing
- Conch (Inner) Cartilage Piercing
- Flat (Scapha/Outer Conch) Cartilage Piercing
- Daith Cartilage Piercing
- Snug (Anti-Helix) Cartilage Piercing
- Industrial Barbell Cartilage Piercing
- Tragus Cartilage Piercing
- Anti-Tragus Cartilage Piercing
- Surface Tragus Piercing
DISCLAIMER: the styles and locations displayed in the reference image to the left won’t match perfectly with your ear’s shape because each and every person has an anatomy that is uniquely individual and some of the piercings featured in our encyclopedia may not be possible for you to get. To find out what piercings are available for you and your specific anatomy, the best option is to visit your local professional piercer and ask for their expertise in determining what piercings are possible for you and your ear!
