Encyclopedia of Body Piercings: Standard Ear Lobe Piercing

standard ear lobe piercing

Location: the fleshy area of the lower part of your ear where the lobe is at its fullest

Jewelry: initially, a circular ring or barbell from 22 gauge (0.6mm) up to 18 gauge (1mm) is used in lengths/diameters typically ranging from 5/16″ (8mm) to 5/8″ (16mm), but gauge sizes up to 10 gauge (2.4mm) can be pierced in this location; jewelry types used can also include BCR, horseshoe circular barbell, straight barbell, labret stud, or nostril ring/stud

Healing: total healing time is anywhere from 4-8 weeks; generally is an easy and quick healing process

Aftercare: wash with warm water and antibacterial soap and always make sure your hands are clean; 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!

standard ear lobe piercing

Location: the fleshy area of the lower part of your ear where the lobe is at its fullest

Jewelry: initially, a circular ring or barbell from 22 gauge (0.6mm) up to 18 gauge (1mm) is used in lengths/diameters typically ranging from 5/16″ (8mm) to 5/8″ (16mm), but gauge sizes up to 10 gauge (2.4mm) can be pierced in this location; jewelry types used can also include BCR, horseshoe circular barbell, straight barbell, labret stud, or nostril ring/stud

Healing: total healing time is anywhere from 4-8 weeks; generally is an easy and quick healing process

Aftercare: wash with warm water and antibacterial soap and always make sure your hands are clean; 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!

For most people, this piercing will likely be performed with a piercing gun, but in recent years, professional piercers with sterile shops have been called on to perform more standard ear lobe piercings – and it’s a lot more of a safe bet than getting your ear stapled by someone with little to no experience with body piercings.


Cartilage-w-text

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.

    1. Standard Ear Lobe Piercing
    2. Upper Ear Lobe Piercing
    3. Standard Helix Cartilage Piercing
    4. Forward Helix Cartilage Piercing
    5. Rook Cartilage Piercing
    6. Conch (Inner) Cartilage Piercing
    7. Flat (Scapha/Outer Conch) Cartilage Piercing
    8. Daith Cartilage Piercing
    9. Snug (Anti-Helix) Cartilage Piercing
    10. Industrial Barbell Cartilage Piercing
    11. Tragus Cartilage Piercing
    12. Anti-Tragus Cartilage Piercing
    13. 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 options for you and your ear!