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Original poster

Helix Piercing

41 replies

FlipFlopFlossy · 10/10/2021 20:06

The past few months I've been considering a helix piercing.

The problem is I'm very scared it is going to hurt. I've had lobe piercings done when younger and the pain didn't bother me at all. Just the thought of the needle going through the tougher cartilage makes me shudder.

Those who've had it done how was it? Is it more painful than lobe piercing

OP posts:

Idontlike · 10/10/2021 20:08

You could maybe buy numbing cream to use.

www.boots.com/emla-cream-5-local-anaesthetic-cream-with-2-dressings-5g-10294814

Handsnotwands · 10/10/2021 20:09

I find with cartilage piercings the initial pain is over quickly but they do take a long time to heal so any knocks or getting caught on things hurts a lot for quite a long time

Passmealargewine · 10/10/2021 20:11

I didnt find mine particularly painful when I got it pierced (also have lobes, tragus & daith piercing & none of them were that bad) the main problem I found with the helix is when it was still healing it was bloody painful when I caught it on a hairbrush or something, which happened a fair few times due to where it is.
But I definitely have no regrets at all now it's healed & I love it

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TReXX · 10/10/2021 20:17

Mine didn't really hurt to have it done but it was painful to sleep on for ages.

Seemed to settle down a few months in but then flared up again a few monthsater. I tried to persevere but ended up not being able to sleep so I took it out just over a year later.. sad it didn't work out but I needed to sleep!

BarefootHippieChick · 10/10/2021 20:26

Mine didn't hurt to have done, it's over in seconds, but it's a bitch to heal. It catches on everything and mine often got infected. Worth it in the end but be prepared, it may not heal like earlobes do.

BarefootHippieChick · 10/10/2021 20:31

TReXX i still don't sleep on mine years later!

TReXX · 10/10/2021 20:34

@BarefootHippieChick

TReXX i still don't sleep on mine years later!

Ah! Sounds like I made the right decision for me then.. I was really torn but the sleep issue was a deal breaker. I bought lots of cute studs too

DuchessMinnie · 10/10/2021 20:34

I had a double helix piercing in July so 3 months ago. It stung a bit getting it done but it was ok after a couple of days. I bathed it in salt water every evening which helped. I can't sleep on it, if I do it hurts in the morning. And I have learnt how to remove a face mask without catching the piercings. I had a stud and a hoop and the hoop healed much faster and I can twiddle with it now without hurting. The stud still feels painful if I catch it.

Definitely worth it though- I think they look amazing.

WakeMeUpin22 · 10/10/2021 20:48

I got my helix and tragus done the same day. 2 weeks ago. The tragus was the most painful. Helix wasn't. Bite the bullet and get it done, you won't regret it. I can't wait to put a cute ring/stud in there!

LtJudyHopps · 10/10/2021 21:04

I’ve had two cartilage. I had my top helix done years ago with a gun and I don’t remember it hurting much.
I had a second one done 4 weeks ago with a needle and it stung for like a second and then it was over. The first week or so it was a little bit tender to sleep on but since then I’ve been fine to sleep on it.

Original poster

FlipFlopFlossy · 10/10/2021 23:52

Oh I'm really not sure now. I have long hair and can see myself catching it constantly

OP posts:

scrivette · 11/10/2021 00:04

I had mine done a month ago and I still can't sleep on it, it was worth it though as I love it.

It didn't hurt much at all when it was being pierced and I haven't found that I have caught my hairbrush on it (yet!)

SNKB14 · 11/10/2021 00:08

@TReXX

Mine didn't really hurt to have it done but it was painful to sleep on for ages.

Exactly the same for me

Original poster

FlipFlopFlossy · 11/10/2021 00:13

Silly question but how did you decide which side to have done?

I'm worried about the healing. Piercings don't seem to heal that well for me buty other piercings were done with a gun years ago.

I've since discovered that the pocky metal I can wear without a reaction is titanium. The piercing will be done with titanium so this might be better than my previous one which were done with gold

OP posts:

Original poster

FlipFlopFlossy · 11/10/2021 00:13

*only, not pocky!

OP posts:

GrimDamnFanjo · 11/10/2021 02:27

Mine hurt but I were quick. It's really important to select an experienced piercer. Mine also took a longtime to heal. But I love them!

LimpLettice · 11/10/2021 02:33

No more painful than a lobe piercing but it did sort of crunch when he put the needle through.

I have loads and nothing has healed as badly. A year of on off infections and pain, mainly due to it getting caught and pulled. I also have long hair, but changing to a hoop stopped that. Looks lovely though, and am planning a double helix on the other side.

icedcoffees · 11/10/2021 02:39

I've had 4-5 over the years and none have been remotely painful. I use hoops instead of studs which means they're just fine to sleep on as there's nothing to dig into my head.

I've never had any issue with healing or infection though you need to be careful when washing/styling/brushing your hair for a few months

Clarinet53 · 11/10/2021 02:40

I have 4 helix piercings amongst many others. If you have a side you prefer to sleep on have the opposite side pierced.

It's best to have an internally threaded titanium flat back piece of jewellery whilst healing. The healing can take at least 4 months.

The jewellery will be longer when first pierced to allow for swelling. If you get it downsized one this has passed it'll help it heal and avoid snagging it.

Please don't get it done with a piercing gun, opt for somewhere that uses needles.

Echofallen · 11/10/2021 03:05

I just got a helix a couple of months ago! Pain wise I felt my second lobes were worse, it was just a little nip then throbbing for a bit after. I slept on the other side for about the first month (amazed I managed to stay like that because usually I'm all over the place in my sleep!) but it's been fine to sleep on now, ear shape/angle might have something to do with this I dunno?!

I have long hair and decided to keep it tied back to prevent it wrapping around my piercing or getting caught somehow. This worked well however because I was so paranoid about this I wasn't as careful with brushing etc and ended up with matted hair! Which has been a huge pain. I have just started wearing my hair loose again and it's been fine so far. I have dinged it a few times since I got it done which stings for a few seconds but it's happening a lot less now and I think it's healing well. Be careful with facemasks, we went for coffee after I got mine and I couldn't get my mask off and on without catching it around the back of the jewellery, I was panicking and DH had to rescue me! I would put my face mask on in front of a mirror to make sure I didn't knock the piercing for the first month as I would catch it otherwise.

My piercer was fab and put me at ease, I was using a neilmed saline spray at first to help it heal but it just dripped down me so not sure if it was defective. I have an aftercare oil now which is great. I was told not to use numbing spray beforehand, they wouldn't do it if you used it. Also make sure they use a needle, not a gun as the gun can shatter cartilage. My friend got hers done with a gun and it never healed, she had to remove it.

I'm so happy I had it done, go for it!

makelovenotpetrol · 11/10/2021 03:11

Decide by which side you sleep on least and get that one done! They're not nice to sleep on!!
I've got more piercings than I can count so I have has every which ear piercing. It does hurt because someone is sticking a needle through a very thick piece of cartilage! They can use numbing spray - some places do some don't. But that stuff really fucking stings so it's either that burns or the piercing does!!!
If they use freeze spray it's like a tugging and pulling sensation when they clamp your ear ready to pierce it and then there's the sensation of a needle going through your ear which burns and also you can hear / feel a sort of crunching cracking sound as the needle goes through the thick cartilage.

Without the spray it's much the same but there's more instant pain with it.
Honestly I don't think the spray helps much because like I say it's a burning pain and the spray causes that anyway!

I love my piercings and I personally think the pain is worth it though hence why I have so many.

Cartilage is a shit to heal as people have said. Personally I don't find hair much of an issue on a helix. I have a forward helix which is the bit of your ear right next to your head and that gets a lot of hair in and has been difficult to heal in the past. But then I have a scaffold which healed just fine... So it's just random in my experience which do heal and which you have trouble with.

As others have said they hurt like a bitch when you knock them but just be careful. You soon learn what things make you knock it and you don't do that thing!!!

FindingMeno · 11/10/2021 06:04

After healing I've found an andralok earring is the most comfortable thing to wear.
All cartilage piercings hurt but not for long.
No pain, no gain!

Original poster

FlipFlopFlossy · 11/10/2021 15:56

you can hear / feel a sort of crunching cracking sound as the needle goes through the thick cartilage

OP posts:

Original poster

FlipFlopFlossy · 11/10/2021 15:57

Thanks all. The piercer uses a needle. I'm still a little unsure. I'm sure a wimp

OP posts:

Mol1628 · 11/10/2021 16:06

Have you thought about something like a rook or a Tragus? Similar pain when getting pierced but they snag a lot less than a helix piercing.
My rook was my easiest heal and never flares up. My helixes get sore sometimes even though I’ve had them years I think it’s when I sleep on them funny.

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