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Original poster

Helix piercing experiences - a poll

77 replies

GameOfLifer · 18/10/2022 20:18

I had my helix pierced at uni with a gun, I wasn’t great if taking care of it and the butterfly back earring was uncomfortable. I persevered for a few months but ultimately took it out.
Now “a few” years later I’m enjoying getting new piercings again and I’m keen on getting a helix or maybe even a double helix. However from the old mn threads I’ve read quite a few people give up on the healing process and remove them.
So, my question is: if you have had your helix pierced (with a needle) did you manage to see out the healing process?

OP posts:
Surreality22 · 19/10/2022 10:54

Had helix done with a needle, took a second and barely hurt. Great aftercare and healed well apart from knocking it randomly some months later which stung for a few days. It was a screw on backing, whatever that's called, no chance of it falling out and a slightly longer post in case of any swelling but it was fine. I love it!

Beingadiv · 19/10/2022 11:08

I've got 3 helix piercings, conch, tragus, anti tragus, forward helix, constellation lobe, all sorts. All healed and fine. Only issue was a rook that migrated out but I think it was badly placed by an inexperienced piercer. My advice would be to leave it alone to heal, bit of salt water but no turning or messing with it.

Beingadiv · 19/10/2022 11:09

Oh, and get flat back labrets, not rings or butterfly studs. They get caught and fall out so much less often

MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 19/10/2022 15:38

This is Timely, I have a downsizing appointment for my lobes coming up and was considering getting a helix at the same time. LOVE the look, not too worried about the initial pain but am worried about the healing and sleeping issues…

VeganGordie · 19/10/2022 15:39

stupidly enough i actaully had my helix piercing done in claires with a gun! AVOID, i did not know you were not supposed to do this at the time. My cartilage is fine thank god, but you should always have it done with a gun, it did swell up but a lot of piercings can do this

MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 19/10/2022 15:40

I thought it was illegal to use a gun on cartilage now? It can shatter the ear completely!

CookPassBabtridge · 19/10/2022 15:41

Had loads of ear piercings in my early 20s and most of them stayed sore. Took them all out for an MRI and never put back in.. now at 37 getting them all done again and had no issues, all done with needle and barely any pain, all healed nicely.

GrimDamnFanjo · 19/10/2022 15:54

Forward helix; flat; daith; tragus; helix; double conch; lobes.
All needle pierced.
Forward helix was my first and badly pierced. Took months a months and another piercer to fix.
One conch was tricky due to swelling.
My 6 week Tragus is plagued with piercing bumps. I'm doing daily hot chamomile soaks at the moment.
I normally take a long time to heal. If you also have 2 or3 done together that can also slow things down.

MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 19/10/2022 16:00

What affects healing times, anyone know? Other than not sleeping on it, keeping it clean… anything else that can speed things along?

faustina · 19/10/2022 16:38

I had a helix piercing at Maria Tash and after six months of not being able to sleep on that side it got a really horrible infection so I took it out. Since had quite a few upper lobes, and a tragus which have all been fine - oddly the tragus is the least trouble (had it done in March). I still rarely sleep on that side though

faustina · 19/10/2022 16:39

@MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler - I was told the main thing is not to fiddle with it!

CookPassBabtridge · 19/10/2022 17:27

MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 19/10/2022 16:00

What affects healing times, anyone know? Other than not sleeping on it, keeping it clean… anything else that can speed things along?

Yep not to play with it 😆

JuneOsborne · 19/10/2022 18:20

I had a helix piercing with a gun (I know, I know. Well now I know. I didn't then.) Helped really quickly. Took a year to be able to sleep on it.

I swear it was the surgical spirits that helped it heal so fast. My MIL told me it was the stuff to use because it hardens the skin. Is that true? Not a clue. Did it appear to work? Yes!

JuneOsborne · 19/10/2022 18:21

*Healed not helped.

Original poster
GameOfLifer · 19/10/2022 19:41

Thank you all, it’s been really helpful.
I should be put off… but I’m not!

OP posts:
MissAtomicBomb1 · 19/10/2022 22:41

Had a helix piercing last Nov with a gun. The pain a few days after was immense!!
Just a continuous throbbing. I had to swap sides with DH in bed as def couldn't sleep on it. Took about 4 months to completely heal. Fine now but still slightly tender if I sleep in it with an earring in.

CookPassBabtridge · 20/10/2022 00:57

JuneOsborne · 19/10/2022 18:20

I had a helix piercing with a gun (I know, I know. Well now I know. I didn't then.) Helped really quickly. Took a year to be able to sleep on it.

I swear it was the surgical spirits that helped it heal so fast. My MIL told me it was the stuff to use because it hardens the skin. Is that true? Not a clue. Did it appear to work? Yes!

A year to sleep on it but it healed fast? I could sleep on mine the same night 🤔

CookPassBabtridge · 20/10/2022 00:58

Always have a needle!

Surreality22 · 20/10/2022 09:21

I was nervous about getting mine because I toss and turn in the night but incredibly I was focused enough to be able to go to sleep on my other side after getting it and wake up in the same position! And do that for weeks after and it was healing well. I really like it I fancy another on the other side but maybe in slightly different position as I like the asymmetrical look.

Another thing that I did - I have long hair and was very conscious of getting it caught round the post so I wore my hair up or with a headband for weeks after getting it, that helped the healing.

My friend got one years ago with the gun and it got infected so she removed it. Go to a proper piercing place that use sterilised needles and you should be fine if you leave it to heal after.

MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 21/10/2022 13:47

I just did it 😭 it hurt more when the jewellery went in than when she pierced it! And now it’s really throbbing 😭 will report back…

ChunkyMonkeyIsBack · 21/10/2022 16:46

Mine healed in just over 12 months. There were times I wanted to remove it as it seemed to be always sore but I’m glad I stuck with it. Sleep on airplane pillow, it’s a necessity!!

Kanaloa · 21/10/2022 16:55

I had mine done (with a needle at a reputable piercing studio) and it’s been the most awkward of all my piercings - and I have a lot, ones that people often ask about etc that I’ve had no problems at all with. But for some reason my helix just healed so slowly, it kept having problems. I can’t wear any cheap Claire’s type jewelry, I have to wear specialised jewelry with the flat back type of thing which limits my choices, but I don’t have pain when I wear those, so it’s not so bad now. If I wear a lobe type earring or a cheap earring from Claire’s, it will be okay at first then get sore and crusty within a day or so. I don’t have this problem in my other piercings so obviously not an allergy. No clue what else it could be though.

Kanaloa · 21/10/2022 16:57

Out of curiosity were are people going that they pierced the helix with a gun? I’ve always had the choice for lobe piercings in most places (they ask what you want but I prefer needle) but for other piercings I’ve never been asked. Is it allowed to pierce cartilage areas with a gun? Is it much more painful?

Lollypop701 · 21/10/2022 18:33

Getting it done with a needle sucks, lots of jewellery won’t fit

NeverHadANickname · 21/10/2022 18:37

Helix on both sides healed fine. Triple forward helix took years to heal but I persevered. Changing to small hoops helped, I think it made them easier to clean and get more air flow to them.

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