Looking for a new addition for that empty ear? Wondering what’s hot right now in cartilage piercings? We have the answer for you – it’s the vertical helix piercing!
What Is It?
This super-trendy piercing is like a regular helix piercing. The difference is that it is placed in the uppermost curve of the ear so instead of being pierced back-to-front, it’s pierced top-to-bottom. Hence the name!
Is It For Me?
The anatomy required for these piercings is much more specific than a standard helix piercing. You need to have an ample rim of stable cartilage to support this piercing and enough space underneath for the jewelry to sit comfortably. Your trusted piercer will be able to evaluate your ear anatomy and tell if this piercing is something your body can support.
Placement
This will vary greatly depending on your specific ear. (No two ears are exactly the same. They’re like snowflakes. Isn’t that cool?) Some people have enough tissue that they can get this piercing anywhere along the curve while other people may only have one or two spots where it can be placed. You may also wish to take into account future piercing ideas. You want to make sure that this won’t prevent you from getting another piercing when you’re discussing locations. If you don’t plan on getting any other piercings in that area, then you don’t have to worry about that part.
Pain And Healing
The pain level for a vertical helix piercing is the same as a standard version. The average healing time is about 9 months with slow healers or people who sleep on their piercings, potentially taking as long as a year. (If you’re going to get one and don’t have a travel pillow for your ear, make sure to pick one up beforehand!) Your initial piercing jewelry should be a straight barbell or flat back labret, which you should downsize as per your piercer’s instructions.
The Triple And Styling
A very popular variation of this piercing is the triple vertical helix piercing. It’s simply getting three of them at the top of your ear. This is frequently styled with either cone shaped ends on the top of the ear, for a spiked look, or using flat back labrets turned upside down so that the three discs sit on the top of the ear. You can rock both these looks with a single piercing as well – cone shaped opal ends are super on-trend for this piercing. Another option is jewelry that dangles inside the ear, similar to a “hidden helix” piercing. There really is no wrong way to style these piercings!
If you’re looking for something new and different that is super-hot right now, you really can’t go wrong with a vertical helix piercing. Whether you get one, two, three, or more, you’ll be rocking one of the hottest piercings around these days. Who wouldn’t want that? Happy piercing!
