Inner Ear Piercings: Guide & Images

Written By Dan Hunter on May 28, 2019
Last Updated: November 27, 2020

Inner ear piercings haven’t been popular forever, and it’s only within the past decade that they’ve really exploded onto the piercing scene… with good reason.

Ear lobe piercings have always been the most typically popular piercing type, but it was only a matter of time before people got bored with just having pierced lobes.

As styles progressed and body piercers took the art of body modification further, a variety of inner ear piercing styles emerged. These included everything from conch and tragus piercings to more recently, daith piercings.

If you’re looking to get an inner ear piercing done, this is the resource you need to make an informed decision.

What Is An Inner Ear Piercing?

Inner ear piercings are piercings that are done on the innermost parts of the ear, which can include the tragus, anti-tragus, conche, daith, snug, anti-helix, and even the innermost root of the helix.

In general, these piercings have not been popular for quite as long as typical lobe or outer cartilage piercings, but many people like them because of the individuality and creativity in which they help to express.

What Happens During An Inner Ear Piercing Procedure?

If you’ve had a piercing done before, you don’t have to worry about much when you get ready for your inner ear piercing procedure. Much of what happens will already be familiar to you.

You’ll arrive for your appointment and meet with your body piercer. He or she will make sure that you’re ready and answer any remaining questions that you may have before the procedure begins.

Then, you’ll go to the area where piercings are done and they’ll likely have you sit in a chair.

Once there, your body piercer will indicate the area that he or she intends to pierce, sometimes by marking the exact point.

You’ll get the chance to say whether you’re happy with the spot and if you are, you’ll move on. The piercer will have already sterilized the area carefully to prevent infection.

The piercer will use a needle to do the actual piercing, particularly for cartilage piercings in the inner ear areas. If you’re expecting the old school piercing gun that they use in the mall for your ear lobes, don’t be surprised. This method is actually safer and more precise.

Inner Ear Piercing Pain – How Much Do They Hurt?

All ear piercings vary in terms of pain levels. It’s generally safe to say that you will experience some pain, and most people who have had inner ear piercings say that they hurt a bit more than earlobe piercings do.

If you’ve had outer ear piercings done before, such as helix piercings, you may feel that the tragus, anti-tragus, conch or other types hurt a bit more than what you’ve experienced in the past.

Still, pain levels are highly individual and you can’t say for sure how much it will hurt until you’ve been through it.

Don’t be too preoccupied with the pain, though. Most of the pain is unlikely to occur during the procedure itself and if you’ve had piercings before, it probably won’t be anything that you can’t handle.

This is especially true if you have a trustworthy professional handle the procedure.

How Much Does An Inner Ear Piercing Cost?

Like pain levels, costs are highly subject to a number of different factors. Your location, the experience level of the person doing the piercing, and your starting jewelry will all weigh heavily here.

You’ll have to decide whether you’d rather pay the bare minimum and roll the dice with someone who’s inexperienced or pay a bit more for someone who has done many piercings before and is in demand.

Generally speaking, inner ear piercings are a little more expensive than outer ear piercings or lobe piercings.

An anti-helix piercing may start at $60 and go up, while daith and snug piercings that are difficult to perform may cost $70 to $80 or more. Some shops will also charge more for certain types of jewelry, such as higher costs for straight jewelry than rings.

What To Do Before Getting An Inner Ear Piercing?

You won’t have to do a lot before you get your inner piercing done. The most important thing you need to do is to research your options. Call around and get prices, but don’t forget to ask about the experience levels of piercers in your area.

Read reviews and ask around to see what others say about popular shops and their levels of performance and service. Once you pick a shop, consider what starter jewelry you’re interested in.

Then, on the day of your appointment, show up before your scheduled time and give yourself a little extra time to relax and get ready for the procedure so you won’t be nervous.

Inner Ear Piercing Aftercare & Cleaning Guide

Those who have had other piercings won’t find much to worry about when it comes to inner ear piercing aftercare. The fundamentals stay the same.

Make sure that you clean your new piercing twice per day and avoid the use of harsh soaps. Your piercer will often either provide the cleaning solution you should use or give you specific instructions.

The best aftercare product I’ve personally used is the After Inked Piercing Aftercare Spray. Not only is it vegan, but it’s also completely alcohol and additive-free. The solution works well on all skin types including sensitive skin, and it comes in a generously-sized mist-spraying bottle for easy application. When using it from the very start of the healing process, the spray helps to decrease healing times and aims to eliminate any lingering pain or soreness.

Remember to keep not only dirt, but also shampoo from clogging or collecting in and around your piercing. Your ears are very close to your hair, which can provide a lot of opportunities for contamination that can lead to infections, so be careful!

How Long Does An Inner Ear Piercing Take To Heal?

Here’s the good news about inner ear piercings: they tend to heal fairly quickly! Compared to something like an industrial piercing, an anti-tragus or conch piercing will heal much more quickly, requiring just two to four months.

The biggest exception tends to be rook piercings on the thick part of cartilage on the upper inside of your ear. These piercings may heal in as few as two months, but may also take as long as a year.

Inner Ear Piercing Infections

Infections are always a concern for people who get their ears pierced, but when the inner ear is involved, people become even more worried.

A lot of people mistakenly believe that an inner ear piercing such as a daith piercing can spread to the ear canal and cause all kinds of problems, but this is highly unlikely.

For an inner ear piercing to spread in this way, it would have to be extremely severe beforehand, which would not only be clear to see visually but very uncomfortable.

In other words, your biggest concern with inner ear piercings will be the general redness, soreness, and occasional excretions that you watch out for with all types of piercings.

As long as you keep your new piercing clean by following the aftercare instructions provided, these side-effects should be short-lived.

Inner Ear Piercing Risks

The biggest risks with these types of piercings are serious infections, but allergic reactions are also of considerable danger.

If you have had other piercings, you should know what types of jewelry are safe for you to wear. Stick with something you’ve used before.

Usually, stainless steel is recommended for initial piercings, however, it is not appropriate for people who suffer from a nickel allergy. Titanium would more than likely be considered as a second option, although it is more expensive.

Abscesses can sometimes occur from piercings, which is when pus can’t escape the cartilage and gets seriously infected.

The best way to avoid this type of problem is to monitor the condition of your piercing closely and seek expert help if something looks off and it isn’t getting better.

Inner Ear Piercing Jewelry

Inner ear piercings tend to involve studs a lot of the time. For conch piercings or tragus piercings, studs are the easiest way to decorate your ear without something like a captive bead ring or hoop that can become annoying due to the placement of the piercing.

Other piercings, however, can look great with all types of jewelry. Snug piercings are a great example of inner ear piercings that can look amazing with rings of all types or small barbells.

You can really customize your choices by considering the metals your earrings are made from. Whether you prefer the timeless look of stainless steel and silver or you’d prefer to switch things up with gold, this is an area that you can use to set your style apart from what everyone else is doing.

Summary

Inner ear piercings can not only turn a lot of heads, but they also draw attention to the personal statement you want to make through your appearance.

No matter what your style is, inner ear piercings such as daith piercings or anti-tragus piercings can really complement your other piercings and help you express yourself in a fresh, new way.

Remember to ask your body piercer if you have any additional questions. Take advantage of the wide range of options you have, and put some thought into which type of inner ear piercing is the best one for you.