Cartilage piercings are the on-trend way to accessorise your ears. With a wealth of ways to style and adorn these earrings, get your new piercing from Monica Vinader. Use our guide to getting your cartilage piercing, and everything you need to know to care for it.

What Is A Cartilage Piercing?

A cartilage piercing is effectively any type of ear piercing that isn't on the actual earlobe. Earlobes are the most popular place to get a piercing, because of the soft fleshy nature of the lobes. However, in recent years, more and more are opting for cartilage piercings, to find even more earring inspiration.

Cartilage piercings provide the benefit of being able to adorn multiple types of earrings in the same place. If you also have lobe piercings, you can make the most of stacking earrings. If you decide to opt for a single cartilage earring, you can still mix and match the pieces you adorn in this spot. Combining gold jewellery and cartilage designs is the ultimate chic choice. Mixing your sterling silver jewellery with a rose gold design can be an effortless way to create a fresh look.

Other Types of Cartilage Piercing

Cartilage piercings can be placed in a wealth of different positions along the ear. This means you can choose a design which is truly unique to you. A helix piercing refers to the upper section of the ear, usually on the outer edge of the ear. Small hoops, or huggies, work great as helix earrings. A forward helix piercing is on the opposite side of the ear to where the helix is usually placed, on the inner edge near the face. This is a great spot to adorn a classic stud. Whatever you decide to show off your cartilage piercing with, make sure you trust the piercer, and choose the most suitable earring to wear while it heals. Next, you get to select the perfect earring styles to showcase in your new cartilage piercings!

Have Your Piercing with Monica Vinader

Getting your new cartilage piercing is easier than ever with Monica Vinader. You can book a piercing and our ear piercing experts will help you curate your stack or single earring. Whatever your style, you can find something unique to you.

You can get up to 3 piercings per appointment: upper lobe, lower lobe, higher lobe or helix all in one ear or split between both, all in just 20 minutes! We only use hygienic, single use needles. You'll be able to chat with the piercer or sales associate about jewellery, the look you're going for and how to style your lobe or cartilage piercings.

Do Cartilage Piercings Hurt?

Any type of lobe or cartilage piercing will cause a curtain amount of pain and discomfort, as it is a small wound. You can get an idea of the feeling by pinching your lobe or helix earring. The pain tends to dissipate in a fairly short time, and with proper care, you should be able to enjoy your healed piercings without pain.

Earrings For Your New Piercing

Our labret earrings are ideal to wear while your lobe or cartilage piercing is healing. You shouldn't change your earrings before your piercing is fully healed. Once you're properly healed, you can start to swap out the earring you choose to adorn it with. Statement earrings are designed to pack a powerful punch, and step your outfit up to the next level. From drop earrings destined to dazzle alongside an evening ensemble, to cocktail earrings perfect for causing a stir on date night.

Everyday earrings can add a little boost of confidence to your daily life. You can pair timeless diamond jewellery with your most subtle outfits to add some sparkle. You can always opt to add some colour to your day with gemstones, with the alluring pull of earring charms. For those who want to experience the fun of stacking earrings, but prefer just a lobe piercing, try experimenting with ear cuffs. These on-trend cuffs slide onto the outer edge of your ear. You can even wear more than one at a time for a truly unique effect. However you choose to style your lobe or cartilage piercings, you'll find limitless combinations with our ranges.

How Long Does A Piercing Take to Heal?

Cartilage piercings take longer to heal than soft-tissue piercings, and this can range from 6 to 12 months. You may think your cartilage piercing is healed before it is. This is because they heal from the skin, inwards. Don't worry if your cartilage piercing starts secreting fluid - this is normal. All piercings are technically wounds. They need to be properly cared for to heal without complications.

Caring For Your New Piercing

Caring for a cartilage piercing is essential to helping it heal as properly as possible. At your appointment, we will provide piercing aftercare information to help you. For an ear piercing the only cleanser you need is Antibacterial Cleansing Saline Solution. This salty solution can help to flush out your cartilage piercing, remove any discharge, and help to keep it clean. You should use this twice a day, morning and night, every day for the duration of your healing. Keep your jewellery in for the duration of your healing time.

Once your cartilage piercing has healed, you can help to keep it free from infection and in the best condition possible. Cleaning your earrings is an important step to this process. Ensure you handle them with clean hands when placing them on your ear, and storing them in a clean jewellery box to keep them safe.

Types of Piercings

Cartilage piercings aren't the only way to add a touch of glamour to your ears. There are many types of piercings to slip jewellery through - for dressing up an everyday outfit, or to complement a full-glam evening look.

Lower Lobe

The first and most common type of piercing is the earlobe. The reason people start at the ear lobe is because it is the fleshiest part of the ear. The classic lobe position is often called the lower lobe piercing thanks to the many other options you can choose from. You can adorn this look with lower lobe earrings designed to fit flawlessly with this style.

Upper Lobe

Upper lobe piercings are a twist on the classic lobe piercing. It sits slightly higher than the classic lobe look, and nearer the face, to let your upper lobe earrings dazzle in view. Still positioned in the fleshy part of the ear lobe, it is an easy type of ear piercing to perform as it does not require piercing through cartilage.

Higher Lobe

Higher lobe piercings, which sit further up the ear lobe, towards the outer edge of the ear, are another way to update your piercing look. Selecting the ideal higher lobe earrings for this stunning look is essential to show off your new additions. Adding one or two piercings further up your lobe can easily transform your look to a trendy one bound to draw attention.

Sustainable Jewellery from Monica Vinader

At Monica Vinader, we combine contemporary jewellery designs with sustainability Using recycled metals and ethical stones, our rings, necklaces, and pendants are perfect for finding style inspiration.