gently provocative, discreetly rebellious, the Helix piercing is all the rage among women between 15 and 25 years old – and other audiences. But what are the particularities of this cartilage piercing, and the risks, particularly in terms of healing? Focus to find out everything about this very fashionable ear jewel.
A brief definition of this successful piercing
The cartilage piercing, or Helix piercing, is specially designed for the upper, cartilaginous part of the ear. Originally a way to stand out and eroticize your body, this “punk” piercing is now popular and adapts perfectly to all looks and desires. It represents around 20% of piercing requests among professionals.
Where to go to get a Helix piercing?
You can get pierced at some jewelers or in specialized stores. Warning: if you are a minor, you must be accompanied by one of your legal representatives. And for the little daring ones who would like to escape parental control, it is strongly advised not to pierce yourself: you risk losing your ear! To treat damage to the ears.
How is this piercing done?
The piercer starts by having you fill out an information sheet regarding your possible allergies. Then he cleans and disinfects the ear. He then draws the location of the piercing for you to validate. Finally, he places the piercing jewelry that you must keep for at least two months. A little tip: do not hesitate to ask for the needle piercing, less painful than the gun piercing (it still hurts a little otherwise it is not fun). The operation lasts a total of about fifteen minutes. A check-up is generally scheduled two weeks after the piercing.
And then, what should we do for good healing?
It’s not the 12 labors of Hercules, but it’s not far off! What can be done to promote good healing?
- First, it requires special maintenance, namely cleaning with neutral PH soap and disinfection with 0.5% NON-alcoholic chlorhexidine per day.
- You should also be careful to rotate the piercing to clean the previously moistened hole. But again, don’t worry: your piercer will explain all this to you in detail.
- Then, you have to be careful not to touch your piercing dry, at the risk of tearing the skin and slowing down the healing. Finally, the most painful is the night when it will be impossible for you to sleep on your pierced ear at first. And yes, you have to suffer to be beautiful…
If you follow these instructions carefully, everything will go well. Otherwise, do not hesitate to come back to your piercer to report any possible problems. Expect about two months of partial healing, which will allow you to change your jewelry, and one year of complete healing.
Helpful tips: When styling, be careful not to get any hair caught around the jewelry, and at night, try as much as possible not to sleep on the jewelry for the first few weeks.
And what about the prices?
Prices vary depending on the model, but range from 20 to 70 euros, including installation. There are many colors and shapes, from spirals to pendants to traditional horseshoes. Before going to the store, don’t hesitate to check out the models available on the internet. Sites like http://www.piercing-street.fr, for example, allow you to order your favorite jewelry online at great prices. It’s up to you to choose from the hundreds of items on offer!
The Helix piercing will not fail to boost and give boldness to your style. If your choice is well thought out and if the requirement of maintenance and the length of the healing do not scare you, then do not hesitate! On the other hand, make sure to go to a recognized professional,