A Breakdown of 17 (Yes, 17!) Ear Piercing Types and What to Do with ‘Em

Lobe piercings are done at the fleshiest part of the ear—no cartilage here—which is why they’re typically the least painful, Sam Isaacs tells Cosmo. If you’ve already got one and want to experiment with a new look but aren’t sure you want to go full-throttle with your ear piercings yet, opt for a classic—but equally as inspo-worthy—double piercing on your lobe.

Consider this your sign to finally get that second, third, or fourth lobe piercing you’ve been wanting, especially since they’re usually the least painful. (Just be careful when you get higher up into the cartilage!) Plus, the piercings don’t really go out of style, and swapping out jewelry is a breeze (like these pearl studs I’ve been eyeing).

If you don’t have space for a traditional second, third, and fourth lobe piercing, you can stack your piercings on top of each other for a cool, layered effect. Try it with some round studs, or make it a bit constellation-y with tiny star stud earrings.

The helix piercing is usually people’s first piercing after their lobes, Alvarado notes, because it’s a way to “test the waters prior to branching out into other more ‘exotic’ piercings.” Case in point: Cosmo editor Corinne Sullivan looooves her helix piercing but notes it took a little while to heal. She suggests getting a flat-back earring to help avoid irritation from everyday activities.

Helix piercings are also super versatile, whether you slide in a mini hoop (as shown above) or a stud, or you ask your piercer to place the hole higher or lower, depending on your ~vibes~ or the rest of your ear stack.

The snakebite piercing, as demonstrated here on the Kaia Gerber, is a signature at Studs, consisting of two super-close together piercings. The snakebite piercing began with a mid-helix placement, but Isaacs says that Studs has seen more people asking for a snakebite in other ear areas, like the lobe or upper helix.

Similar to a snakebite piercing is a double forward-helix piercing, which is placed much higher on the helix closer to the face. “A forward helix is a perfect little pop on the front of your ear, whether you have 2 or 20 piercings,” says Mayfield. “It’s like the pair of shoes you know you’ll pull out of your closet seven days a week and still looks good with everything and anything you wear.”

If you’re looking for something a little bolder, there’s the industrial piercing, i.e, two holes in the cartilage connected with a single piece of jewelry, usually a barbel. Entertainment editor Tamara Fuentes got an industrial piercing after months of consideration and she loves it. “It feels like something different that most people don’t have, and it’s pretty easy to dress up by customizing the rod or end pieces,” she says.

And when you pair it with a few dainty piercings, like teeny-tiny diamond studs, you’ve got a super-intricate, curated-ear look.

A horizontal lobe piercing is a bit of a twist on the regular lobe piercing. Instead of one simple piercing through and through, the piercer goes through the lobe side-to-side and the holes are connected through one piece of jewelry, like a barbell. Think of it like an industrial piercing, but through your lobe.

Daith piercings can be on the painful side (the cartilage on that part of your ear is v thick), but when they look this good, it’s hard not to just say f*ck it and try it out. They’re a bit rarer than, say, a tragus or conch piercing, which makes them a strong compliment-getter, too. So, if you wanna keep it simple, stick with a singular gold hoop. Studs’ Sam Isaac recommends seamless Clicker earrings that snap into place and create one continuous loop for maximum comfort.

Per Isaac, conch piercings (seen here as a double conch piercing) are only getting more popular. Mayfield adds, “A conch piercing is set in the middle of your ear, and you can’t go wrong with any jewelry you choose.” It might have something to do with the fact that, as far as non-lobe ear piercings go, the conch placement is slightly easier to heal because “it’s less prone to external irritation or snagging.” In other words, it’s easier to leave alone!

Cosmo Beauty Editor Beth Gillette is never without jewelry in her conch piercing because it’s an easy way to always have some sparkle. “And it doesn’t come in contact with headphones or anything,” she gushes. “Major plus.” And Cosmo Associate Editor Chaise Sanders advises grabbing flat back studs for this placement so you can avoid any hair knotting mishaps.

If you want to get a bit more elaborate, you can try an inner conch piercing. The inner conch (seen here as the snake stud) does go through thicker cartilage, so it could be more painful, depending on your tolerance!

I love this colorful stack, but the real cherry on top is the rook piercing—that hoop in the inner ear. It adds an edge to the stacked lobe without obscuring the whole look. Rook piercings are typically done with a curved barbel, says Isaacs, adding that it’s important to look for earrings that match the needs of your piercing and your ear anatomy so you get the most out of it.

A flat piercing is essentially a piercing through the flat part of your cartilage, usually adorned with smaller studs. This one is a triple flat piercing, which adds some dimension to a part of the ear that isn’t often adorned. It can be a cool way to incorporate some additional studs, whether they’re the exact same or a mix of sizes and metals.

You can see the double conch piercings mentioned above here, but I want us to focus more on the left side of the photo, that small round stud on the flap over the ear canal—the tragus piercing. This is a fun way to freshen up your look without going straight to the helix (if that’s not your thing).

Just note: these can be hard to heal for those who love their Airpods and earbuds. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.

I know this gold hoop stack looks super cool, but if you can tear your eyes away from the beauty of the full look for one second, I can tell you about the anti-tragus piercing. See that little hoop on the inner ear left of the helix piercings? That’s the anti-tragus piercing. Like the tragus, the anti-tragus is a cartilage piercing, and like a rook piercing, Isaacs says it is often done with a curved barbell to fit the shape of the ear.

A snug piercing is pierced in the cartilage just above the anti-tragus, and is typically done with a curved barbell. Once healed, you can switch it up and put in a hoop, as shown here.

Orbital ear piercings are essentially a ring piercing in the conch. These can be a bit tricky, and it’s important to get the right jewelry and make sure it fits your ear as snug or loose as you want it.

Psst… If a thick orbital piercing seems a liiittle out of your pain threshold, consider trying out the look with a cute ear cuff before you commit. It’ll tie any curated ear together, especially if you have a mix of lobe and helix piercings.

Now that you know the basics, I’ve gathered some more ear piercing style inspo and some 2024 ear piercing trends so you can play around with what works best for you.

“Lately, we’ve noticed a growing love for our snakebite executed as a stacked lobe piercing due to the added dimension it brings to the ear,” Isaacs tells Cosmo. As you can see, the snakebite stacked lobe involves multiple double piercings and is all about placement. What you do after it heals is up to you!

“Constellation piercings are becoming increasingly popular,” says Alvarado, partly because you can easily customize the look with a blend of hoops and studs to create your own stack. Alvarado also recommends playing around with placement, whether you stick with a lobe set (as seen here) or try it in the flat of your ear.

If you like the idea of an earring going across your lobe but don’t want the transverse lobe piercing, you can try orbital jewelry. Not to be confused with an orbital piercing, which has come to be synonymous with a ring piercing through the conch, orbital jewelry is essentially a curved ring that connects two piercings. You can cheat a similar look with a ear climber stud.

If you have a lot of ear piercings, you’re probably getting tired of getting poked in the back of the ear. One way to make studs more comfortable is a flat-back, and now jewelers are coming out with decorative or reversible flatbacks, so that the back of your ear can look as cute and curated as the front! Enter: Rearscaping, which Isaacs assures Cosmo is “the next big thing!”

Yes, you could get multiple piercings in one day, depending on your pain tolerance. But for safety, most piercers won’t do more than three in one day, and instead recommend waiting four to six weeks between piercings to give your body time to heal and not over-traumatize your skin. Talk through what you’re looking for with your piercer when you make your appointment to gauge if you can do multiple in one day or if you need to space out your appointments.

Lobe piercings generally heal the fastest, says piercer Samantha Alvarado. Meanwhile, “Any piercing in the cartilage will take more time and commitment in terms of the healing process,” she says, which brings us to…

“Piercings that are placed on the thickest part of your ear cartilage are often considered more painful compared to those that don’t involve cartilage,” Isaacs says. That said, she notes, everyone has a different pain tolerance.

After you get a piercing, you should spritz the area with a saline solution twice a day for two weeks, then once a day for another two weeks while it’s healing. Refrain from touching your piercing as much as possible and “disinfect anything—like headphones or other earrings—that goes in, on, or around your ears at least once a day to prevent introducing bacteria to the site of your healing piercings,” says Alvarado.

Lobe piercings typically take 4-6 months to heal completely (though some piercers will tell you that you can start changing your earrings after 2 months or so), with inner and upper ear piercings taking 6 months to a year. The most important thing to remember is to be patient. Don’t try to change your earrings too quickly and avoid irritating the piercing if possible. “Your piercing should continue to feel better with time and a consistent aftercare routine including using sterile saline solution, rinsing your piercing with water, and avoiding sleeping directly on your fresh piercing,” Isaacs says.

FYI, though: If your piercing gets inflamed, swells, or has a pus-like discharge, call your doctor asap, because you could be experiencing an infection or allergic reaction. But as long as you’re following the protocol above, you should heal like a champ!