Can you put a regular earring in a helix piercing?
It depends if the holes are the same size.
If you don’t know, contact the place that did your piercings and ask what gauge they used.
It’s common for helix piercings in the upper ear cartilage to be larger than earlobe piercings.
If they were pierced with a gun, like at the mall, your earlobes probably wear either 18 or 20-gauge earrings. But the typical helix piercing is 16-gauge, which is thicker than an earlobe piercing. You could put a regular earring in a helix piercing, but the hole may become smaller.
On the other hand, if the piercer used a needle instead of a gun, the earlobe piercing might be the same size as a helix piercing.
(If you’re confused, try to remember that the bigger the gauge number, the smaller the hole – it’s backward from what you’d expect. Small gauge numbers are thicker).
How big is a helix earring?
It’s not just the gauge that matters, but also the size of the earring.
Although they are usually 16-gauge, helix studs vary from 3/16 to 4/8-inch in length or diameter.
Compare that to the size of an earlobe stud, which is usually only ¼-inch long. Will the earring fit? Or will it poke you in the back of the head?
What kind of earring do you use for a helix piercing?
The best helix earrings for a new piercing are labret studs. These have a flat back on a straight post. They’re comfortable to wear day and night while the piercing heals.
Later, you can switch to rings or straight or curved barbells.
How long does a helix piercing take to heal?
While earlobes heal in three weeks to a month, helix piercings in the ear cartilage can take up to six months to heal (1).
That’s why it’s crucial to pick comfortable helix jewelry right from the start. You’ll be wearing it 24/7 for quite a while.
When can I change the earring in my helix piercing?
You can’t change the earring until after the piercing has healed. That can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months.
After a month, it may look much better than it did, but that’s just because the outside has healed. The inside is still building a fistula so that the piercing won’t close up.
Pierced Owl 16-20G Implant-Grade Titanium Threadless Labret
It’s going to be a while before you can change your helix piercing jewelry. Therefore, start off with something comfortable to wear like this labret stud with a flat back.
The post is hypoallergenic titanium, the same stuff used for hip replacements. It won’t trigger allergies, which helps speed up healing time. Also, it won’t tarnish.
You can choose from 16, 18, or 20-gauge thicknesses and either quarter-inch or 5/16-inch lengths.
Guess what? Some of these sizes will fit in an earlobe piercing, too. If you’re not sure what size your current earrings are, you can measure them. See the tips below.
How to measure earring size
If you have a micrometer or caliper, you can measure the earring’s thickness and find out the gauge. It’s also possible to lay the earring on top of a ruler that has millimeter measurements.
For example, 20-gauge is about 0.81mm thick. Meanwhile, 18-gauge is 1mm, 16-gauge is 1.2mm, and 14-gauge is 1.6mm.
How to keep a helix piercing hole from closing up
If you allow the helix piercing to heal for three to six months, it shouldn’t close up quickly. Still, we wouldn’t recommend sleeping without an earring.
After it’s fully healed, you can take out the earring to play sports or go to a doctor’s appointment without worrying that the hole will close.
But what if you have to remove the earring for a medical procedure or some other reason before the piercing is healed? Then, you need a retainer like the one below.
Mayhoop 16G Surgical Steel Horseshoe Helix Earring Piercing Retainer
This package features transparent Bioflex plastic earrings that are safe for sensitive skin. They keep the piercing hole open when you can’t wear regular helix jewelry. What’s nice is that the horseshoe tips are threaded so that they don’t come loose.
You can get them in different thicknesses and sizes depending on what you need. There are also colored versions available if you prefer these lightweight, hypoallergenic earrings to anything made of metal.
How to help a helix piercing heal faster
We know you’re anxious for your piercing to heal as fast as possible. Here’s what the experts recommend for helping it along.
Always wash your hands before touching your piercing. Don’t fiddle with it or twist it.
Also, keep the piercing clean by treating it with saline solution. If it starts to get infected, try antibacterial soap for piercings.
But there’s one more tip that everyone forgets to mention. You’ve got to keep your jewelry clean, too.
Once you can switch earrings, you should clean them each time. It’s easy with the product below.
Gentle Jewelry Cleaner Solution
This jewelry cleaning solution is non-toxic and biodegradable. It’s suitable for all types of metals and stones.
Use it to shine up silver, stainless steel, gold, titanium, enameled jewelry, diamonds, cubic zirconia, opals, and even pearls. It comes with a miniature scrub brush to get the gunk out of all the crevices.
Once you’ve cleaned the earrings, let them dry completely before putting them back in your ear. Otherwise, rinse off the jewelry cleaner with saline solution, then replace the earring in the piercing.
H2Ocean Piercing Aftercare Spray
Reviewers say that this piercing aftercare solution has rescued them from infection and those awkward bumps that form around piercings. It rapidly soothes inflammation and swelling.
It’s based on sea salt, which is rich in minerals and vitamins. But it’s a sterile solution with lysozyme to promote skin regeneration.
Be sure to use it at least twice a day to keep the piercing clean while it heals. Remember to treat piercing after you shower to ensure you got all the soap and shampoo off the skin.
We hope you found the answers you need about earrings for helix piercings. Check back with us soon to learn more about body piercing and tattooing.
Source:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helix_piercing accessed January 23, 2021