Piercing guide › Ear piercings › Double helix
Two (double) or three (triple) helix piercings sit in a row on the outer rim of the ear, usually one below the other.
I measure the row as a whole so that the spacing is even and each hole has enough cartilage around it. Whether I do all the holes in one appointment is something we decide together. Fewer holes at once means less strain on the cartilage.
As initial jewellery I use flat-back bars made of Bioplast or titanium to ASTM F136. Rings only once healing is complete, at the earliest after six months.
The studios give no separate figures for pain and healing. They correspond to the single helix, per hole.
If the rim of the ear is narrow, a clean row won't fit. Then I advise fewer holes.
Cartilage has hardly any blood supply. That's why every cartilage piercing heals much more slowly than the earlobe, even if it looks calm from the outside earlier.
How to care for the piercing in each phase is explained in detail on the Care and aftercare page. The short version: sterile saline solution, don't twist, don't fiddle with it, be patient.
When to see a doctor immediately
An inflammation of the cartilage is serious and can permanently deform the ear. Don't wait.
Pain and healing time are guide values, averaged from information given by piercing and tattoo studios. Where the figures come from. Everyone feels and heals differently.
Want a double or triple helix or have a question about it?
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