High Lobe Piercing
The high lobe piercing is currently a very popular piercing trend, as more and more people are combining multiple earrings in their ears instead of just one. This piercing perfectly complements the "curated ear" look and can be styled individually and uniquely. In this guide, you'll learn everything about the high lobe piercing, what to look for when getting it, and which jewelry is ideal for your piercing.
What is a High Lobe Piercing?
High lobe piercings, also known as upper lobe piercings, are located in the upper part of the earlobe. With this style, rather than wearing a single earring, two, three or even four earrings are worn together on a single earlobe.
The piercings can be placed either side by side or one above the other. The exact position of the high lobe piercing depends on personal preference and the shape of the ear.
Unlike cartilage piercings such as the helix, conch, rook, tragus and daith, which are pierced through the cartilage, the high lobe piercing is a standard piercing that goes through fatty tissue. For this reason, it can be done using either a needle or an ear piercing gun. However, most ear piercing guns are made of plastic and cannot therefore be completely sterilised, which is why piercing with a piercing needle is safer.
How painful is a High Lobe Piercing?
Getting a high lobe piercing is hardly painful at all and feels similar to getting a lobe piercing. This is because both piercings are done through the earlobe, which is made up entirely of tissue. In our experience, a high/upper lobe piercing causes pain of around 2–3 out of 10. The level of pain may vary depending on individual pain tolerance.
The ideal High Lobe Piercing jewellery
The high lobe piercing perfectly complements the ‘Curated Ear’ look and can be styled in a range of individual and unique ways. There are countless possibilities, from boho looks with chains and pendants, to sparkling celestial ear stacks featuring stars and lightning bolts, right through to classic, understated gold or silver looks.
The right size
As every ear is unique, not every earring suits every ear. Ears vary in thickness, size and shape. It is important to find out your own size before buying earrings. This can be easily measured using a small tape measure.
For an upper/high lobe piercing, the diameter of the rings is usually between 6mm and 8mm. However, there is no maximum size. The higher up the ear the piercing is placed, the smaller the diameter becomes. Stud earrings are usually 6mm long, though in rare cases 8mm may be required. High lobe piercings are performed using a needle gauge of 1mm to 1.2mm.
It is important to note that the ear will swell after piercing. Therefore, a slightly larger piece of jewellery should be worn initially. Only once the swelling has subsided can you switch to a smaller size.
Materials
Only hypoallergenic and sterile materials should be used for the initial jewelry. This is the only way to ensure that no bacteria or germs enter the wound and to avoid allergic reactions.
Hypoallergenic materials include gold, white gold, titanium, platinum, rhodium, and stainless steel. Piercing jewelry made of gold and white gold is characterized by its longevity.
Piercings containing nickel and piercings made of pure silver should not be worn under any circumstances, as nickel can cause allergic reactions and silver can transfer toxins to the human body due to oxidation, which could lead to blood poisoning.
Recommended earrings for High Lobe Piercings
High lobe piercings made of 14k gold
High lobe piercings made of 14k white gold
Regardless of the type of jewellery worn, a high lobe piercing cannot heal optimally without careful maintenance.
How long does it take for a High Lobe Piercing to heal?
It takes 6-12 weeks for a high lobe piercing to heal completely. For problem-free healing, the wound must be cared for properly, so please read our blog post on piercing care.
We recommend avoiding piercings in the summer, as water and UV radiation can delay wound healing. Contaminated sea or pool water can introduce germs and bacteria into the piercing site and cause infection or inflammation.
Piercing with a ring can also prolong the healing time by up to 10 times, so a high lobe piercing should only be pierced with a stud.
What is a High Lobe Piercing?
A high lobe piercing is a piercing on the earlobe that is placed higher than a classic ear piercing.
How long does it take for an Upper Lobe Piercing to heal?
An upper lobe piercing (high lobe) takes 6-12 weeks to heal. However, the healing time can vary from person to person.
Which is better, having your ears pierced or getting a piercing?
It is recommended to pierce the high lobe with a piercing needle and not with an ear-piercing gun, as the tissue in that area may already be firmer.
How painful is it to get a High Lobe Piercing?
The pain level for a high lobe piercing is around 3/10. It is therefore one of the least painful ear piercings, right after the classic lobe piercing.