Lobe Piercing
It's not without reason that the lobe piercing is the most popular and most frequently pierced piercing. Often, people get their earlobes adorned with an earring at a young age. Multiple piercings in the ear are also becoming increasingly popular. Here, you'll learn what a lobe piercing is, what to look out for when shooting a gun or getting a piercing, which jewellery to choose, and how to properly care for your earlobe.
What is a lobe piercing?
Lobe piercings are made along the earlobe. Depending on the anatomy of the ear, several piercings can be made next to each other or, for example, two above each other. The standard lobe piercing is the first ear piercing and is typically made symmetrically on both ears. There are also upper and high lobe piercings.
The earlobe consists of skin, connective tissue, and fatty tissue, which makes it very soft in contrast to cartilage tissue and means it can be either shot or pierced. Piercing the ear at a jeweler's, as was common in the past, is becoming increasingly rare. Many work with a plastic ear piercing gun that cannot be properly sterilized. We therefore always recommend going to a professional piercer and having the lobe piercing done with a needle.
The exact location of the lobe piercing depends on visual preferences and the individual shape of the ear. Typically, lobe piercings are worn with a larger pair of earrings, which can be combined with a charm or chain depending on taste.
How painful is a lobe piercing?
The lobe piercing is the least painful of all ear piercings. It doesn't pierce the cartilage, but rather the fat and connective tissue, making it the least painful piercing. Pain can vary depending on individual sensitivity and is approximately 2-3/10.
The ideal lobe piercing jewellery
Lobe piercing jewellery is available in numerous different designs. Eye-catching huggie earrings set with zirconia crystals or simple stud earrings for everyday wear. Lobe piercings can be styled to suit your individual taste.
The right size
Every earlobe has a unique size, thickness, and shape. It's important to choose the right length for your earrings and the right inner diameter for your rings.
The inner diameter can be easily measured with a tape measure. With a freshly pierced lobe piercing, the earlobe will still be slightly swollen. This could skew your measured size. Therefore, wait until your piercing hole has completely healed before purchasing your lobe piercing jewellery. Piercers often use overly large studs as initial jewellery, as they expect the piercing site to more than double its size.
For a healed lobe piercing, the stud length should be 6 to 8 mm. The ring size for a fully healed lobe piercing is 6 to 8 mm. There's no upper limit.
The thickness of the needle used for earlobe piercings is usually 1-1.2mm.
Materials
When getting a new piercing, the material must be sterile and hypoallergenic. This is the only way to ensure that no bacteria or germs are transmitted and no allergies are triggered.
Earrings containing nickel or pure silver should never be worn on the ear, as nickel causes allergies and silver can transfer toxins to the body.
Anti-allergenic materials include gold, titanium, white gold, platinum, rhodium, and stainless steel. In our experience, piercing jewellery made of genuine 14k gold and 14k white gold is particularly high-quality and durable.
Recommended jewellery for lobe piercings
Lobe piercings made of 14k gold
Lobe piercings made of 14k white gold
Regardless of the type of jewellery worn, careful maintenance plays a central role in the healing process of the lobe piercing.
How long does it take for a lobe piercing to heal?
It can take 6-12 weeks for a lobe piercing to heal completely. Proper care is crucial for rapid healing. In our article on piercing care, you will learn everything you need to know.
In general, you should not get pierced in the summer, as you should not sweat, bath, go in the sun (solarium), or go to the sauna during the first few weeks. All of these factors can impair healing and cause infections.
We recommend having your lobe piercing done with a piercing stud. Some piercers also offer to insert a ring as initial jewellery. However, we advise against this, as healing can be significantly prolonged with a ring.
How painful is an earlobe piercing?
An earlobe piercing, also called a lobe piercing, is the least painful ear piercing. In our experience, the pain level is around 3/10.
How long does a lobe piercing take to heal?
The healing time is approximately 6-12 weeks.
Which ear piercing hurts the least?
Of all ear piercings, the lobe piercing causes the least pain during the piercing process.
How long should you avoid sleeping on a lobe piercing?
You should not sleep on a lobe piercing for at least 4-8 weeks.
How long should you refrain from sports after getting a lobe piercing?
You should completely refrain from sports for the first 72 hours after getting a lobe piercing. Heavy sweating should be avoided for at least 3 days.