Tragus Piercing
The tragus piercing is subtle yet unique. Here you'll learn everything about tragus piercings, from the pain involved to the right tragus jewelry and the different variations.
What is a tragus piercing?
The tragus is a part of the ear made of thick cartilage. It's the protruding cartilage that covers the opening to the ear canal. The tragus has a rounded, triangular shape and varies in shape from person to person. Therefore, before piercing, it's important to check whether the cartilage is thick enough for a piercing.
Other Tragus Piercing Variants
In addition to the classic tragus piercing, there are other variations. Here you'll learn exactly where these variations are located and what they look like.
Surface Tragus Piercing
With a surface tragus piercing, only the upper layer of skin is pierced instead of the cartilage. A barbell or banana bar is used.
Anti-Tragus Piercing
The anti-tragus piercing pierces a small piece of cartilage above the earlobe. Like the classic tragus, a stud or a small clicker ring can be worn.
Double Tragus Piercing
With a double tragus piercing, not just one but two holes are pierced through the tragus.
Vertical Tragus Piercing
The vertical tragus piercing is a surface piercing located on the inside of the tragus. It also uses a barbell or banana bar.
How painful is the piercing?
Although the tragus piercing is pierced through thick cartilage, it is less painful than other cartilage piercings because there are few nerve pathways through this area. The pain is approximately 5/10, but can vary depending on your individual pain sensitivity.
The ideal tragus piercing jewelry
Classic stud earrings or small clicker rings can be worn in the tragus piercing. A stud with a marquise crystal , for example, is particularly suitable, as it adapts beautifully to the shape of the tragus. For a more unusual look, a small ring can be combined with a pendant .
The right size
The tragus is pierced with a straight needle, so the initial jewelry is always a stud, not a ring. Stud lengths range from 6mm to 10mm. A longer stud is initially used during piercing, which is usually reduced once the swelling subsides. Those who wish to switch to a ring after healing should choose an inner diameter of 6mm-8mm, depending on their individual cartilage thickness.
The bar thickness of the earring for a tragus piercing should be 1.2mm, as cartilage piercings are always pierced with a 1.2mm piercing needle. A smaller gauge could result in the hole becoming smaller.
Materials
The material is crucial for piercings. The wrong material can cause irritation or inflammation during the healing process. Therefore, only hypoallergenic and sterile materials should be used for freshly pierced piercings.
Materials such as titanium, gold , white gold , or stainless steel are particularly suitable. These materials are well-tolerated by most people. Real gold earrings are particularly durable, as they are very robust against everyday wear and tear and retain their shine without needing to be removed.
While silver is also popular because it's very inexpensive, it's not hypoallergenic. Therefore, it should never be worn in freshly pierced piercings, as it can cause inflammation and, in the worst case, lead to blood poisoning.
How long does it take for a tragus piercing to heal?
A tragus piercing takes approximately 3 to 8 months to fully heal. Proper care of the piercing is essential to prevent infection. In the summer, healing can be delayed due to heat and contact with water, so we advise against getting a piercing in the summer. Under no circumstances should the tragus piercing be changed during the healing phase.