6 Non-Traditional Ear Piercing Styles to Consider

While plenty of people out there have their ear lobes pierced—some even before they can remember—there are a good many styles out there that take things ever so slightly to the next level.

If you're ready to add a unique touch to your jewelry collection, listen up. Sure, you could go past your lobes and choose a classic helix piercing for something slightly edgier (and painful), but you might first want to check out this list of ear piercing types that truly push the envelope. With that said, here are a few non-traditional ear piercing styles to consider:

1. A Daith Piercing

Jumping right off the bat with one of the most non-traditionally ear piercings there is the daith piercing. This type of piercing involves the daith, which is the area of your ear that features your innermost cartilage fold. You can find it just above your ear canal at the base of your helix (outer ear cartilage), and you'll often see people wear captive bead rings or small hoops through such a piercing.

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Also read about: Everything You Need to Know About Daith Piercings

 

2. A Rook Piercing

Found just above where you would have a daith piercing would be a rook piercing, which is a cartilage piercing that is done in the uppermost ridge of your ear above the tragus. It's one of the least common piercings on this list, so it may be a good option if you like to stand out from the crowd—and can handle a little more pain. The cartilage on this part of your ear is thicker, so you may experience more pain or discomfort than other types, but it shouldn't be anything too out of the ordinary.

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Also read about: Everything You Need to Know About Rook Piercings

 

3. A Tragus Piercing

Speaking of the tragus—you can get that piercing, too! In case you aren't yet familiar, your tragus is the small flap of cartilage that extends outward from your face to partially cover your ear canal (the part you would press down when you want to "close your ears"). It's a unique area to add a delicate piece of jewelry to catch the light just right and complement the rest of your ear piercing set.

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Also read about: Everything You Need to Know About Tragus Piercings

 

4. An Industrial Piercing

Since it technically requires two piercings, this option may not be for the faint of heart—but hey, this whole list is one for the non-traditionalists, right? An industrial piercing is a newer style that has gained traction in recent years for its eye-catching and edgy nature, and it might be a good choice if you want a helix piercing that's slightly out of the ordinary. Basically, an industrial piercing is a barbell that is placed through two holes in your upper helix, which is why it requires your ear to be pierced twice to make space for the bar and earring backs.

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Also read about: Everything You Need to Know About Industrial Piercings

 

5. An Auricle Piercing

Another delicate-yet-tough option for non-traditional ear piercings is the auricle piercing, which exists at the small space where the soft tissue of your ear lobe meets the tougher tissue of your cartilage. This is a great option if you are out of space to add more lobe piercing, but might not be ready to go all the way with one of the more truly unique options on this list.

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Also read about: A Definitive Ranking of Ear Piercings, From Least to Most Painful

 

6. An Orbital Piercing

And to round off this list (pun fully intended), the orbital piercing is one of the most non-traditional types of ear piercings you can find. Like the industrial piercing mentioned above, this style will require two holes to be made in your ear for the orbital piercing to be placed. That's because, as the name might convey, an orbital piercing includes two piercings that are connected with the same piece of jewelry. The beauty of deciding to get one is that unlike the other styles on this list, there's no specific spot they are to be worn in your ear. So whether you go with two piercings on your lobe or higher up on your helix, an orbital piercing can be worn.

 

Also read about: Everything You Need to Know About Orbital Piercings

 

Want to know more before you jump into the commitment of an ear piercing? Click HERE to learn more about the types, and everything you need to know about ear piercings.