Everything You Need to Know About Orbital Piercings

If you're ready to add another piercing to your existing collection—and if you aren't afraid of just a little bit more pain—then listen up, because it's time to learn about orbital piercings.

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We've laid out everything you need to know about this unique type of piercing here in this guide, starting with:

What Is An Orbital Piercing?

Essentially two piercings connected by the same piece of jewelry, an orbital piercing is a unique style that can be placed on virtually any part of the ear. It's similar to an industrial piercing in that it requires two holes connected with one earring, but an orbital piercing uses a tiny hoop rather than a bar, making it a more delicate option that is typically placed in the soft lobe area of the ear instead of the hard cartilage of your helix. You can choose to have an orbital piercing placed on your helix, but the lobe tends to be more popular for the reasons mentioned. This makes an orbital piercing a safer (and slightly less painful) option over an industrial piercing, though your piercer will need to take very precise measurements to ensure the earring fits properly.

How Much Does It Hurt?

Again, an orbital piercing consists of two separate piercings. That's why it's important to stress when discussing all that you need to know about them that you're going to have to feel the pain of the needle going through your ear twice. With that said, however, most people will tell you that each piercing is over in a flash. More importantly, how much it hurts will depend on your personal pain tolerance level.

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

What Does the Healing Process Look Like?

Thankfully, orbital piercings tend to have shorter healing periods (eight to 10 weeks) than many other types of ear piercings since they are placed on the lobe (unless you choose to have your cartilage pierced instead, of course). You should follow the instructions provided to you by your piercer when it comes to aftercare, but to promote healing they will likely recommend that you:

• Avoid irritating the piercing while it heals
• Not change the earring until the piercing has fully healed
• Clean the piercing with a salt solution while it is fresh

Is It the Right Piercing Option For You?

In the end, no one can answer this question but you! We adore orbital piercings for their delicate-yet-edgy appearance as well as how unique they are on the spectrum of piercing options, but it's truly up to you to decide if this trend is the right one to pursue. If you need to know more before deciding, discussing the details of an orbital piercing with a professional piercer is always a good place to start.

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

And there you have it: everything you need to know about orbital piercings. If you're interested in adding another new piercing to your collection—or have decided that an orbital might not be the right choice for you—then you can check out our complete list of ear piercings and everything to know about them by clicking HERE.