Everything You Need to Know About Snug Piercings

If you're a bit of a self-described piercing pro, listen up, because we're talking everything you need to know about snug piercings.

Snug piercings, also called anti-helix piercings, are a type of ear piercing that are not for the faint of heart. Located at the top of the anti-tragus, snug piercings are inserted through the anti-helix (the curved bit of cartilage in the center of your ear that is closer to your ear canal than your outer helix). Unlike lobe piercings and other forms of cartilage piercings, they're no one-size-fits-all option.

However, that doesn't mean that they might not be for you! Before you make your decision to head to your nearest (trusted) piercer, check out this condensed guide to everything you need to know about snug piercings:

1. How Painful Is a Snug Piercing?

Once again, snug piercings are not for everyone. One of the biggest reasons why is because they are commonly considered one of the most painful piercings. If it had to be rated on a scale of pain, most people place it at about a nine out of 10, mainly due to the thickness of the cartilage that a snug piercing enters through.

 

Also Read About: A Definitive Ranking of Ear Piercings, From Least to Most Painful

 

2. What Kind of Jewelry Can You Wear With One?

One of the upsides to a snug piercing is that you do have a good number of options for jewelry styles to wear through it. It's a horizontal piercing, which means that you can customize your healed piercing by wearing your choice of rings or bars.

 

3. What Does the Healing and Aftercare Process Look Like?

Much like everyone experiences pain differently due to tolerance levels, healing can look a little different from person to person when it comes to a snug piercing. However, everything you need to know about the healing of a snug piercing comes down to the fact that it is by all means a cartilage piercing, so you can count on the healing process looking similar to another style of this sort of ear piercing. Prepare for a one-year timeframe at the longest, but remember that you'll also need to take extra care in the aftercare process to promote healing and prevent additional trauma. Due to their placement, snug piercings are easily re-traumatized, so you'll want to try to avoid things like:

• Getting the earring caught on clothing
• Sleeping directly on the piercing while it is fresh
• Using harsh cleaning agents not recommended by your piercer

(via Shutterstock)

 

4. Is a Snug Piercing Right for Me?

This one can only be left to you to decide. Think long and hard about whether you're ready to take on the responsibility of caring for such a difficult piercing, as well as whether or not one will even fit in your ear to begin with (some ear shapes cannot support a snug piercing due to its unique structure and placement). If you do decide to go for it, there are some good things about a snug piercing that other styles don't provide. It's a unique and striking style, and you'll usually be charged for the piercing and earring as a package (unlike an industrial piercing) depending on the shop you go to.

 

Also Read About: Everything You Should Know About Ear Piercings

 

So, does a snug piercing sound like something you're ready to add to your collection? If not, you're not out of options if you're thinking of adding a new piercing. For a step down from the snug piercing that also offers a unique touch, try a rook piercing. You can find out everything to know about this style by clicking HERE.