It’s been exactly four months since I got my cartilage helix pierced. And I’m excited to share my full cartilage piercing experience in this article. I want to thank titaniumearrings.shop for creating high-quality jewelry at very affordable prices. I wear them constantly. My mom loved them and asked where I got them. I surprised her with a pair for Christmas last year. She loves them as well.
If you have your second or third hole pierced, they have huggy hoops. These are gorgeous. You could layer these. They’re very affordable in the first place. Check out below.
My Ear Piercing Journey
I got my first piercing done exactly four months ago today. I got my cartilage helix done. I got it done at Sadhu Body Modifications in Charlotte, North Carolina. I loved it there.
Cartilage Piercing Pain Level Time
Are cartilage piercings painful?
Initial Pain During Piercing
The actual pain of getting the cartilage piercing done wasn’t super bad. I didn’t even flinch. It’s a little bit of a pinchy feeling but it’s not terrible.
Cartilage Piercing Pain in the First Few Days
Afterwards, I would have moments where it would hurt the same way it did when I got pierced. Nothing unbearable at all, but it would hurt. Then it would be like I didn’t feel anything. It did that little pattern for the first couple of days after I got it pierced.
Current Pain Level at 4 Months
Ever since the first couple of days, unless I do something to it, I don’t feel it at all. It’s been four months. Right now, sitting here, it might as well be my lobe piercing. I do not feel it at all. This is great, and it shows how smooth my cartilage piercing experience has been.
Ear Cartilage Piercing Healing Time
The healing time for cartilage piercings is supposed to take 12 months before your piercing is finally fully healed. I have eight months to go.
How to Clean Cartilage Piercing: My Cartilage Piercing Aftercare Routine
Daily Cleaning Steps
Throughout my cartilage piercing experience, the NeoMed piercing aftercare wound wash is the solution I use the whole time. The way I cleaned it: you take this off, and it is an aggressive spray. Just warning you. I spray it on the front. I spray it on the back as well.
Then I let it sit for a little bit. I spray a Q-tip on both sides. Then just rub it along the front and rub it along the back. I do that in the morning and at night.
You’re only supposed to do that for a couple weeks, maybe a couple months. I still do this. If I miss a day or something, it’s not as big a deal because you don’t have to do this anymore. But I do still keep up with it. There’s not a ton left. When the bottle is done, I will probably stop. I was very good at cleaning it.
Getting Help Initially
At first, I didn’t have a good concept of where the piercing was. I didn’t know how much I would hurt it if I touched it. I had my husband help me with it for the first week. I wanted to make sure I cleaned it well. I wanted to have him check to make sure I didn’t have any piercing bumps or anything. I never got bumps. After that first week, I do it myself. It’s no big deal.
When Should You Downsize a Cartilage Piercing?
My post was very long, that’s the back of the earring. The reason it was like that is they have to make it long to account for swelling. If your ear swells, there’s room on the post for it.
I scheduled an appointment a month after getting the cartilage piercing done. They were going to downsize the post. However, about a week after getting it done, I was with my mom getting her nose pierced.
Some of my family members were getting piercings as well. The people there looked at me and said you need to downsize your post. I was like oh, I just got this done. That made me scared. They said you don’t swell at all. You barely swell. You should downsize that. I was nervous about that.
I ended up going in at the two-week mark. They downsized it partially. Then I went back after a month. They downsized it again. This is the smallest post. What that entails is they take my earring out. Then they put in a smaller post.
Downsizing didn’t hurt too bad. It was not as bad as getting it pierced. It’s just a little bit of discomfort. It’s quick though. It isn’t a big deal.
After I got it downsized the first time, I went to my parents’ house. That was eight hours away. I was a little nervous because it did swell then. It was swelling out to the post. I was definitely worried about it that day.
Other than that experience, I have not had any issues with swelling or it hurting too badly. I’ve never felt like I had to take Tylenol or anything for it. It’s not that bad.
Daily Life Challenges After Cartilage Piercing
Wearing Masks and Sunglasses
Because the post was long and it still sticks out, I want to talk about daily challenges during my cartilage piercing experience. I can’t wear sunglasses, I can’t wear glasses. That I think was me being paranoid. That was a two-day thing, and then I was fine. The post didn’t change at that point. I think I was just scared. Don’t worry about that. Even if your post is long, you can still do those things. It’s okay.
What a lot of people wanted to know is about masks. I will say the day I got it done, that was a big challenge. The post was long. I didn’t know how much I could move my ear. I was nervous. It does get stuck. I’m one of those people who would wear a mask and just rip it off. I wouldn’t think about it.
When there’s nothing there, you just rip it off. It doesn’t hurt or anything. You have to be careful. I would take one piece off and then hold it. You be more careful. When you first get it done, have somebody else help you.
When I got cartilage piercing downsized, it was definitely less of an issue. This wasn’t something where I couldn’t go into stores or wear masks. I definitely could. It was more of an inconvenience. Something I had to be mindful of. You will have to be mindful. You can’t be ripping it around. You get used to it. It’s no big deal.
Our mask mandate was lifted a couple of weeks ago in Charlotte. It has been nice because it’s been less of a hassle. Either way, it’s not a make-or-break situation.
Dealing with Hair Getting Caught
The piercer told me I would have issues in the shower. She said your hair is going to get caught on it. It just is. I was thinking oh it’ll be fine. I’ll keep it away. Honestly, in the shower your hair is going to get caught in it. For a while, it was bothersome. Once you get it downsized after that month, it is much easier. Everything is much easier.
Even still, when I do my hair, when I put it up, it’s down. I have long hair. Either way, your hair is probably going to touch it. It sticks out more than your other earrings. My hair still does get caught.
Early on, it getting caught can hurt. I’ve definitely pulled it a couple of times. It’s just an ouch, and it’s fine. Keep that in mind. It’s a little bit annoying. I’ve had friends tell me they completely let theirs close just because it was annoying. For me, it’s not that bad.
At first, going to the chiropractor, getting massages done, I’d have to tell them hey I just got my cartilage pierced. When you grab my head to crack my neck or massage behind my ears, you have to be mindful.
How to Sleep with a Cartilage Piercing
Why Sleep Position Matters for Cartilage Piercing Healing
We all know sleep is important. When I heard it was 12 months till it healed, I was worried. What if I got this done, and then literally for 12 months I couldn’t sleep? I was concerned.
The Best Pillow for Cartilage Piercing
I use my piercing pillow. I said it was my BFF. Honestly it is the best. I’m not one of those people who can just sleep on my right side only. It doesn’t happen.
The first night of sleep I slept horribly. I did that first night. I was scared that myself or my husband were going to whack my ear and hurt it. I was also worried because I’m used to flipping back and forth. How in my sleep am I not going to lay on this piercing?
It is an adjustment period. It does take a little bit of time. You do get used to it. I would roll over and have it there. Sometimes I would even sleep with it between my arms. When I rolled, it was easier to find. It is small and sometimes does get lost. It’s great because I’ve traveled with this.
Obviously it’s little. It’s easy to travel with. It helps because you can sleep on both sides. You lay it right on top of your pillow. If you want, you can lay it directly on the pillow. I like a little more padding than this offers.
The Honest Reality: Sleeping on Your Pierced Ear After 2-3 Months
This is not advised. I’m going to be completely honest here.
I was good about this for probably the first two months. I definitely do sleep on my ear now. I still try with this piercing pillow. Most nights I use this. There are definitely times when I’m too sleepy and I don’t realize it. I’m sleeping on this ear. The reason that happens is that it doesn’t hurt.
How Long Should You Avoid Sleeping on a Cartilage Piercing?
This is what I want you to hear. I was worried that for 12 months, it was going to hurt badly. The piercer told me that after about six months, I would be able to sleep on it and it wouldn’t hurt.
She said don’t do that because then it won’t heal properly. What I’m telling you is that you can sleep on it and it doesn’t hurt. That was the best news to me. It’s been four months. I would say that was probably the case after about two and a half months.
Sometimes you feel it. Sometimes it’s a little bit irritated. It’s not painful or anything like that. You’re not supposed to do this. I definitely need to try to get better about using this piercing pillow. At that 12-month mark I want to put in a little cute hoop. I’ll be upset if it’s not fully healed because I didn’t follow the rules.
Do I Regret Getting My Cartilage Piercing?
The last thing I want to cover is the question: do I regret it? Honestly, I can say no. There’s not a bit of me that regrets it at all. I love it.
I love sparkly shiny little things. It’s just a little something extra. It makes me happy when I see it. It makes me smile. It’s something fun and edgy that I did in a time where we couldn’t do much. It’s that little bit of extra sparkle and glam. I love it. The little bit of pain and inconvenience was 100% worth it.
Conclusion on 4-Month Cartilage Piercing Experience
Here are the key takeaways from my four-month cartilage piercing experience journey:
- Cartilage piercing pain level during piercing was minimal and manageable
- Healing takes 12 months total but pain subsides after 2-3 months
- Daily cleaning with saline solution is essential for at least 2-3 months
- Downsizing the post at 2-4 weeks reduces snagging issues significantly
- A pillow for piercing is a game-changer for side sleepers
- Hair and masks will catch on it but you adapt quickly
- After 2-3 months sleeping on pierced ear doesn’t hurt (though not recommended)
- The aesthetic result is worth the temporary inconveniences
-Thanks to the customer who shared this experience — we hope this article helps you with getting your cartilage piercing.