From Barbells to Rings, Here Are 6 Creative Jewelry Options for Your Anti-Helix Piercing

If you have an anti-helix piercing (also called snug piercing), you should consider yourself lucky. Not everyone’s ear anatomy is suitable for this cartilage piercing.

Though it’s located on the same anatomical ridge as a rook piercing would be, its placement is farther from the face and where the antihelix is vertical. Because not everyone has suitable enough tissue to piercer through or even an outcropping to their cartilage in this area, the anti-helix piercing is quite rare.

If you’re one of the few with the proper anatomy for this piercing, or if you’re considering getting one in the future, you may wonder what kind of jewelry you can wear.

Keep reading as we explore six creative jewelry options for your anti-helix piercing.

Barbells

Much like the ability to get the piercing depends on your anatomy, so does the type of jewelry you can wear. It all comes down to a combination of what fits best with your anatomy and personal preference.

One thing to note is that when you’re initially pierced, you’re going to want to start with a curved barbell. This is so you can wear longer jewelry than needed to accommodate for swelling that will occur as the snug piercing heals.

When it comes to barbells, there are two main options to choose from depending on what fits your anatomy:

Straight Barbells

As the name implies, straight barbells consist of a straight bar with a bead or charm on each end.

Because the ends either screw on or are threadless and inserted into the barbell, it makes them easy to insert and remove. This is why they’re a popular choice in new piercings.

Additionally, straight barbells are highly customizable and versatile. The beads or charms at each end can be switched to suit your specific style and preference. Plus, you can also mix and match them to your heart’s content.

When you’re first pierced, you’re going to want to ensure that you’re wearing high-quality jewelry, such as implant-grade titanium, surgical steel, or 18-karat gold, as it can aid in the healing process. These materials are hypoallergenic and less likely to cause irritation or infection as your new piercing heals.

However, once your new anti-helix piercing has fully healed, you can invest in jewelry made from other materials, such as titanium and stainless steel.

In addition to switching the ends, you can also customize the barbell itself. If you have a titanium barbell, it can be anodized to become a certain color. Additionally, some jewelry comes in a PVD wrap that can make it rainbow or a unique color, like blurple.

Curved Barbells

Like straight barbells, curved barbells offer endless customization. Rather than a straight bar held in place with a bead or charm on each side, the bar is curved.

The curve in the barbell can sometimes help the jewelry fit nicely with the natural curve of your ear. This is especially the case with anti-helix piercings because the location is along a curved outcropping of cartilage.

Curved barbells also come in a variety of materials, including:

• ASTM F136 Titanium
• 316L Stainless Steel
• Gold (14 karat)
• Acrylic

While both straight and curved barbells can be worn in an anti-helix piercing, curved barbells are going to be the more popular option.

Rings

Once your anti-helix piercing has fully healed, you may be able to wear a ring in it. However, the rule of proportion when it comes to wearing a ring in a piercing is to have 2/3 of the ring showing and the remaining third worn inside the piercing. 

Due to this rule of thumb, a ring is often too large to be worn in a anti-helix piercing. Yet, this doesn’t mean it’s impossible to wear one. If it works your ear’s size and anatomy, definitely go for it! (Please check with your local professional piercer if a ring is suitable for your piercing.

There are multiple ring options to choose from, including:

Captive / Fixed Bead Rings

A captive bead ring, also known as a CBR, consists of a ring with a small bead, gem, or ball held in place by tension.

The ring and the captive bead can be changed to suit your individual style and preference, making them incredibly versatile and customizable.

A fixed bead ring is a captive bead ring where the bead is permanently held in place, and the ring bends and opens at that point for insertion and removal.

Circular Barbells

A circular barbell is similar to a horseshoe in shape. It looks like a U with two beads on each end.

Much like a captive bead ring, both the ring and the ends can be mixed and matched until you arrive at your desired look for the jewelry. It is rare that a circular barbell will fit a anti helix piercing.

Segment Rings

Segment rings are similar to captive bead rings, except there is no bead to hold it in place. Instead, a segment can be removed and inserted back into place when you put in or take out the jewelry.

Segment rings are often hinged, making them much easier to insert and remove. They open at the hinge and click into place to close.

Seamless Rings

Seamless rings have a tiny opening, so you can insert one side of the ring into your anti-helix piercing and push it through until the jewelry is properly in place.

All rings come in different colors and are made of the following materials:

ASTM F136 Titanium

316L Stainless Steel

Gold (14 karat)

Rings can also come in unique shapes or designs, such as hearts, bats, spider webs, flames, etc.

A Brief Bit on Beads & Ends

One of the most fun parts of purchasing body jewelry is the fact that there’s such a vast collection of beads and ends for you to choose from.

Whether you want to keep it simple and choose your favorite color, or you want to go with your birthstone, a blingy CZ cluster, or a spider.

The Main Point

A snug piercing offers a large variety of jewelry to choose from. Urban Body Jewelry has you covered Whether you want a curved barbell or a hoop. Browse through our collection of anti-helix piercing jewelry today!