Rook vs. Daith Piercing Explained and Jewelry to Match Them
Growing up, it was always an exciting affair to get your ears pierced. There was a specific feeling of being “grown up” associated with pierced earlobes. To no one’s surprise, it feels even cooler to get any part of your ear cartilage pierced. Especially in 2023, having several piercings in both ears is still all the rage.
Two specific piercings—the rook and the daith—have stepped into the spotlight over the last five years. They’re similar in location, but each piercing is unique and a little bit edgy. When they’re fully healed, each piercing boasts several options for trendy jewelry, and since they’re close to one another, some even like to match their styles.
In this blog, we’ll go over the key differences of a rook piercing and a daith piercing, as well as some jewelry styles we know you’ll want to try out.
The Rook Piercing
The location of the rook piercing can be found towards the upper part of your ear in the main fold of cartilage. Your piercer will measure where the piercing would fit the best because each person’s ear anatomy is different. Across the board, your starter rook piercing jewelry will be a standard curved barbell, measuring 16G and 5/16”. This size is specific to accommodate any swelling that comes with this new piercing.
The Daith Piercing
Similar to the rook, the daith piercing is a piercing located towards your inner ear, near the ear canal, in a fold of cartilage. Since the location of the daith (pronounced “doth”) is much tighter than the rook, your piercer will still opt for a standard 16G, ⅜” curved barbell to accommodate the area. It’s also possible to use a captive bead ring as your starter jewelry. Have a chat with your piercer to decide which jewelry option is right for you.
Important Aftercare
Whether you decide to get your rook or your daith pierced (or both!), the aftercare will look generally the same. The best method is to use a saline spray to soak the area thoroughly, then blot dry with a paper towel. You can pick up saline spray from your professional piercer, or you can find sterile saline wound wash in the first aid aisle of any pharmacy. Clean the piercing three times daily.
Healing Your Piercing
For both the rook and daith, the healing process can take anywhere from 2-3 months, or even up to 6-8 months. It’s never a bad idea to let your piercing heal for as long as possible before changing your jewelry. You’ll know when it’s healed when the piercing stops producing crustiness or discharge and the redness and swelling are completely gone.
When it comes to healing, it’s best to take a “hands off” approach. Don’t touch, twirl, spin, or bump the piercing at all costs. Additionally, try not to sleep on the side of your new piercing. Eight hours of pressure on the piercing can cause a lot of unnecessary trauma to the site, prolonging the healing process.
Choosing Your Rook Jewelry
There’s tons of jewelry options for the rook piercing. Since the piercing is pretty visible because it’s in the center of the ear, statement pieces look fantastic. These can range from a complex, decorative hoop to a simple curved barbell (like your starter jewelry) but with added flare.
Jewelry like this clear CZ double dangle chain titanium hinged segment ring is perfect for a rook piercing because the chains will hang down in your ear, calling attention to the piercing. The chains offer an elegant look with a twinge of punk.
This beaded purple opalite titanium threadless curved barbell is another great option for those who like a pop of color. While the silver ball will hang below the cartilage, the purple opalite will sit up top, front and center.
Choosing Your Daith Jewelry
Like the rook, the daith has many options for piercing jewelry, like hinged hoops, curved barbells, and captive bead rings. The only difference here is that the daith is a bit more hidden than the rook. Because of this, daintier jewelry can be chosen if that’s your kind of aesthetic. Or, you can try to call attention to it with something louder and more unique.
This beaded triple band titanium hinged segment ring can add a fun texture to your portfolio of ear piercings. It keeps an air of simplicity while filling the space of your daith beautifully.
On the flip side, this 24kt Gold PVD Point Rainbow CZ Titanium Hinged Segment Ring boasts a unique shape that fits nicely into the daith piercing.
Ready to Rock Your Piercing?
We hope you learned a little something about the difference between a rook and daith piercing. No matter which you choose, Urban Body Jewelry provides an expansive portfolio of high-quality, trendy jewelry sure to make your piercing shine.