Forward Helix Piercing Information & Aftercare Guide
A triple forward helix piercing by Christina Schull from Integrity Body Piercing made the piercing popular. She shared a black and white photo of the piercing, and soon, it went viral across piercing studios, Pinterest, and Instagram.
If you’re curious about getting a forward helix piercing, read on as we explore what it is, the jewelry options, the aftercare routine, and more.
What Is a Forward Helix Piercing?
The helix is the proper term for the entire rim of cartilage around the ear. This ridge covers where a rook piercing goes and extends to where daith piercings are located. The part that curves forward near the side of the head is called the forward helix. It gets its name from the way the tissue and jewelry face forward.
Proper Anatomy for a Forward Helix Piercing
Each person's anatomy and ear size determine whether they can get a forward helix piercing. This is why it is important to consult with your piercer first, as they can assess whether your ear is suitable for the piercing.
Most people can get at least one forward helix piercing. Some people with large enough ears and ridges can get multiple, such as specific pairings called a double forward helix (with two piercings) or triple forward helix (with three piercings). However, some people's anatomy is not suitable for the piercing.
Anatomy Not Suitable for a Forward Helix Piercing
Since the forward helix piercing is an anatomy-dependent piercing, there are situations where you may not be able to get it pierced. These include:
- The helix ridge nearly touches the fat of the ear, leaving no room for a piercing
- A rook ridge that touches the back of the forward helix, limiting placement for forward helix piercings
Placement
The placement of a forward helix piercing depends heavily upon your anatomy. The shape and size of the ear determine whether you can be pierced or not or how many forward helix piercings you can get. It also determines where the piercings can be placed on the ear.
In addition to your anatomy, goals for future piercings can affect the placement. Let your piercer know if you plan to add more forward helix piercings so they can map things out accordingly. Also, let your piercer know the type of jewelry you plan to wear in the piercing, as this can also affect placement.
Forward Helix Piercing Jewelry
Initial Jewelry
As with your ability to get the piercing, the type of forward helix piercing jewelry you can wear depends on your anatomy. Your ear must support the jewelry you want to wear.
When it comes to initial jewelry, straight barbells or labret studs are the only acceptable options because of their straight nature. When your piercing is healing, the jewelry must sit perpendicularly to allow for comfortable and proper healing. Your piercer will determine whether you have a bead back or flat black.
Depending on your anatomy, bead backs may be easier to keep clean, are more comfortable, and can counterbalance larger ends if you want to wear a more decorative, spacious end. On the other hand, flat backs fit more comfortably, are very secure, and allow your piercer to work around the ear structures better. It all depends on your piercer’s preference and your anatomy.
Speaking of larger, decorative ends, these may not be the best choice for initial jewelry. That’s because a forward helix piercing can be trickier to heal. Larger ends can be more challenging to clean because they allow a lot of crust and debris to build up. They can also be more prone to snagging if they don’t lay perfectly flat on your ear. However, you may have the perfect anatomy to support a larger end easily. It all depends on what your piercer feels comfortable with because of your anatomy.
After Your Piercing Has Healed
Once your piercing has fully healed, you can wear a clicker, seamless ring, or captive bead ring. However, you must find jewelry with a small diameter to comfortably fit the area.
How Long Does a Forward Helix Piercing Take to Heal?
On average, it takes six to nine months to heal fully. However, it can take up to a full year. Healing a forward helix piercing may be more difficult if you sleep on your side, wear a headset at work, have long sideburns, or are clumsy and catch and snag things often.
Another thing that can affect how long it takes to heal is how many piercings you got. If you just got one forward helix, it may take less time than a double, triple, or quadruple forward helix.
Forward Helix Piercing Pain: How Much Does It Hurt?
How much this piercing hurts depends on how many you get. If you’re just getting one forward helix piercing, it will be about a five out of ten on the pain scale. However, the more piercings you add in one session, the more it will hurt.
Forward Helix Piercing Aftercare
Forward helix piercings are more difficult to heal than other piercings, especially the more you get.
First, you will need to clean it at least twice daily with a saline solution spray like the ones made by NeilMed or H2Ocean. However, because the forward helix piercing can be in a tight area where it’s challenging to reach the backside, keeping it as clean as possible can be difficult. To help reach and clean the back side of the piercing, use pointed makeup Q-tips to help clear crusties and other discharge away.
The area is prone to hair getting caught or snagged in the jewelry. Baby hairs tend to grow in this area, and depending on the length and texture of your hair, they can get caught. This results in an irritated piercing, so you need to take extra care when brushing and styling your hair.
lso, be careful putting on and taking off glasses! In fact, it’s best to notify your piercer that you wear glasses so they can position the jewelry accordingly to ensure it won’t interfere with your glasses when they’re on.
Lastly, you shouldn’t sleep on the piercing, as this can change its angle and cause it to become highly irritated or, worse, begin to migrate. If you’re a side sleeper, we recommend investing in a travel pillow to help you sleep comfortably. Put your ear through the pillow and sleep on the pillow part for added comfort without putting pressure on your healing piercing. Remember, don’t touch your piercing without washing your hands first, and there’s no need to twist or spin the jewelry. Other than cleaning the piercing, you should be leaving it alone.
Downsizing Your Initial Jewelry
Aside from cleaning the piercing, one of the most important parts of the aftercare process is downsizing from the initial jewelry. The jewelry will be longer than necessary to accommodate swelling when you're initially pierced. Once the swelling has completely subsided (4-6 weeks), you can visit your piercer to downsize it for something too fitted.
You need to make sure you go in to get your jewelry downsized. Wearing jewelry that’s too long can also cause the way the jewelry rests to misalign, which can disrupt the overall look if you have a double or triple forward helix piercing.
FAQ
What’s the difference between a forward helix and a daith piercing?
A forward helix piercing goes through the rim of cartilage and is located on the outside rim of cartilage that touches the side of the face. A daith piercing, on the other hand, goes through the innermost ridge of cartilage called the helix crus.
Unfortunately, inexperienced or uneducated piercers confuse or incorrectly place these two piercings. For example, someone who wanted a daith piercing ended up with a very low forward helix instead. This is why it is essential to research and look at where your piercer is marking you to ensure it is the piercing you’re requesting.
Can I get pierced with a curved barbell?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. Curves do not sit or pass perpendicularly through the tissue. They are notorious for causing the piercing to migrate and can shift the angle of the piercing. Curved barbells also hang entirely out in front of the ear, causing them to get caught and snag on things easily, or they sit in the back of the ear and cause unnecessary pressure.
What gauge is a forward helix piercing?
A forward helix piercing is typically performed at a 16 gauge.