What is a piercing on your ear at the top called? And are you supposed to get it pierced with a gun or needle?

Froggy: What is a piercing on your ear at the top called? And are you supposed to get it pierced with a gun or needle?
Sorry if this is a stupidly obvious question. And if I were to get this piercing, would I get it somewhere normal, like say, Claire’s, or a specialty tattoo parlor?
And also, what is so bad about getting it pierced with a gun?

Answers and Views:

Answer by cassandra xo™
It’s called a cartilage piercing, or helix i believe. You can get them done at claire’s, but you really should go to a tattoo/piercing place that does it with a needle.

Answer by steph
It’s called a cartilage piercing. I have two and they were both done with a gun (which i recommend over a needle) and I got them done at piercing pagoda along with my 6 other ear piercings. I only trust professionals when it comes to piercings and I don’t think claire’s is the best place to do it but you don’t HAVE to go to a tattoo parlor. Piercing pagoda only pierces ears and thats pretty much all they do so they know what they are doing.

Answer by Brittany
It’s called a cartilage piercing or helix. I got mine done at claire’s with a piercing-gun and everything healed fine and it didn’t hurt AT ALL! Most people recommend getting it pierced with a needle but that looks sooo painful. I have had mine pierced for a year and a half and everything is fine! Good luck!!!

Answer by Loving Arms
Always with a brand new sterile needle and only at a professional peircer who is licensed.

Answer by CB.
It’s caled a cartilage piercing, And yes you can get it at Claires.

Answer by Katie Katalyst
Its just a cartilage piercing.
No you should defiantly get it done professionally. Guns are unsafe, and non-steral(sp?) which is why you shouldn’t get pierced with them.

If you get your cartilage done with a gun, the force from it can cause the cartilage to break and shatter then you’ll have floppy ears like a golden retriever.

Answer by Mo Lively
No question is a stupid question, when asked in the name of health! 🙂 Well the piercing that’s on the top most part of your ear (in the cartilage) is called either a helix piercing, or a forward helix piercing. Here’s the most accurate chart I could find, that you can look at, and even print, mark, and bring to your piercer to show exactly where you want it:
As for the second part of your question, you should alway get any and all body piercing with a hallow point needle, surgical steel jewelry, and at a professional shop. The gun will rip your skin, and shatter your cartilage, causing pockets of bacteria to form underneath your skin that can cause allergic reactions to certain metals, infection: https://l.yimg.com/g/images/photo_unavailable_m.gif
hypertrophic scarring- https://mybodyarts.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/hypertrophicear.jpg
and Keloiding: https://mybodyarts.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/keloid-1.jpg
The APP’s (Association of Professional Piercers) website can help you find a piercer and a shop that’s right for you:
Try and read through most of the categories, and always use the APP’s aftercare instructions.
Also, they have a member locator that will find you a member’s shop, that way, you’re guaranteed to get it done that right way 🙂

And if you have any other questions, you can always e-mail me at:
[email protected]
I usually answer almost instantly. 🙂
Hope I helped!
Remember! If your piercer did a good job, don’t forget to tip!