Cartilage piercing is not a new phenomenon. History shows us that cartilage piercing has been a part of human living for a very long time. Even today, it can be observed that tribes that live remotely, cut off from the rest of the civilized world, indulge in cartilage piercing. It is considered an important part of their culture and identity. But what role does cartilage piercing have in our modern world? Well, as it happens, more and more people are finding out that the best way for them to express themselves is through body art. This body art can take different forms—from tattoos and bold hair colors to cartilage piercing. Cartilage piercing, in particular, has been gaining popularity in the last few years. A lot of people are experimenting with it, with ear cartilage piercings being the most popular choice. If you’re looking for cartilage piercing information, such as: how much do cartilage piercings cost? How long does it take to heal? And other such related information, then read on to find out all that and more.

Before we go any further, let’s first understand what a cartilage is. A cartilage is basically a firm tissue—softer and more flexible than bone, but harder than flesh. It is a connective tissue that can be found in our knees, elbows, and adds structure and shape to our ears and nose. The most popular ones are of course cartilage ear piercings.

Types of Cartilage Piercings

There’s a lot of cartilage in the ear, which translates into a lot of area for cartilage piercing. Pretty much the only part of the ear that does not have cartilage is the soft ear lobe. And that’s where the traditional earring piercing happens. But for those of you who want to step out of the normal and try something new and exciting, here’s a look at all the different types of cartilage piercings that you can opt for.

The helix refers to the cartilage located on the outer edge of your ear. It starts from above your ear lobe, extends in a curve, and ends at the point where the outer curve meets the side of your face. The Helix is one of the most popular cartilages to be pierced. Most people opt for a Helix piercing with their first cartilage piercing because it is the most visible area on the ear.

The Forward Helix

The Forward Helix refers to the area where the Helix cartilage meets the side of the face.

The Daith

The Daith is the end-point of the Helix. It is where the Helix cartilage ends, close to the ear canal.

The Industrial

An industrial piercing typically refers to two Helix piercings connected by a bar. You can get really creative and come up with some unique ideas for industrial piercings that can be visually stunning.

The Anti-Helix

Just inside the Helix, there’s another raised cartilage. And that one’s called the Anti-Helix. The top part of the Anti-Helix is called the Rook and below the Rook is the Snug. You can remember it as the area where the Helix and the Anti-Helix are the closest with each other—hence Snug.

Here’s an example of a Rook piercing.

And here’s a picture of a Snug piercing.

The Inner Conch

The inner Conch lies next to the Snug—on the inside, of course.

The Outer Conch

The Outer Conch, as the name suggests, refers to the outer portion of the Conch.

The Tragus

The Tragus is the small, protruding cartilage that sticks out from the side of the face, acting as a partial barrier to the ear canal.

The Anti-Tragus

And last but not the least is the Anti-Tragus, which is located parallel to the Tragus.

Cartilage Piercing Earrings

Once you’ve decided which cartilage area you want to get pierced, the next big dilemma comes when choosing an earring. There are so many pretty, bold and unique earrings out there that picking the one that will fit your personality and style can be a little overwhelming. But, worry not. We’re here to help you out with some awesome ideas for your cartilage piercing. It has to be said that when it comes to cartilage earrings sterling silver seems to be the most popular choice. Here’s a collection of some very unique designs that will give you some inspiration when picking earrings.

This minimalistic look is perfect for those of you who want to get their cartilages pierced but don’t want anything too flashy or big on their ears. This look is so understated and elegant that it will even be acceptable for a formal workplace environment

Awww, a dreamcatcher earring. Now who wouldn’t love that! We sure do!

Using different textures and patterns can create a very interesting look. Case in point, this picture. It looks so cool and can be customized in different ways to make your own unique style. We like.

Spirals and squiggles make for an interesting look, don’t they?

Or how about a chain link from one pierced hole to another? This opens up so many possibilities!

If you want to go all out and make a bold statement, then these connecting bars are a great choice. You can choose to keep it simple or go crazy with the designs. Check these out!

This earring looks like a complicated tunnel structure. Definitely not for the faint hearted, that’s for sure.

Triangle, circle, a bar, and a spiral. Simple, minimalistic, yet makes a statement. Totally doable everyday look.

Interlocking hearts? Oh my god, yes! This one’s way too cute! We’re in love!

With so many hearts, it looks like love is in the air—or in this case, love is in the ear!

If you love music (who doesn’t?), then this music note earring is a must-have. It’ll sure chase away those Monday morning blues and bring some much-needed cheer to your day.

And of course, there’s a sunflower earring. How can there not be one? Sunflowers are beautiful, and so is this earring.

And for all you romantics out there, here are a few love-inspired designs.

For days when you want to feel like a queen, a tiara or a crown design should do the trick.

Pacman earrings! Now that’s enough motivation to get our cartilages pierced! Love, love, love it!

Take minimalism to a whole new level with this simple bar earring. Very classy, indeed.

These sea-themed earrings are great for a day out at the beach.

Floral designs are another great choice.

Yes, there are a lot of options to choose from. But don’t let that intimidate you. You can always change your earrings when you feel like it’s time for something different. Or you can keep it simple and understated during the week and go all out crazy with OTT designs on the weekends. That’s perhaps the best part about cartilage piercings, they allow you to express yourself in a unique manner, showing the world who you are.