The Best Tips for a Tragus Piercing
Is a tragus piercing right for me?
It's true, we all have quite different ear shapes. Tragus piercing isn't right for every ear. If your piece of cartilage there is too small, piercing that spot becomes tricky. Some people have a more pronounced tragus than others. Your piercer is the best person to guide you on this decision: they'll determine whether or not your ear can support a tragus piece of jewelry. Also note how close the tragus sits to the ear canal, which can make it more prone to bacteria. Tragus cartilage also has a weaker blood supply than other parts of the ear, meaning the risk of infection is a bit higher. That means you'll need to be extra careful with cleaning and aftercare for this piercing.Where should you get your tragus pierced?
You can book an appointment with a piercer in your area, congratulations! We recommend checking the studio's Google reviews first, to avoid any bad surprises. Cartilage piercings need to be done with a sterile needle, never a gun. Your piercer will generally fit you with a piece of labret jewelry (a bar) to support healing. If you love hoops, you can absolutely switch to one once the piercing has healed a bit, though you'll need to wait at least 3 months for that. Hoops carry a higher risk of irritation, which can slow healing or even cause a bump. For a successful tragus piercing, don't shop by price alone! It's worth paying more for a piercing done properly than paying 15 euros and risking your skin. We also recommend getting any piercing, ear or otherwise, done at a piercing studio: nothing beats a specialist, especially for a mark you're choosing to give yourself.Caring for a tragus piercing
Good advice can be hard to find online. Obsidian Piercing is, first and foremost, a team of piercing professionals! So here's a short list of tips for taking care of your tragus.- Don't touch or twist your piercing. It could get infected! Our hands carry a lot of bacteria.
- Avoid swimming pools with your new piercing, standing water is a major source of bacteria. The beach and sea water are also best avoided, at least for the first few months.
- Don't sleep on your freshly pierced ear! You could end up with a bump on your new tragus piercing if you sleep on it. The same goes for other cartilage piercings like the helix, conch, and others.
- Then there's the classic question about earbuds... you're probably wondering, can I listen to music with a tragus piercing? The best approach is to make sure your earbud doesn't put too much pressure on it. It's better to wear headphones that fully cover your ear, which are more comfortable and bother the piercing far less than earbuds.
- Changing your pillowcase regularly helps healing. Your bed is cozy, but it's also a real hotbed for bacteria. We recommend changing your pillowcase every other day for at least the first few weeks, or placing a clean cloth over your pillow before you sleep.
- Avoid going to bed with wet hair, to limit heat and moisture, since moisture attracts bacteria.
- Use physiological saline or a saline solution, plus sterile gauze pads, to clean your piercing. Avoid cotton swabs, they can catch on your jewelry and cause irritation.
What material is best for a tragus piercing?
Choosing the right material matters from your very first piercing. We don't recommend steel (including so-called "surgical" steel) for your tragus, since it always contains nickel, a highly allergenic alloy that can cause irritation. Choose gold (14 or 18 carats) or ASTM F-136 titanium instead, both hypoallergenic. Our jewelry is guaranteed nickel-free, and safe to wear every day. Nothing beats jewelry that won't tarnish and, above all, is safe for your skin! Our piercings are water-resistant and skin-friendly :)Tragus piercing inspiration
We've put together a small selection of tragus jewelry! Something to inspire your next composition.
Trinity Zircon: the Trinity Zircon piece is a tragus must-have, and one of our best sellers for this piercing.
Trinity: this delicate three-bead piece is the perfect choice for a discreet tragus, a must-have for any jewelry collection.
Basic hoop: if you love hoops, the basic style is perfect. We recommend a 6mm hoop for the tragus. Choose it in titanium or 14-carat gold.
Zirconia ingot: the ingot shape is ideal for the tragus, its size suits this part of the ear perfectly. This piercing comes in gold and silver-toned finishes!
Myosotis: this beautiful flower-shaped piece looks stunning on a tragus! It's also available in gold and silver-toned finishes.
Tragus Piercing FAQ
Can you take out your piercing jewelry?
As with any piercing, if you decide to take it out, the hole is likely to close up quickly. If you'd rather your tragus piercing didn't close up, we recommend not removing your jewelry, except to change it for a new piece.
How long does a tragus piercing take to heal?
Healing time for a tragus piercing depends on your aftercare and your body. In general, expect around 6 to 9 months or more before your piercing is fully healed. We recommend waiting 6 months before changing your tragus jewelry. Feel free to check back in with your piercer along the way.
Can you wear earbuds with a tragus piercing?
We recommend avoiding earbuds during the healing period. Go for headphones instead.
How long does tragus piercing aftercare take?
Cleaning a piercing should be done twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, for at least 3 weeks, up to a month. Cleaning matters because it helps your tragus piercing heal well. *Cleaning reminders*: wash your hands with pH-neutral soap, use a sterile gauze pad and physiological saline, and clean gently. There's no need to scrub, that risks removing scabs and causing irritation or inflammation. Cleaning a piercing should always be gentle.
Check out all our guides (helix, rook, anti-helix, lobe, septum, smiley, navel…) on our blog! Feel free to message us with any questions about your next piercing purchase. You'll enjoy fast delivery and, above all, quality piercings.
