Everything You Need to Know About Tragus Piercings

The tragus is the little flap of cartilage on the side of your face that covers your ear canal.

Read on to find out more about getting a tragus piercing, including the pain level, healing time, cost and recommended jewelry.

Our Gaia Crystal Threaded Flat Back, Eternity Hoop Earring, and Halo Oval Hoop

✨ Tragus Piercing Fast Facts ✨

PLACEMENT: The tragus is the small piece of cartilage that covers your ear canal.
PAIN LEVEL: 6/10
HEALING TIME: Six months to a year
JEWELRY: 6mm or 8mm flat back earrings or cartilage hoops

How much does a tragus piercing hurt?

✨ Not going to lie – tragus piercings do hurt 😬, as the tragus is a cartilage piercing and is going to be harder to pierce than an earlobe. Thankfully the pain is sharp and short – according to professionals, what’s actually uncomfortable is more the pressure on your ear canal rather than the pain of the piercing itself.

💪 If you feel nervous about the pain, a tragus piercing might be something to build up to. Or you can do as piercer Ryan Dreyfuss recommends and bring a "battle buddy" to your piercing to help you.

What's the best jewelry for my tragus piercing?

✨ Tragus piercings really help you get your ear party started. Cartilage hoops, flat back earrings, and horseshoe styles like our Shooting Star Open Hoops all look fantastic on your tragus.

💫 As for sizing, a 6mm or 8mm hoop or flat back earring is standard for your tragus piercing.

What should I know about jewelry sizing for my tragus piercing?

✨ Tragus piercings, like all ear cartilage piercings, are typically pierced with a 16 gauge needle, which is 1.2mm thick. By comparison, your standard lobe piercing uses a 20 gauge needle, which is 0.81mm thick. Ideally, you should wear 16 gauge jewelry in your tragus to prevent your piercing from shrinking.

✨ We hear from lots of people who wear standard 20 gauge jewelry in their tragus (not recommended!), and sometimes when you do this, your piercing will close up a bit. If your piercing has shrunk over time, you may want to try earrings that are 18 gauge in size, or 1.0mm thick.

ℹ️ Need some extra help with jewelry sizing? We made a whole little guide that answers all of the top jewelry sizing questions we get, just for you.

How long does it take for my tragus piercing to heal?

✨ A tragus piercing takes about 3 to 6 months to heal. Your tragus piercing will mostly heal within six months, but it’s recommended to wear the jewelry you were pierced with for a full year before switching it out.

🎵 It’s a bummer, but you’re not advised to wear headphones to avoid irritation and pressure on your tragus piercing as it heals. This might be tough for us music addicted Airpod lovers....and anyone who's on Zoom all day.

🧽 You should also remove and clean your piercing jewelry regularly, as specified by your piercer.

Fun fact about the tragus?

✨ Your tragus cartilage helps you hear rear-facing sounds, and it also protects your external ear and concha. And it’s one of the most common parts of your ear cartilage to pierce – we just love the look.

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