Forward Helix Piercing: The Ultimate Guide
Have you fallen for the forward helix piercing and want to find out more?
Worried it might hurt? Looking for advice?
You've come to the right place!
At Solstice, we've put together this guide especially for you.
An article full of useful information about the forward helix piercing to help you understand what to expect.
Everything you need to know about placement, price, pain, healing and jewellery.
Shall we explore it together?
What is a forward helix piercing?
Placement
Also called an anti-helix piercing in French, the forward helix piercing sits on the inner edge of the ear, opposite the helix piercing and above the tragus. This puts it very close to the scalp.
This small piercing is fairly discreet, so we like to wear a fine hoop or a stud here once it has healed (we share advice on this towards the end of the article).
It's therefore quite common to combine jewellery and wear several hoops in forward helix piercings. The look feels fresh and stylish!
If your ear's anatomy allows it, why not consider a double or triple forward helix piercing?
To help you visualise the forward helix, here's its placement and a look at possible contact with hair, glasses and bedding while you sleep.
The meaning of a forward helix piercing
Ear piercing has a long history in many cultures.
Across different times and places, people have attached different cultural and symbolic meanings to piercings.
Some of these meanings were symbolic beliefs rather than practical benefits.
Meanings and social attitudes have changed over time.
Ear jewellery has continued to take on new meanings in modern style.
Today, we often wear piercings simply because we like how they look.Â
A forward helix piercing can express your personal style and independence. It adds a fresh, distinctive touch to your cartilage jewellery.
Who can wear a forward helix piercing?
Anyone can choose a forward helix piercing if they like the look and their anatomy suits the placement.
It all comes down to personal style.
The main question is whether your anatomy suits the placement.
Like any piercing, it can be styled in a subtle or more striking way.
Forward helix piercing price
From the high prices charged by some piercers to the bargain prices offered by jewellery shops, it can be hard to know where to start.
As a general indication, a forward helix piercing in a French studio may cost around 30 to 60 euros. Check current prices with studios in your area.
Depending on the studio, this price may cover:
- The piercing procedure
- The initial jewellery, which will stay in your ear for several months
- Your piercer's aftercare advice
- Follow-up care and the 2nd appointment
But how do you avoid a poor choice?
First, we advise against choosing a jewellery shop simply for its attractive prices. Lower prices do not guarantee that staff have appropriate piercing training or that hygiene standards are adequate.Â
For a piercing, choose a specialist instead.Â
You should always visit a professional piercer with experience and strict hygiene practices.
The price of a forward helix piercing varies with the studio's location and popularity.
Read reviews, speak to several professionals and look for good value.Â
Paying more can be worthwhile: your ear piercing isn't the place to cut corners!
Although you don't need to sell your house for it!
Forward helix piercing pain
You know it as well as we do...
A piercing can hurt. Sometimes quite a lot.
The sharp pain of the procedure is usually brief, although everyone's experience is different.
What about a forward helix piercing? What happens at the studio? And how can you prepare?
Take a breath!
We'll work through your questions.
What happens during the piercing procedure?
If your forward helix isn't your first ear piercing, you can skip this section.
Much of this will feel familiar. Piercing appointments generally follow these steps:
- You sit or lie down
- The piercer disinfects the chosen area of cartilage
- They mark the piercing placement, in this case the forward helix
- They make a hole through your cartilage with a needle, insert the jewellery, remove the needle and secure the initial jewellery
- The piercer cleans the new piercing and moves on to any other planned piercings
- They give you aftercare instructions, and you can leave if everything has gone well
That's the basic process!
The piercing itself generally takes just a few minutes.
Remember, we advise against jewellery shops for piercing unless they have appropriately trained professionals and suitable equipment for cartilage or lobe piercing.
Does a forward helix piercing hurt?
Now for the part you've probably been waiting for...
Pain!
It's often our biggest concern before a piercing. Will it hurt? How long will it last?
A forward helix piercing can cause a brief pinching sensation, followed by tenderness around the area.
The intensity varies from person to person; a fixed score out of 10 cannot predict how it will feel for you.
It may be an option for a first piercing, depending on your anatomy and your piercer's advice.
How much a piercing hurts depends partly on your individual sensitivity. Are you stressed? Have you slept enough? Is this your first piercing?
Although it can come as a surprise at first, the initial pain is usually brief and can change quickly. It may feel sharp and throbbing as the needle passes through your cartilage, then become a dull ache in the minutes afterwards.
Your ear may then remain red, swollen and tender for several days or even weeks.
Many people find it manageable, although experiences vary.
Especially when they see the finished look.
And there are ways to prepare for a forward helix piercing that may help you feel more comfortable.
Our tips for managing pain
Pain isn't simply about what's happening in your head.
It involves physical, psychological and social factors, as explained in the IASP definition of pain.
Before your piercing, prepare yourself physically: get a good night's sleep the night before (that might mean switching Netflix off a little earlier) and eat a proper meal a few hours beforehand.
Do not take painkillers specifically for the piercing beforehand without advice from a healthcare professional.
If you're particularly sensitive, discuss any numbing cream with your piercer and a healthcare professional first; it may not be necessary or appropriate.
So what can I do to make it hurt less?
Relaxation techniques, sometimes described as biohacking, may help.Â
Meditate, breathe from your belly, listen to music, bring someone close to you or chat with your piercer. The aim is to reduce your stress levels before your piercing.
We know. Put like that, it might sound a little far-fetched.
It's up to you whether you try it. These approaches worked well for us, although everyone's experience is different.
Cartilage healing and infection
Healing a piercing can feel like a challenge!
A cartilage piercing can get caught, become infected or receive too little care, or too much.Â
It can be frustrating when the piercing hurts and bleeds whenever you touch it.
We've gathered some points to help you understand aftercare.
Here are a few tips for caring for your forward helix piercing as it heals. This section concerns the piercing procedure and aftercare; Solstice catalogue jewellery is for healed piercings.
How long does a forward helix piercing take to heal?
Cartilage piercings generally take much longer to heal than piercings in softer parts of the ear or body.
Cartilage is a distinctive tissue, firmer than skin but more flexible than bone.
Healing time varies, and cartilage piercings can take many months to settle.
Yes, it takes time.
Healing does not always look the same from one person to another.
Following appropriate aftercare and treating your ear piercing gently can support healing, but cannot guarantee a shorter healing time.
Aftercare and advice
Your piercer will remind you that you should clean your piercing every day, following their aftercare instructions.
Yes, even on Sundays!
The basic steps are:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before touching the area
- Use a small gauze pad (be careful with cotton, as fibres can get caught in the piercing)
- Soak it in sterile 0.9 % saline solution without irritating additives.
- Gently dab the front and back of your forward helix, keeping jewellery movement to a minimum
- Rinse your ear with lukewarm water
- Follow the cleaning routine recommended by your piercer
A straightforward routine!
Gentle cleaning is enough: excessive aftercare or handling the jewellery can irritate the wound.
This helps remove dirt and residue that build up around your ear during the day and supports the healing process.
But aftercare isn't the only consideration.
Rest, food and hydration can support your general wellbeing, but they do not replace appropriate aftercare.
Take particular care not to catch your forward helix piercing on your hair, phone or earphones.
Ask your piercer which activities, including sport and swimming, you should avoid for now.
And please, don't keep fiddling with your ear piercing. If you need to touch it, wash your hands first!
If your piercing is struggling to heal, ask your piercer to check the jewellery and your aftercare routine. Do not apply essential oils to the wound; see the APP aftercare recommendations.
When can you change your forward helix jewellery?
Can't wait to change your forward helix jewellery? Have you spotted a little hoop or stud you love?
Be careful: don't rush it.
Only change your forward helix jewellery once the piercing has completely healed. A clean appearance alone does not confirm complete healing.
Here are some signs to look for.
Check your cartilage: normal colour, no crusts, no pain and no swelling can be reassuring signs, but ask your piercer to confirm that it has healed before changing the jewellery.
Don't try to change your forward helix jewellery too early or on your own
If you really want new jewellery, ask your piercer to assess the piercing and make any appropriate change for you.Â
Infections and keloids
Infections and other piercing complications can occur.
Irritation does not necessarily mean infection, but a cartilage infection must not be dismissed.
A piercing infection can cause an unusually red, swollen and painful ear. Inadequate aftercare or unsuitable conditions may contribute.
Pus, increasing pain, warmth around the area or a fever warrant prompt medical advice: see the signs of infection described by the NHS.
In these circumstances, consult a doctor.
A piercing may be irritated rather than infected, for example after a knock or snag. Do not assume this if you have signs of infection.
If the piercing seems irritated, reduce avoidable friction and ask your piercer to review your aftercare routine.
Is your forward helix swollen? A bump beside the piercing can have different causes, so do not assume it is a keloid.
If you are unsure what you are seeing, seek medical advice.
Persistent or worsening symptoms should be assessed by a clinician.
Follow suitable aftercare and wear appropriate ear jewellery to reduce avoidable irritation; this does not guarantee prevention of keloids.
Which jewellery should you choose?
Now for choosing your jewellery!
It's always personal. A matter of taste and colour.
There are still a few practical points to consider when choosing jewellery for your healed forward helix piercing.
The following advice may help.
The hoop: a lovely choice for a healed forward helix piercing
Like the helix, a healed forward helix can look lovely with a hoop.
Elegant and classic, a hoop adds a rounded shape and style to your forward helix.
A 6 mm inner diameter hoop can suit some forward helix piercings. Ask your piercer to confirm the right fit for your anatomy.
Choose fine, delicate designs, in a gold-tone finish or set with small stones. The forward helix is a narrow area with limited space, so avoid overcrowding it.
Combining hoops can look lovely, though! You could wear a hoop in your healed helix, tragus and forward helix piercings.Â
If you prefer a lighter look, avoid combining daith, rook and forward helix jewellery all at once.
The stud: small and subtle
Not keen on hoops? Studs might be for you!
A stud is a discreet, subtle piece of jewellery. Styles include flat-back labret studs and straight barbells, which have different backings and are not interchangeable terms.
We like to wear them in healed conch, lobe, tragus or helix piercings. A labret stud brings a light, sparkling touch to an ear stack of piercing jewellery.
Try different jewellery on screen with the Solstice Ear Stack Builder and see how forward helix pieces work with the rest of your ear stack.
Build my ear stackFor a healed forward helix, choose delicate jewellery with a few cubic zirconia crystals. A post length of 6 to 7 mm and a thickness of 1.2 mm can suit some ears; ask your piercer to confirm the appropriate measurements for you.
Studs can also create a small constellation. Among the ideas in this video, the forward helix ear stack shows this effect when the anatomy allows several piercing placements.
Which materials should you wear in cartilage piercings?
Bought piercing jewellery from a questionable website and now it itches?
The material or finish may simply not suit you.
For a piercing that is still healing, rely on your professional piercer to choose appropriate initial jewellery and to confirm the material and fit. Solstice catalogue jewellery is for healed piercings.
For healed piercings, always check the product description before buying.
Final thoughts
You've reached the end of this article.
Thank you for taking the time to read it.
We hope you've learnt plenty along the way.
Before you get back to your day, remember:
- The forward helix sits above the tragus and opposite the helix
- Healing time varies, and cartilage piercings can take many months
- Some people find the pain manageable, but experiences vary
- As a general indication, a forward helix piercing in a French studio may cost around 30 to 60 euros; local prices vary
Still unsure?
A forward helix piercing does involve a commitment. Healing takes time, and aftercare needs consistency.
Why not try a non-pierced forward helix look in the meantime?
Our ear cuffs can give you a glimpse of the look of a future piercing, depending on how they fit your ear.