Tragus piercings look super cool, but since they aren’t nearly as common as cartilage or lobe piercings, there are a lot more misconceptions about them. They get a bad rap for being one of the most painful piercings; after all, it’s a part of the ear that usually feels thicker and harder than, say, the earlobe. But is there any truth to the idea that the tragus piercing is the most painful ear piercing you can get?
Here, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the piercing, from how much it actually hurts, to earring styles that’ll look great on the tragus!
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First Of All, What Is A Tragus?
The tragus is this little flap of cartilage on your ear. It’s connected to your cheek and juts out in front of your ear canal just above the anti-tragus.
Are There Different Types Of Tragus Piercings?
Yes! You have your standard tragus, your anti-tragus, and your surface tragus piercings. The anti-tragus is a bit of cartilage that sits just above the earlobe. Meanwhile, surface tragus piercings are done on the surface of the skin in front of the tragus.
Does It Hurt?
The tragus is made up of cartilage, and generally speaking, cartilage piercings hurt more than lobe piercings. That’s because cartilage is harder than the soft and fleshy skin on the lobe. If your pain threshold is pretty high then you can probably handle tragus piercings.
In an interview with Allure, Beyonce’s piercer, Bryan Keith Thompson, says the feeling is “more pressure than pain” and can feel scary because the tragus sits right in front of your ear canal, meaning you can hear everything that’s happening!
What Kind Of Earring Looks Best On The Tragus?
Bar, hoop, barbell – they all look good on a tragus. However, bars or studs tend to allow for faster healing. According to Allure, studs will also put you at lesser risk of hypertrophic scarring compared to hoops.
Maybe you can shop for more elaborate styles and types once you’re all healed up.
Does The Tragus Piercing Only Look Good On Certain People?
The tragus piercing does not discriminate, save for one key factor: size. No two people are born with the same ears – they’re totally unique, just like fingerprints. This means that tragus sizes vary per person. Some folks might have more pronounced traguses which are the better candidates for tragus earrings.
Those with tiny traguses should probably consider another cartilage piercing!
Where Can I Find Inspo For Tragus Earrings?
Right here! There are a bunch of celebs who rock a mean tragus. Here are just some of our faves:
Scarlett Johansson
If you didn’t think Scarlett Johansson – aka Black Widow herself – could get any cooler, think again. In 2018, she stepped onto the red carpet with some killer floral lobe and cartilage earrings, plus a simple gold hoop around her tragus.
Zoe Kravitz
Ultimate cool girl Zoe Kravitz loves rocking multiple ear piercings. Here, along with a subtle septum piercing, she’s got several cartilage piercings, a triangular conch stud, and a silver hoop.
Rihanna
Of course Bad Gal Riri has a tragus piercing! Rihanna has a lot of piercings on both ears, and on her right, you can spot a tragus piercing, which often has a hoop or barbell hoop earring.
Though most of these celebs sport hoop earrings, as we said, it’d be best to get a stud on your tragus piercing while it heals. Here are some cool ways to wear a stud on your tragus:
Reach For The Stars
If you’ve already got multiple ear piercings, why not wear a whole constellation?
A Charmed Life
Remember those charm bracelets that were such a hit in the ‘90s? Recreate the look on your ears by wearing differently shaped “charm” studs, like butterflies, crowns, stars and hearts.
Minimalist
Sometimes, less is more. Rather than looking different, go for a chic look with tiny gold studs. It’s a look that’s badass yet still elegant and totally work-friendly.
What Is A Tragus’ Healing Time?
Tragus piercings take three to six months to heal, depending on the wearer and the person who handled the piercing job.
What Should You Avoid During Healing?
As much as possible, do not apply any pressure on your piercing. This means avoiding sleeping on the pierced ear, wearing earphones that may touch the piercing, or talking on the phone. Another thing to avoid is cheap jewellery. You could irritate your piercing by putting on jewellery that you could be allergic to!
What’s Aftercare Like?
Aside from keeping your hands and devices off your piercing, you should also make sure you clean it thoroughly every day. If you don’t clean your piercing regularly, you could risk getting an infection!
Shops usually carry saline solutions or special cleaning kits, which you’ll need to apply twice a day every day for at least eight weeks. If your shops don’t have any cleaning solutions on hand, you can use a mild, unscented soap and some water.
What Are The Signs Of An Infection?
According to Bustle, signs of an infected piercing are usually “redness, swelling, discharge, a stench and, well, pain”.
How Much Does It Cost?
Tragus piercing prices are anywhere between $AUD15 to $AUD35.
Don’t be deterred by the price. A professional piercer will know how to handle your piercing in the cleanest and least painful way. One way to make sure you’re getting a good piercer? If he uses needles rather than a gun!
As a final word of advice, remember to never attempt to do a tragus piercing at home!
How Will I Find A Shop Near Me?
Though we mentioned that tragus piercings aren’t as popular as cartilage and lobe piercings, most tattoo and piercing shops will be familiar with the procedure. Pretty much any shop with experience in facial and ear piercings will be able to help you get your piercing done!
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