Helix Piercing Jewellery

Everything for a helix piercing, in one place

The helix runs along the upper outer rim of the ear. It is the placement most curated ear stacks are built around, and the one people most often get wrong when they buy jewellery online — usually by choosing a post that is too short, or a hoop far too early.

Gauge
16G (1.2mm)18G (1.0mm) for a finer look
Post length
6mm – 8mmlonger while still swollen
Best style
Flat back studhoops once fully healed
Healing
6 – 12 monthsvaries widely between people

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Getting the size right

  • Gauge is not negotiable. Buy the gauge your piercer used. A 16G bar will not pass comfortably through an 18G channel, and forcing it irritates tissue that is already slow to heal.
  • Post length is where most orders go wrong. A fresh helix is fitted with a deliberately long post so the ear can swell. Once your piercer confirms it has settled, most people downsize to 6mm or 7mm. If your current bar has visible space between the disc and your ear, you are ready to size down.
  • Measure the bar, not the ear. Take out a piece you already wear comfortably and measure the straight post between the two ends. That number is your length.

Not sure of your gauge or length? The Belora size guide walks through measuring in about 30 seconds, and our material page explains why every core piece is ASTM F136 titanium. If you would rather start from what other people already wear, the best reviewed pieces each hold 50+ reviews. Our materials and company standards page sets out exactly what we stock and how to check it.

Which style suits a helix

  • Flat back labret stud

    The default, and the only style worth wearing while a helix is healing. The smooth disc sits flush behind the ear so nothing snags on hair, headphones or a pillow.

    Browse this style
  • Hinged clicker hoop

    A ring that snaps shut on itself. Comfortable and secure, but save it for a fully healed piercing — hoops move with the ear and slow healing.

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  • Ear climber

    A curved bar that traces up the rim from a single hole. Gives the look of three piercings with one.

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Common questions

What gauge is a helix piercing?
16G (1.2mm) is the standard gauge for a helix in the UK. Some piercers use 18G (1.0mm) for a finer, more delicate look. Always buy the gauge your piercer actually used — going thicker than your channel will irritate it.
What post length do I need for a helix stud?
6mm to 8mm suits most healed helix piercings. A fresh piercing is fitted longer to allow for swelling, then downsized once your piercer confirms it has settled. If there is a visible gap between the flat disc and your ear, the post is too long for you now.
Can I put a hoop in a new helix piercing?
No. Hoops rotate and move with the ear, catch on hair and pillows, and keep a healing piercing irritated. Wear a flat back stud until your piercer confirms the piercing is healed, then switch to a hoop if you want one.
Is titanium better than surgical steel for a helix?
Implant-grade ASTM F136 titanium is nickel-free. Nickel is the most common cause of reaction in ear piercings, and surgical steel contains it even in grades marketed as hypoallergenic. Every helix piece in our core range is ASTM F136 titanium.
How long does a helix piercing take to heal?
Typically 6 to 12 months, though it varies a great deal between people. Cartilage is denser and has far less blood flow than the lobe, so it settles slowly. Your piercer is the only reliable judge of when yours has healed.
Do you sell helix earrings individually or as a pair?
Both. Every product page states clearly whether the price is for a single piece or a pair, because most cartilage placements are pierced on one side only.

Go deeper

Other placements

Conch Tragus Daith & Rook Septum Nose Belly & Navel

Sizes and healing times on this page are typical ranges, not guarantees — anatomy varies, and healing differs from person to person. Your piercer has seen your piercing and we have not: check with them before changing jewellery, especially on a piercing that is still settling. Belora sells jewellery and does not provide medical advice.