It has become very common nowadays to get a piercing in different parts of your body with an industrial piercing being one of the most popular. This comes as no surprise though, as it offers you a number of advantages. In addition to looking cool and stylish, it also heals relatively fast, especially compared to other body piercings. What is more, it is always on display, so it will not take you much effort to show it off. A wide variety of jewelry options is another benefit you get. Ready to get your ears pierced? Here is what you should know about industrial piercings.
What Is An Industrial Piercing?
But what is an industrial piercing in the first place? Simply put, you can call any type of ear piercing industrial when it implies connecting two piercings with one barbell. To get the cartilage pierced, the piercer should use a needle. It has other names though, such as a scaffolding and bar piercing. An industrial piercing suggests getting two piercings in your cartilage – one in the outer ear, which is also known as the helix and the other one in the inner ear, aka the forward helix. The distance between the piercings is usually about 1.5 inches. Piercing is not something you should skimp on, especially industrial. So, make sure to entrust this task to a professional.
Pain And Healing Of Industrial Piercing
When deciding on whether to get your cartilage pierced twice or not, how much it is going to hurt is one of the most contributing factors for many people. So, if you are one of them, here is what you should know about industrial piercing pain. As it is done quickly, it will feel like a puncture. However, because you need two holes and they are made in the cartilage, not a lobe, it is going to be more painful than a regular piercing. That is to say, it majorly depends on your pain threshold.
As soon as the piercer takes the needle out, the hole is going to be a little sore. However, you should not feel a burning or sharp pain at this stage, which means that the healing process has started. Talking of healing industrial piercing may take from four months to half a year to heal or sometimes even longer. Your immune system and how thoroughly you will take care of it afterward affect the healing time greatly. So, be patient and it will surely pay you off.
How Much Does It Cost?
So, how much is an industrial piercing? As we already mentioned, this should not be the determining factor when it comes to the choice of the place where you are going to get it. However, it is worth mentioning that the industrial piercing price consists of the cost of the piercing itself and the jewelry. Thus, an average industrial piercing cost ranges from $30 to $70 for the service and from $1 to $100 and more for jewelry. Other points that affect how much does an industrial piercing cost are the place where the piercing salon is located, the level of expertise of the piercer and many others.
Industrial Piercing: Aftercare
Aftercare is very important for successful industrial ear piercing healing. Because it involves two, not one, holes, which you join with a barbell, it calls for more time and effort to take care of. So, you should make sure to follow all the aftercare advice that your piercer gives you. However, if you have already had other piercings, you may know some basic routine. For instance, you need to clean the holes daily using saline. Make sure you do it with clean hands though, as you do not want bacteria from your fingers to get into the wounds that are still open. But be careful, do not press too hard or otherwise damage the piercings, as this will extend the healing time. That is also why you should avoid sleeping on them at all costs. Removing the barbell earlier than required may result in infection or hole close up.
Industrial Piercing Jewelry Options
The most basic and common type of industrial piercing jewelry is a barbell. It is essentially a connecting bar that is inserted into two piercings and secured on the ends with removable beads, which is why it is also known as an industrial bar piercing. The bar is typically made of rose or yellow gold or implant grade titanium. Its length varies depending on the distance between the holes while the most popular size is usually 14 gauge. Yet, other size options, such as 16 gauge and 18, are also quite common nowadays. However, it should not always be straight. You can customize it to your taste.
Jewelry Materials For Industrial Piercing
There are three most common material types used for industrial piercings, as follows:
- Stainless steel (implant grade). The majority of piercing jewelry is made of stainless steel and no wonder. It is affordable, fuss free and offers a wide variety of styles. Keep in mind though if you have a nickel allergy, this metal will not work for you, as it can cause skin irritation and rash.
- Although gold piercing jewelry comes with a big price tag, if you have a few dollars to spare, this is a great option. While you can choose from white, yellow and rose gold, it should not be lower than 14 karats.
- As it does not contain nickel, your skin will not get irritated from wearing titanium jewelry. In addition to being quite light, it is not prone to corrosion and tarnishing. Besides, its color range is pretty wide.
Industrial Piercing: Side Effects
Of course, like any other intervention in your body, industrial piercings have a few side effects, namely:
- Infected piercing. Infected industrial piercing is a quite common issue. However, if you take care of the piercing properly after you get it done, you will most likely be able to avoid it. If your piercing remains red for too long, it is swollen, tender or itchy or there is discharge (green or yellow) from it, this may mean that it is infected. It will be sore and red at the beginning, which is fine. But the pain should not be intense or burning.
- Keloid scars. Keloids may appear on the sites of the piercing and be quite noticeable. This is how your skin responds to the injury. Yet, not only do they look unattractive, but they can also cause pain. Thus, you should not ignore them. The good news is they can be treated with injections of cortisone or removed surgically or using a laser.
- Rejected piercing. Sometimes, our body rejects piercing, as it considers it a foreign body. So, it wants to get rid of it. As it is trying to force the piercing out, the hole is beginning to heal. There is hardly anything you can do about it. Just to help the skin recover faster, you should ask a specialist to remove the piercing.
- The piercing holes can be surrounded by bumps, which are a sign of irritation. This may happen if you tend to touch the piercing or you have an allergy to its metal. Make sure to keep an eye on it. Change the jewelry if needed and do not touch the piercing without the necessity.
Now that you know everything about industrial piercing, all you have to do is to decide on the area that you want to get pierced as well as the type of piercing and jewelry you are going to get. And do not forget that finding your piercer is equally important. With all the information in mind that we have provided to you, you are guaranteed to end up with the result you want.
FAQ: Industrial Piercing
How painful are industrial piercings?
The pain from getting industrial piercings is rather moderate. When you get it done, it may hurt quite bad, depending on the level of pain you can tolerate, and when the piercer will thread the barbell, you will feel it too. When it starts to heal, the pain should not bother you much. Though, you may still experience it.
Why is the industrial piercing the most painful?
Industrial piercings are one of the most painful piercing types because you get punctured twice and both times it engages cartilage. The first hole is usually made in the top part of the helix while the second one is in the outside ear helix. Then you pull a barbell through these holes to connect them. The healing process is also quite long and not always smooth, so take that into account.
Can you sleep on an industrial piercing?
In short, no, you should not sleep on your industrial piercing. As you are going to press it against your pillow for a long time, it can get irritated, swollen or sore. If sleeping on the side is your go to position, then just do not get both ears pierced simultaneously.
