LOBE PIERCING GUIDE
what is a lobe piercing?
Lobe piercings are one of the most popular piercings for people of all ages and are the perfect way to accessorise any outfit and the good news is, they are relatively pain free! A lobe piercing is any piercing that is situated in the lower fleshy part of the lobe.
In this guide we are going to talk about what a lobe piercing is, the types of lobe piercings, the cost, the process, aftercare and styling tips.
first lobe piercing
If it's your first time getting a piercing you are likely coming in for your first lobe. Your first lobe is located closest to your face and is the best piercings for beginners who are just starting on their piercing journey. This does not mean that they have to be boring, look at our styling guides for our favourite ways to style your piercing.
second and third lobe
If you love your first lobe piercing, then maybe it’s time to consider adding a second or a third. This is where two or three lobe piercings are pierced in a row so that they cascade up the bottom half of the ear. At Covetear, we offer precision curation and spacing services to ensure that you achieve your perfect ear stack!
Vertical stack
A vertical stack is a unique addition to any lobe piercing. These piercings are perfect for people who have their lobes pierced slightly lower or have had them shift downwards over time. They are placed either directly above or in between 2 normal lobe piercings and add a bit of extra character to your ear! If this style resonates with you, we recommend booking in for a complimentary consultation with one of our piercing experts first as not all ear anatomy will allow for a vertical stack.
lobe constellation
Not a fan of symmetry? A lobe constellation is where the piercings with in the lobe are placed in an off-centre design to mimic a constellation of stars. These can be curated with our experts in a 1 on 1 styling consultation to create the perfect design for you.
cost of a lobe piercing
At Covetear, we don’t charge extra for specialty ear piercings with the cost of your piercing being universal across all piercing types.
We charge per piercing with the price of your jewellery of choice added on top.
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Single
1 Piercing - $60
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Double
2 Piercings - $80
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Curation
3-4 Piercings - $100
Lobe piercing procedure
First, your piercer will start with sterilising your ear with a medical-grade alcohol swab. Next, we will mark up the site of the piercing taking into consideration your age, the type of jewellery you intend to wear in the future, and most importantly, to make sure that you are happy with the placement. When two piercings are being done, both need to be symmetrical and aligned with each other.
Your piercer will then clamp the area using Pennington forceps and insert the piercing needle through. This process is done by one of our qualified piercers with an 18-gauge piercing needle. We do not use piercing guns or piercing pressure devices, as these instruments can cause trauma and spread bacteria. A piercing needle allows for increased precision and less trauma as well as the risk of infection to the ear regardless of the piercings location.
Then, the earring of your choice will be installed. We have specifically engineered our piercing jewellery to be safe and stylish so that you can use them whilst your piercing is healing and after.
And just like that, your new piercing is ready to be shown off!
Pain and healing time
Pain Guide: 4/10
A lobe piercing is one of, if not the least painful piercing, however this is also subject to a person’s pain tolerance. This is because the piercing is through a part of the ear that is quite fleshy and does not contain many nerves, with the pain usually being likened to a quick pinch.
The healing time for a lobe piercing is between 3 to 6 months. For the first 72 hours localised swelling, redness, a warm pulsing sensation and a small amount of bleeding are all completely normal.
During the 2 to 4 week mark you may still feel some faint pulsing and you can also still expect a fluid-like substance to expel from the ear and form a crust - especially at night as this is when most healing happens. It is extremely important to treat your piercing with care and do not touch it unless you are cleaning the area.
Between the 5 to 12 week mark although you may not be feeling any discomfort it is important to remember that the piercing channel will not be fully healed so we strongly advise that you avoid friction and irritation. Do not twist, push or pull the earring if possible. This is also the stage where it can be considered to downsize your post to promote faster healing.
The three month mark and beyond is where you must be patient and where most piercings are known to cause trouble. Although you may think that the piercing is fully healed and go ahead and change your jewellery early, it can cause infection and keloid style scarring if changed too early. That is why our number 1 recommendation is to choose a piece of jewellery that you love for your initial piercing, downsize your post at the right time and wait the full recommended period before changing your stack. For a lobe piercing it is recommended that you wait 16 weeks/4 months before you change your piercing jewellery over.
If you remove your jewellery from your piercing with out replacing it your piercings can close over in just a few hours so it is essential that you keep jewellery in the piercing at all times.
Aftercare
The aftercare for a lobe piercing is fairly simple and easy. Our simple-to-follow tips have been developed in line with professional piercing and healthcare standards, ensuring your piercings heal as easily and quickly as possible. We offer unlimited, complimentary Aftercare Appointments to help you achieve optimum healing time by providing expert advice on demand. There are 4 essential steps to cleaning your new piercing.
The first and most important piece of care advice is DO NOT TOUCH. If you must touch the piercing, wash your hands. Never, ever, touch your new piercing with unwashed hands.
Second, we use the NeilMed™ piercing aftercare spray which does all the work for you! By aiming the pressurised can at a distance of 3cm - 6cm from the affected area, it is able to clean away any dirt or unwanted objects from the area without irritation. Spray both the front and the back of the piercing and then using a cotton tip, remove any discharge or dried blood.
The third step is to gently pat dry the entire area. For this, we suggest avoiding the use of toilet paper, cotton buds, Q-Tips and cotton wool on and around the newly pierced area(s) as the material from the fibres can irritate the skin and cause infection. Make sure the area is completely dry. Moisture can encourage bacteria to grow, and negatively affect your healing process.
Lastly, we recommend cleaning your piercings twice a day for at least 6-8 weeks, then this can be reduced to once daily. We also recommend trying not to sleep on a fresh piercing as this can cause the piercing to become swollen or infected.
Pro-tip; when washing your hair, if you have access to a removable shower head, hold it near your piercing and allow the water to wash over the piercing lightly to remove any build-up of product. Any built-up shampoo or conditioner will increase the risk of infection and irritation so ensuring its removal is essential before spraying the piercing with the aftercare spray!
is your piercing infected?
Here's what to do - The serious stuff
The success rate of piercing healing is very dependent on you, and how committed you are to your aftercare. If you neglect aftercare and interfere with your fresh piercing (playing with it and touching it) then the likelihood of complications is going to be much higher and your piercing is going to take much longer to heal.
If you experience sudden swelling that you feel is outside of ‘normal’ post-piercing healing, you must contact us immediately for professional advice. Piercing infections can become serious, very quickly. Do not delay seeking assistance. We are contactable 7 days a week for piercing aftercare advice - however we are not medical professionals, and as such, our recommendation will always be to see a doctor if there is any chance you have a bacterial infection.
Things to watch out for are the sudden onset of excessive swelling, excessive bleeding, discharge of bright yellow, green, or dark fluids. and/or red stripes coming from the piercing site. These symptoms are indicative of serious problems. Fever, upset stomach, dizziness, or vomiting may also be signs of infection.
TIME TO STYLE!
The great thing about a lobe piercing is that there are endless possibilities when it comes to styling. A variety of hoops and studs can be used to create style this piercing perfectly. Whether you prefer a classic Diamond or love to experiment with shapes, sizes and colours, we have the perfect piece for you! Check out some of our favourite pieces below.
Still unsure on what jewellery to add into your lobe piercing? Well your options for a lobe piercing are unlimited as all of our beautifully crafted pieces will work! Check out our Classic Lobe Collection for our favourites.
Classic Lobe Collection
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Diamond Petit Solitaire Earring
14 Karat Yellow Gold / Lab-Grown Diamond / Single or PairRegular price $140.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Diamond Petit Solitaire Earring
14 Karat White Gold / Lab-Grown Diamond / Single or PairRegular price $145.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Piccolo Diamond Earring
14 Karat Yellow Gold / Lab-Grown Diamond / Single or PairRegular price $125.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Petite Clicker Ring
14 Karat Yellow Gold / Single or PairRegular price From $130.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Diamond Petit Duo Earring
14 Karat White Gold / Lab-Grown Diamond / Single or PairRegular price $200.00Regular priceUnit price per
WANT MORE?
Looking to get some more piercings but not sure where to start? Here are our favourite piercing combos for a lobe piercing!
piercing and styling appointments
Ready to commit to your next piercing? Book in at one of our locations and one of our expert piercers will help you to achieve your new look! If you're not totally confident in the pieces you're after or are unsure of what piercings you would like to get, that's ok! You can book in for either our deluxe piercing experience or ear curation experience where our experts will work with you to create a bespoke design with the highest level of artistry.