I've recently been thinking about getting a normal cartilage piercing. I've only ever had my lobes pierced, one in each, and I was about 11, and pretty scared at the time. I'm definitely over it by now, and needles don't scare me so much, plus now I'd know what to expect.

Have you ever gotten a cartilage part of your ear pierced? What was it like? How was the actual piercing experience/healing/end feeling? I'm sure there are quite a few of you out there with numerous ear piercings, I'd like to hear from you guys.

I'd definitely use a needle, not a gun. I don't know whether or not if I get it done, I'd get one in each ear or only in one ear. What do you think?

i would just get it done in one ear, especially because you'll need to sleep on the opposite side of your piercing for several months while it heals. I got my industrial piercing done, which is two piercings in the cartilage connected with a barbell. It hurt just because all the blood rushed up to my ear after the first piercing, the second one was brutal because of it. The pain only lasts a few seconds, then it just feels really warm. I would invest in some H2Ocean spray, that stuff saved my piercing. It just didn't want to heal. Cartilage takes quite a long time to heal so don't fiddle around with the jewelry. Get some uniodized seasalt and dissolve 1/4 to 1/2 a tsp in a cup of warm water and just soak the piercing. Don't worry about cleaning the gunk out until about after a month.

Try to find a reputable piercing shop. Ask around, look at reviews online. I wouldn't get it done at a mall stand or anything like that. I went to a well-known tattoo parlour/piercing shop in my city.

I have both of my cartilages pierced and it didn't hurt at all when I got them done. Not gonna lie, I did have some issues when they were healing. Both got infected multiple times and I had to take the earrings out and let them heal and then go get them redone again. Although, it may have been the type of earring they used to pierce it. I finally got them to heal correctly and I have some sensitive solution rings in my ears. They don't poke me when I sleep and I haven't had any problems out of them in a very long time.

I'd definitely recommend just getting one for now, like said, you will have to sleep on one side of your face, unless you sleep on your back all the time? XD After that one heals, you can go back and get the other one if you want!

i just got my pinna pierced for the first time the other day. the pain was actually not that bad, certainly nothing like i'd built myself up to expect haha (mainly because my boyfriend told me it really hurt, but clearly he's just pathetic haha). It was slightly worse than getting my lip done, mainly because it hurts when they put the jewellery in as well as when they pierce it, so you have to put up with the pain a bit longer. After that it's fine, just throbs a bit and be careful not to knock it because that does hurt.

Currently my ear is still pretty red and bleeding a little, but it's not to the point where it's a pain. So basically, go for it if you want it done and try to get the piercer to use numbing spray if they have it. And definitely only get one side done at once, it's enough of a pain having to sleep on one side never mind being restricted to lying on your back haha.

I read this as "Policing Advice". I was happy to help xD

I don't have any other piercings aside from my ears, so, I wish you all the best in your decision ^^

That was all very useful advice! If I do get it done, I'll definitely get one side at a time then. Should I just stick to one, or eventually get both though?

Thank you! Oh, decisions, decisions.

Good luck to you as well! Hope it happens :)

Still looking into it. Doing a bit of research, but mostly contemplating if I actually want it/how I'd like it after. I asked a friend how she'd think it would look, and she was a bit freaked out, I just remembered that she's very conservative. Maybe not the best person to ask, but I might factor a few friends' opinions in...

I'm not a huge fan of symmetry when it comes to "unusual" piercings. I think it's all a matter of taste and what YOU like aesthetically :)

I've currently got three cartilage piercings (plus both my ears and nose), they're the 'bigger' ones I suppose (conch, rook and tragus), and I love them. I did have my helix pierced when I was like... 11 or something, and I (stupidly) got it done with a gun, and a blunt stud and it got infected and oh man... it was not a fun experience. However, these latest ones I've gotten done with needles and proper jewelry and I love them. They can be a bit of a pain in the ass as far as healing goes, but as long as you take good care of it and clean it regularly (and do not play with it), it should be fine.

And, the thing that's nice with piercings is that, if you decide you honestly don't like it, you can just take it out. :)

I had gotten my conch pierced so I figured a cartilage piercing would be a lot easier but it was not. I think I had attempted healing and re piercing 3 times before I gave up. The skin around the piercing was getting to weak and would rip into a line every time something was going on near or around my ear. And it would get infected since earring backings sit right on top of the exit of the piercing. I really wanted to keep them up, but I dont know. I miss them sometimes.