The industrial ear piercing consists of multiple ear piercings that are typically connected to each other through jewelry. Because of this, these piercings have been known to be very customizable and a favorite in the piercing world.
THE TWO MOST COMMON INDUSTRIALS
The industrial ear piercing is also known as the "scaffold piercing” or most commonly the “industrial”. With the industrial being the main type of this piercing, the secondary option of the vertical industrial piercing is also available but is not as common.
INDUSTRIAL/SCAFFOLD PIERCING
The industrial or scaffold, consists of two piercings—one in the helix and the other in the anti-helix. The piercings align horizontally across the upper portion of the ear. The piercings are connected by a long piece of jewelry known as an industrial bar.
VERTICAL INDUSTRIAL PIERCING
The vertical industrial piercing has many possible variations. The most popular version consists of two piercings–one in the helix and the other in the conch. However, there are some that contain two conch piercings or even a rook piercing as well.
Out of all these variations, one thing stays in common—the piercings are aligned vertically.
THE RISING POPULARITY OF THE INDUSTRIAL
The industrial ear piercing is becoming more popular as piercings, in general, are becoming more popular. The industrial piercing used to be a more edgy look, but it is quickly becoming more normalized to the point that it often is considered to be cute.
THE STANDARD GAUGE AND STRETCHING
The standard gauge for an industrial piercing is 14 gauge (1.6mm). However, it is not uncommon to use a smaller 16 gauge (1.2mm) if desired.
It is possible to stretch and industrial piercing, but, since it is a cartilage piercing, it does take more time to do so. Also, industrial piercing jewelry is not as widely available in gauges above 14 if you are looking for a piece over 1 to 1.5 inches. The key to any successful stretching is to, of course, take it slow.
THE PROS AND THE CONS
The industrial ear piercing provides a lot of jewelry variations from connecting the piercings to using each one individually. It is also relatively inexpensive considering that you are getting two piercings.
On a gloomier side, since it consists of two piercings, aftercare is more intensive. There is also a greater possibility that one piercing will become damaged which may prevent you from connecting the two piercings with an industrial bar piercing ring.
INDUSTRIAL PIERCING PRICE
Despite needing at least two piercings, the industrial piercing only costs around $40 to $70. Typically, the industrial piercing price is more in the city; however, it is worth the extra money as piercers in the city tend to see more customers and therefore have more experience.
As for the vertical industrial piercing, it will typically cost more than a scaffold piercing as it is not as easy to do since the conch needs to be pierced. While you may be able to find a piercer who will do it for $40, it is more likely to cost $60 to $70.
PAIN AND SWELLING
The industrial piercing consists of two or more cartilage piercings. So, it won’t be abnormally painful and tends to be associated with a lower level of pain.
In fact, while you may feel small levels of pain during the piercing process, it is the swelling afterwards that tends to be more noticeable. The swelling and resulting tenderness will last for about a week.
It is not recommended that you sleep on the piercing. You may experience some pain and any pressure on the piercing may damage it and cause scarring. So, it is best to wait until the piercing has fully healed before you begin sleeping on it.
HEALING TIMES AND AFTERCARE
The healing times range from six months to even a year! During this time, it is important not to remove your jewelry as it could result in scarring or even the piercing closing up. It is also important not to agitate the piercing as scarring or infection could ensue.
As with all piercings, it is important to clean them two to three times a day. You can use a saline solution to do so. You may also use unscented soap, including soap for sensitive skin, and warm water.
Sadly, your hair is an “antagonizer” when it comes to industrial piercings. It is not uncommon for hair to snag on the jewelry and damage the piercing. Hair can also deliver bacteria to the piercing sites which could result in infection. While shaving your hair may be the quickest solution and a little extreme, as long as you try your best to keep your hair away from the piercing sites, then you should be fine.
Once the piercing has healed, you can then replace the jewelry. However, during the healing process, it is critical that you do not remove the jewelry.
TYPES OF INDUSTRIAL PIERCING JEWELRY
It is suggested to only wear industrial bar piercing jewelry that is internally threaded as external threads can damage the piercing.
Industrial piercing earrings typically consist of some variation of a barbell connecting the piercings. Since there is more than one piercing, you can also have an individual piece of jewelry in each piercing if you want to take a break from the industrial look.
In the beginning stages of the healing process, it is important to use a long barbell to accommodate the swelling. However, you can opt for a smaller one once the swelling goes down, but it is recommended that your piercer switches it out for you as your piercing is still healing and needs expert care.
When measuring the length of your piercings to determine the size of jewelry you need, it is important to get jewelry that is about a quarter of the width of your pinky finger longer than the length that connects your piercings to ensure that your ear isn’t being pulled inward.
Titanium is a great material for your piercing, but high-carrot gold and stainless steel jewelry are also good choices. Acrylic jewelry is a nice lightweight option but should only be used after the healing process.
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION OF AN INDUSTRIAL EAR PIERCING
All in all, the industrial ear piercing provides a lot of customization opportunities and is one of the more unique ear piercings out there. It is quickly becoming a more mainstream style even though the healing time is long. So does this make you want to consider an industrial? Below feel free to let everyone know your thoughts on the industrial, including your piercing experience.
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