Orbital Piercing Guide: What You Need To Know

If you're looking at new piercings to add to your growing earring stack, the orbital could be your next go-to. Beloved by the fashion set (alongside the helix piercing, tragus jewellery, and daith studs) it's essentially two holes (close to each other) connected by a single piece of hooped jewellery. The orbital is typically done on the lobe and it can often look quite similar to the ever-cool conch or the always popular helix, when placed higher up on the ear. It's a versatile option if you're looking to add to your collection, so scroll below to learn everything you need to know about orbital piercings....

What is an orbital piercing?

As aforementioned, an orbital piercing can look quite similar to aconch piercing. Like an industrial piercing, it goes through two separate holes on the ear and connects with a single piece of jewellery. The jewellery typically forms a circular shape around the earlobe. Most people place their orbital piercing around the outer edge of the earlobe or higher up on the ear along the cartilage.

Instagram @krista.peachey

Pain levels

Does an orbital piercing hurt? Obviously, this varies from person to person, so what you find painful the next person may not. A lot of people describe the pain to be like a sharp pinch or pressure which fades away after the piercing has been made and the jewellery has been put through.

Cost

How much does a orbital piercing cost? Piercing prices always vary from place to place, but generally speaking orbital piercings typically start from around £30. City centre prices may be higher.

Jewellery

What kind of jewellery is used for an orbital piercing? Once the piercing has fully healed, you can change the jewellery and play around with different designs. It's important to wait until the piercing is fully healed to avoid infection and complications. Most people opt for a hoop, circular barbells, or captive bead rings - there are plenty of options and all will look equally flattering.

Cleaning and healing time

How do you clean an orbital piercing? Making sure you stay on top of aftercare is essential (it goes hand in hand with healing time). To clean an orbital piercing, use a saline solution and gently clean around the piercing at least twice a day. Whilst the piercing is healing it's advised you sleep on the opposite ear and avoid playing around with it. And how long does an orbital piercing take to heal, I hear you ask? Orbital piercings healing times can vary, depending on the placement. As most people opt for the lobe, it is known as being one of the quickest piercings to fully heal at around 8-10 weeks. If you do opt to have it higher up the ear along the cartilage, the healing time will be longer.

Choosing the correct piercing salon

It's no secret that choosing the wrong piercer can result in some pretty nasty infections. The Association of Professional Piercers recommend you do plenty of research before booking an appointment. Don't be backwards about asking the salon questions about how long they've been practicing or what qualifications they have, the association advises.

Rachael Martin is Grazia’s Junior Beauty Editor. Originally from Northern Ireland, she studied English Literature at Queen’s University Belfast, before moving to London to pursue a career in magazine journalism.