DAITH PIERCING GUIDE

Have you been wanting to get your Daith pierced?Here is everything you need to know before you do!

what is a daith piercing?

A daith is another cartilage piercing that is loved by many! The daith is located in a fairly subtle area compared to other cartilage piercings like a helix and a flat. A daith piercing is located in the little fold of cartilage that is sticking out above the passageway to your ear canal.

However, due to this positioning can be one of the hardest to heal. It is prone to being knocked a lot and being close to the ear channel it is more exposed to infections compared to other locations on the ear.

In this guide we are going to talk about what a Daith piercing is, the types of daith piercings, the cost, the process, aftercare and styling tips.

daith

There is only one kind of daith piercing due to the limited amount of space that the cartilage has. However, there is still plenty of ways you can customise it with your choice of jewellery.

cost of a daith 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.

  • Single

    1 Piercing - $60

  • Double

    2 Piercings - $80

  • 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: 9/10

A daith is not as simple as other cartilage piercings as it is in a very awkward position in the ear. In order to pierce this area a curved needle must be used, therefore the actual piercing time is slightly longer. Although the piercing time is longer, there is no dramatic increase in pain with most people describing it as a dull pressure in the affected area due to the thickness of the cartilage rather than the sting that is usually associated with a helix piercing.

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 daith 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. 

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!

A daith piercing is a really unique piercing to style as there are so many options depending on your personal style. You can go for something like our 14K Solid Gold Petit Clicker Ring or add a little shine with our 14K Solid Gold Classic Solitaire Ring. No matter your taste, we've got just the right piece for you! If your unsure on what jewellery to add into your Daith piercing, check out our daith piercing collection for our top recommendations. Explore some of our top picks for styling below.

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, 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.