An industrial piercings sounds fancy, perhaps because it is so aptly named. It certainly a bold statement and adds to any well curated ear another notch in beauty and appeal. The much hyped industrial ear piercing is actually a two-for-one option with a single barbell jewelry and has been around since the 90s and still looks unique today. Here is what people wish they knew before getting this type of ear piercing.
What is an Industrial Bar/Scaffolding Piercing?
Industrial piercings, also known as bar or scaffold piercings, are made on the ear and enter the cartilage at two distinct locations that are normally about an inch and a half apart. This type of piercing is named after the jewelry choice which is typically a straight barbell traversing the helix front to back ( one piercing on the helix and another on the anti-helix).
They showed up around the year 1992 and have since grown in popularity among enthusiasts without becoming too cliche.They are a rogue piece with nothing in terms of instructions in the ear piercing guide book. Possibilities are limitless although as you will find out below, they may not be ideal for you!
Does Bar Piercing Hurt More?
Yes, two piercings cause more irritation than one. Being a cartilage piercings and a double one at that means the industrial piercing can cause a bit more discomfort. The process is also somewhat protracted and you have to bear two piercings in one sitting. Healing can also be tricky because the jewelry is heavier and tends to get caught in clothing and hair causing a little more tenderness than you would desire.
Far be it from us to pour cold water on your ambition to get this stunning piece, we are simply letting you know ahead of time the hurdles that you might have to overcome to earn this look!
Is an Industrial bar ear piercing right for me?
Unfortunately, not all ears can look good with an industrial piercing. It is imperative that you consult a professional piercer to get you a variant that will work well with your anatomy. If you are ready to make the leap and industrialize, here are some important factors to consider.
- Protracted Healing time: This can be slightly more difficult given that it’s a double piercing. You will need to give it more attention and pay attention to both sides with the obvious double inflammation.
- Aesthetics: As aforementioned, the beauty of this piece depends on your ear anatomy. You may have to change the styling a little to suit your specific ear shape.
- The jewelry: Careful! Because of how it fits in, the industrial bar can get caught in clothing or hair and cause a great deal of pain and stress to the unhealed piercings.
- Irritation Bumps: When your new piercing is irritated in any manner, whether you’ve been handling it or you happen to be allergic to your jewelry, little bumps around the piercing sites are typical. If you suspect allergies, make sure to pay greater attention to your aftercare, avoid messing with your piercing, and/or get a new barbell installed.
- Rejection: Rejection occurs when your body pushes your new piercing out of your skin because it thinks it poses a threat. Your body quickly repairs the skin underneath the piercing as it is driven out, preventing it from being pushed back in. Rejection can only be eliminated by a specialist, preventing the procedure from getting longer.
- Infection: Although infections of piercings are more often than you would imagine, they can also be readily prevented by appropriately following aftercare instructions. Prolonged redness, swelling, yellow or green discharge, soreness, burning, itching, and excruciating pain are typical infection signs. While some redness, discomfort, or crusting at the piercing sites is common while they heal, anything more than a little inconvenience might indicate a more serious issue.
- Keloids: Sometimes cartridge piercings cause keloids. These are wound-related scars that grow significantly bigger than the original piercing site in reaction to the skin’s damage. Keloids may be very painful in addition to being bothersome. They need urgent care, such as cortisone injections or the scars being removed surgically or with lasers.
How is an industrial piercing done?
The trick is to achieve the exact length of the barbell without deforming the ear, which makes this a high precision procedure. You will need to get the best piercer and not simply the cheapest one for excellent results. Several techniques may be at your piercer’s disposal including the following;
- Step One: choose a spot for the first piercing and apply a single-use disposable needle.
- Step Two: insert the jewelry into the fresh piercing and use it to determine the exact location of the second piercing so that the jewelry fits just right.
- Step Three: Use a second needle to make the second piercing and insert the excess length of jewelry in the second location and fasten appropriately.
Pro Tip: Industrial piercings are customizable because there are so many variants. Work with your professional piercer to get a style that suits you best. Classic industrial piercings are placed on the helix and outer upper ear (helix) and inner upper ear (forward helix).
What is the Healing Time for Scaffolding Piercings?
It typically takes 8 to 12 weeks to heal completely but can be up to 6 months until you are completely healed and ready to change out the jewelry.Other than the bulky jewelry and two sites to care after, the industrial bar piercing is as easy to heal as any other piercing.
The healing process can be prolonged by a variety of factors. One is that the piercing may snag and irritate if it gets trapped in hair or clothes. To prevent any problems that may lengthen the healing process, it’s crucial to keep your hair out of your face and to be careful when getting dressed. The best method to prevent the healing process from being slowed down in any way is to follow the aftercare instructions precisely. If everything is done as directed, the wound will heal properly and as rapidly as your immune system will allow.
Industrial Bar Piercing Aftercare
When you choose to have your piercing with a professional, you will receive a list of specific instructions on how to care for your piercing. Over and above that basic aftercare routine, here are some tips that can improve your healing time and comfort.
- Keep your hair from the crime scene: As previously indicated, the industrial barbell is prone to get tangled in hair, which can pull on the piercing and harm the skin. As the piercing heals, try to keep your hair up and away from it. During the healing process, cartilage studs are another option.
- Avoid applying pressure on the jewelry: Over-the-ear headphones and sleeping on your side are examples of this. In addition to contributing to problems like piercing rejection and jewelry migration, applying pressure to the jewelry might harm the healing piercing. Getting one industrial piercing at a time will let you sleep on the ear that is not healing if you must sleep on your side.
- Select appropriate beginning jewelry: You should make sure that your industrial has adequate room for swelling, especially since the two piercings may cause more swelling than usual. Be cautious since it will be simpler to grab the longer barbell. To prevent jewelry rejection or skin reactions, use high-quality metal. Additionally, go with a simple, straight barbell. Any charms or other flair might add weight to the piercing and tug on it, which could hurt it. The industrial may also be pierced with a 16G needle, but is often pierced with a 14G needle.
- Be meticulous and gentle: After it has healed, you can stretch your cartilage, but use caution because it is challenging, time-consuming, and simple to cause injury to your ear. In order to prevent exterior threads from rubbing against your piercing, you need also make sure that your jewelry is internally threaded. Be meticulous with aftercare since connecting two piercings with a single piece of jewelry is not the simplest thing for your body to adjust to.
Industrial piercings are a major pain and healing them properly requires a lot of care and patience. The worst thing is that they cannot be slept on while they are healing. They must be washed daily with saline, must avoid any pressure, and must be avoided when bathing.
Also note that your piercing runs the danger of healing slowly or contracting an infection if the jewelry is taken off too soon.
When to Change Out an Industrial Piercing
It’s crucial to wait until your industrial piercing has fully healed, and maybe a little longer just to be safe – anywhere between 5 and 9 months. If you attempt to remove it before then, there is a chance that the piercing will heal over and you will need to have it redone. It is possible to remove an industrial piercing at home because it is a rather simple procedure, but getting it removed by a professional is always the best option.
Industrial Jewelry Styles and Materials
The fact that industrial piercing is actually two piercings in one is maybe its finest selling point. You may fill each piercing with a cartilage stud for the traditional cartilage piercing appearance, or you can run a straight barbell through them both for an industrial appearance.
The most often used industrial piercing jewelry is industrial barbells. They are identical to a straight barbell, except the fact that some industrial barbells have a charm in the middle since the industrial piercing supports this design. Feel free to experiment with different industrial barbell looks.
A barbell is a piece of jewelry that consists of a metal bar with a tiny, detachable bead on either end. By using two needles to make holes in the barbell, it is threaded into an industrial piercing. Barbells may be bent, spiraled, and modified in a wide variety of various ways to fit your aesthetic because all an industrial piercing needs is two holes and a connecting bar of some kind.
It usually takes the form of a straight barbell made of implant-grade titanium, yellow gold, or rose gold. Although 14 gauge are the most frequent, 16 gauge and even 18 gauge industrial piercings are also becoming more widespread. The length [of the industrial bar] depends on the size of your ear.
The following materials are used for industrial piercings as recommended by leading piercers;
- Stainless steel: The most popular form of metal for piercings is implant grade stainless steel since it is reasonably trouble-free and available in a range of hues. Surgical steel will, however, hurt your skin if you are sensitive to nickel.
- Titanium: Since titanium doesn’t contain nickel and is therefore the least likely of all metals to irritate skin, it is frequently used for body piercings. It also comes in a variety of hues, is lightweight, and won’t tarnish or corrode.
- Gold: Whether you choose yellow, rose, or white gold for your jewelry, make sure it is at least 14 karats or higher. This is because 18 karat gold is too fragile and can create dents that might harbor bacteria.
When you’re bored with the industrial style, you may alternatively select cartilage studs. You may select studs with a ball backing or a flat disc back.
You should lean toward implant-grade titanium, surgical steel and 14k+ gold when selecting jewelry for your industrial piercing because both of these metals are inert (stay in place), have a high alloy percentage (means the metals aren’t mixed in with other things to create the product), and are free of nickel and dangerous metals.
Avoid using any plastics, non-surgical steel, poor purity gold, or other inferior metals. These may result in an infection, a delay in healing, or even a complete cessation of healing for the piercing. Even if your piercing is entirely healed at the time you insert the new jewelry, you still run the risk of developing an adverse response to these lower grade jewelry.
Ending Thoughts on Industrial Bar Piercings
Of fact, there are no “correct” or “wrong” fashion styles, and an industrial piercing may be worn by anybody with cartilage strong enough to support one. Having said that, if you’re still unsure about whether an industrial piercing is the perfect choice for you. Although this is not the entirety of information about industrial piercings, it would be a fantastic starter kit before investing in the item.