For tragus, anti-tragus, helix, rook, conch and most cartilage piercings (any part of the ear other than your lobe) a piercer will use an 18 gauge (as seen above) or 16 gauge needle. Depending on the anatomy of your ear, the piercer may use a 14 gauge needle as well.
One may also ask, can I put a 16 gauge in my cartilage?
Getting your cartilage re-pierced to your desired gauge is also an option, and is great if your end goal is a 16, 14, or 12 gauge piercing. … You can stretch your tragus, conch, flat, as well as any helix piercing. BUT, when stretching cartilage you need to be aware that once it heals, the stretch is permanent!
Consequently, is 16 gauge normal for ear piercing?
Standard ear piercings are a 20g or 18g if they were pierced by a gun. If they were pierced by a professional, the lobe piercing will typically be a 16g or 14g. After a minimum of two months it is typically safe to change the jewelry, but the piercing may still feel sensitive.
What is the smallest gauge for cartilage earrings?
Standard Piercing Sizes
| Piercing | Standard Gauge | Standard Length |
|---|---|---|
| Cartilage Piercing | 16G , 18G | 3/16″ , 1/4″ and 5/16″ |
| Eyebrow Piercing | 16G (14G is also commonly used) | 1/4″ , 5/16″ and 3/8″ |
| Industrial Barbell | 14G (16G is also commonly used) | 1 1/2″ (varies) |
| Labret Lip Rings | 14G or 16G | 1/4″ , 5/16″, and 3/8″ |
What is bigger 16 gauge or 14 gauge?
16ga steel is . 065” inches thick, that is about 1/16th of an inch thick. 14 gauge in comparison is . 083 inches thick which doesn’t sound like much except it is almost 30% thicker (27.6% to be exact).
When can I put a hoop in my cartilage?
Most piercing points suggest 4 to 6 weeks for changing cartilage but it’s better to wait at least 8 to 10 weeks.
How can I increase my cartilage gauge?
Simply get some lube and some tapers, gently push the taper through your cartilage piercing, and slip the new jewelry in. You should only stretch one gauge larger at a time to avoid causing irreversible damage to your cartilage.
Can I put a 16 gauge in a 18 gauge hole cartilage?
Yes you can, in fact that’s typically what a piercer will do, especially with cartilage piercings. They pierce with a gauge size bigger than the actual jewelry. It allows room for swelling and placing the jewelry.
How do I know if my cartilage piercing is healing correctly?
Signs that the piercing is fully healed include the site of the piercing being normal colored and not red, swollen, or tender; no clear or yellowish fluid draining; and no pain when the area is touched. The earliest a cartilage piercing heals for most people is 3 months.
Which ear should I pierce my cartilage?
If you want the piercing to be seen (and who doesn’t?), then obviously the bare ear. The side on which you go to sleep can also play a role in your decision. A piercing may be uncomfortable to rest on, so choose the opposite side.
What size needle is used to pierce noses?
Most professional piercers use a needle size of 20G (0.8 mm) to 18G (1.0 mm) to pierce a nose.
Can I put a 14g in a 16g piercing?
14g jewelry is larger than 16g jewelry, but you might be able to fit it. Yes, you can stretch you piercing to a 14g just make sure that the jewelry that you’re buying is suitable for a freshly stretching piercing.
Is a 16 gauge piercing big?
Common Piercing Type
“For piercings in general, 18 g through 16 g is the most common. For nipple or naval piercings, 14 g through 12 g is most common. For larger gauges—like stretched ear lobes—the smallest gauge usually starts at size 8 and goes up from there.”
