Q&A for How to Get an Industrial Piercing

If you have the wrong ear anatomy, you might not be able to. The size of your ears doesn't affect an industrial piercing, but your ear needs a good helix ridge around the outside and top of your ear and flat cartilage in the middle. If you're not sure whether your ear anatomy works for an industrial piercing, visit a professional piercer.

Do not twist it! It reopens the wound and makes it more prone to infection.

Certain exercises will cause the piercing to move around and cause you pain. Also, sweat from your head can irritate the piercing.

The answer to this question will differ for everyone due to the lengthy healing time of this piercing. The best advice it to wait until your piercing is no longer producing lymphatic fluid (the stuff that causes the crusties around your jewelry) and it is no longer sore. Any public pool or swimming area has a host of chemicals and bacteria that can adversely affect your piercing.

No. You shouldn't get any piercings done with a gun, especially if it's a cartilage piercing. The gun can shatter the carriage, and it's highly likely that the holes won't line up, making you unable to put the industrial bar in.

You could, but this would not be recommended. You'd want to avoid sleeping on the new piercing for the first few days/weeks. If you get both ears pierces at the same time, almost any sleeping position will be very painful and uncomfortable.

While it depends on where you go, an industrial piercing is usually more pricey because it is like two piercings.

It's almost guaranteed that you will receive the typical bar piercing, as it allows for optimal healing. Once your piercing is healed, you could get the arrow, just make sure it is a suitable metal.

It shouldn't be a problem, just be careful when you get to the area around the ear. If you want to be extra cautious, sanitize the piercing with some saline after you are done.

Nope! In fact, make sure the piercing gets some water in it too in order to clean it. But do not take a bath with it unless you can do so without fully submerging the piercing.

The shop will most likely tell you, and should definitely be able to sell you what you need to clean it.

Yoga or meditation are great ways to stay fit without intense physical activity.

Honestly, all it will do is make your ear sore the next day. Change your pillowcases every night to avoid infection.

It is not recommended, but if you are extra careful to make sure the scarf doesn't push on your ear or catch on the jewelry, you'll probably be fine.

It is not advisable, because if you do something wrong, it could possibly cause you to go to the ER.

If rowing causes you to sweat or heat up excessively, it's not recommended.

Try going to another place and see if they can help you, just tell them your piercer is out of town. You might be able to have a doctor look at it too if the area is irritated at all.

No. You should highly reconsider this, as running will activate your sweat glands, effectively irritating your piercing. Since you probably won't have the time to disinfect your pierced area during a run, the sweat glands, effectively, will act as a bacteria pit, ultimately causing an infection.

Put a sandwich bag over your ear and secure it with an elastic.

You could sleep on your left side or your back, but it is possible to sleep on your right side without leaning on the piercing. While on your right side, put your right arm up on your pillow underneath your head and bend it so that your elbow is in front of your face pointing away (in a < shape). Between your wrist and your upper arm is a space where your ear can fit and not be slept on. This same method also works with airplane travel pillows.

It depends on the exact locations of your piercings. If the forward helix is higher and your cartilage is slightly lower, it would work. (Of course, you could do it no matter the locations if you wanted to.)

There is a risk of infection with any piercing. You can reduce the risk by making sure your piercer uses a brand new needle for your piercing and following their instructions for care afterwards.

Wait until it's fully healed. This usually takes 3-4 months, but depends on the person.

Don't take if off! It's too soon, so won't be healed yet and could close over. Cover it instead.

No. But if you're allergic to a certain type of material, you should tell the piercer.

No. You don't want to inadvertently rip the piercing out or stretch the hole wider, and if you sweat a lot, you're more likely to get an infection.

If you want the actual piercing, then go with, "Can I get an industrial piercing." But if you just want the jewelry, then ask if they have industrial bars for sale.

After getting a piercing, you should wait 6 weeks bevor dying or bleaching your hair.

No, honestly it shouldn't. If a company is judging you by if you have an ear piercing or not, then perhaps it isn't the place for you. However, you might like to make inquiries of people working in the field you plan on working in.