October 08, 2024

Daith Piercing: Migraines, Pain, Healing, Cost, Jewelry, Gauge, Cleaning, Aftercare

Fast Facts:

Placement: It is located in the innermost whorl of your ear cartilage.
Cost: $50 to $100.
Pain: A high pain level. It is rated at 7-8 on a scale of 1 to 10.
Healing time: 6-9 months.
Jewelry: Hoops, captive bead rings, barbells.
Risks: Infections, bumps, scarring, and swelling.

Getting your daith pierced is a chic way to add a layer of filigree to your ear. The Daith piercing is shrouded in mystery: are they really effective for migraine prevention? What is the best jewelry for Daith piercing? Does it hurt?

What Is a Daith Piercing?

The daith is located in the innermost whorl of your ear’s cartilage. If you trace your finger upwards along the outer edge of your ear toward your face, your fingertip will reach your daith right before it folds back into your ear.

Daith Piercing Benefits

1. Daith Piercing for Migraines?

Does piercing the daith help with migraines? For those familiar with acupuncture, the daith is believed to contain a pressure point that can be used to manage migraines. Rumor has it that constant pressure on this pressure point may reduce migraines.

In the meantime, it takes a skilled acupuncturist to be able to locate this pressure point within the daith.

However, there is a lack of support for using daith piercings or tragus piercings as effective forms of migraine treatment.

So far, scientific evidence points to these piercings only providing a placebo effect to minimize migraines.

If you are only considering this piercing for migraine prevention, you may want to look into other migraine-preventing options. It can be difficult to target the exact pressure point in the daith. Your piercing artist will probably require an acupuncturist to make sure it gets in exactly the right location.

2. Daith Piercing for Anxiety?

Similarly, the belief that a Daith piercing might reduce anxiety lacks scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness. While some report benefits, these are anecdotal.

Consulting a healthcare professional for anxiety treatments is recommended over relying on this piercing.

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Daith Piercing Pain Scale 1-10

Does Daith piercing hurt? Like any ear piercing, getting your daith pierced does come with a little pain. Generally, the daith is considered one of the more painful ear piercings. It is rated at 7-8 on a pain scale of 1 to 10.

Daith Piercing Healing Time

How long does a Daith piercing take to heal? Expect more time for your newly-pierced daith to heal than for earlobe piercings. While it can take 6 to 9 months to heal, your ear will eventually feel normal again. For some people, it takes less time to heal all the way.

Compared to other ear piercings, the daith is one of the longest to heal.

Daith Piercing Cost

How much is a Daith piercing? While it depends on where you are located, getting this piercing probably costs about $50 to $100. Because this piercing is a little more complex than a lobe piercing, it is advisable to pay a little extra and go to a reputable piercing parlor.

Daith Piercing Jewelry: Types

Depending on the person’s style, Daith earrings can look like hoops, barbells, or even hearts. Of course, like any piercing, the Daith piercing will need time to heal before it can handle more complex earrings.

1. Hoops

Diamond piercing hoop 16g made of titanium with CZ $22.9, SHOP NOW.

Hoops are recommended until the piercing is healed. For a unique effect, some hoops are even shaped like hearts. After it is fully healed, you may be able to display an attractive barbell.

Hoops do include a few different means of closure. Some are seamless, some have captive beads, and some click shut. After you have graduated from your first daith earring, you can choose which of these works best with your lifestyle and make it happen.

Heart Daith Piercing

Heart daith piercing implant-grade titanium 16 gauge $19.9, SHOP NOW.

Heart-shaped Daith earrings can come with stones or be simple metal heart outlines. The heart shape accentuates the ear’s natural curves and looks more natural when compared with simple hoops.

If you like the idea of wearing a heart in your ear, you will fall in love with some of these heart-shaped daith earrings.

Captive Bead Rings

16 gauge nose ring captive bead Rosery Poetry

Captive bead ring made of implant-grade titanium $18.9, SHOP NOW.

While more detailed than simple hoops, captive bead rings are still simple enough to let your other earrings shine as a focal point. A captive bead earring is difficult to put in and remove which makes it a longer-term accessory.

2. Daith Piercing Barbells

If any earring is going to snag, it is the barbell. For this reason, it is recommended only after your piercing has fully healed. With more surface area for infection-causing critters to survive on, it is very important to handle these only when your hands are clean.

Ears tend to be asymmetrical while barbells are symmetrical. This will lead to a barbell being more noticeable than other options like clicker rings or heart-shaped hoops. Because there are so many barbell styles out there, there is definitely one that will match your fashion.

Horseshoe Barbells (Circular Barbells)

Circular barbell for daith piercings with pearls titanium $22.9, SHOP NOW.

Curved Barbells (Banana Barbells)

Curved barbell piercing with clear cz stones $19.9, SHOP NOW.

3. Daith Piercing Studs

Studs are usually not recommended for Daith piercings.

Daith Piercing Sizes

1. Daith Piercing Gauge

What gauge is a Daith piercing? The most common gauge sizes for daith piercing jewelry are between 16G(1.2mm) and 18G(1mm), depending on your preference.

2. Hoop Diameter

Daith piercing hoops range between 1/4"(6mm) and 3/8"(10mm). 5/16"(8mm) is the most common. However, you must leave enough room for swelling, draining, and cleaning.

3. Barbell Length

If you opt for a curved barbell (banana barbells), the recommended lengths are between 1/4"(6mm) and 3/8"(10mm).

Daith Piercing Jewelry: Recommended Materials

Material is the other criterion when searching for the best jewelry for daith piercing. Until the new piercing is healed, it is best to stick with surgical-grade metals like implant-grade titanium.

You can try experimenting with other metals after the piercing has healed only if you do not usually have adverse reactions to certain metals.

1. Titanium: About $20-$40

Diamond daith earring gold and silver 16G titanium with CZ stones $27.9, SHOP NOW.

Titanium has a reputation for being the best metal for piercings for many reasons. It is lightweight, hypoallergenic, durable, nickel-free, non-corrosive, and won’t tarnish.

Its non-porous nature reduces places bacteria can hide, promoting healing.

Titanium is also hypoallergenic, meaning it is less likely to cause allergic reactions. Titanium is nickel-free. Its high density-to-strength ratio means your jewelry is very durable.

A lower density also makes titanium lightweight, a big plus in many user's eyes. Finally, the metal comes in many colors because you can anodize it.

The only real downside to titanium jewelry is that you will pay more for all those positive traits. Shop for implant-grade titanium with designations like ASTM F-136, ASTM F-67, or ISO 5832-3.

2. Solid Gold: About $40-$200

14K gold fancy and unique daith earring hinged segment clicker $229.9, SHOP NOW.

This metal will not rust or tarnish. It is also easy to decorate and shape. The added alloys in 18k, and especially 14k, make them more durable than 24k gold pieces.

One downside to gold jewelry is the price tag, which is expensive. Another concern will be that the metal is soft, making it susceptible to bends, breaks, and gouges. Gold can also be heavy, especially with more pure karat ratings.

3. Surgical Steel: About $5-$30

Even surgical steel can contain small amounts of nickel that could cause allergic reactions in those with skin sensitivities. Choose a different option if you are concerned about irritation or a nickel allergy.

Steel combines iron and carbon, improving its strength and ability to resist fracturing.

One of the pros most people cite for steel jewelry pieces is the lower price point. Steel is also a durable option. These pieces are low maintenance because the steel does not corrode, rust, or tarnish.

Weight is the top complaint for those using steel jewelry pieces. Steel can be less comfortable if worn in piercings for long periods.

4. Niobium: About $20-$60

Niobium is a light grey metal known for its hardness that is like titanium. The metal resists corrosion and tarnishing like others on the list, creating minimal maintenance for you.

It might be the best metal for a piercing if you want titanium-like durability with more malleability. That extra pliability makes it easier for jewelers to shape pieces. Niobium can come in various colors as it is something that you can anodize.

The only real downsides are that it weighs a bit more than titanium and you will likely pay a bit more due to the process involved in manufacturing this metal.

Are My Ears Shaped Right to Get My Daith Pierced?

If your daith is really flat, there is a possibility that a pierced daith may not be in your future. Of course, to know for sure, you should seek the advice of someone who pierces professionally.

Keep in mind that these professionals are artists and may have different opinions.

How to Clean Daith Piercing?

It is recommended to use sterile saline that you buy from the store, rather than homemade saline, for cleaning your piercings. Homemade saline may be too salty for delicate piercing sites, leading to dryness and delayed healing.

Using mild, fragrance-free soap and water to clean your piercing site is also an option.

If you prefer homemade salt solution. You can start by mixing 1/2 teaspoon of non-iodized salt with one cup of distilled or boiled (for at least 20 minutes) water. You may choose to use less of the salt mixture like 1/4 to 1/8 teaspoon if you want a weaker solution that’s less likely to burn or sting. Stir the solution until it dissolves.

If you see signs of infection, you can also use antiseptic solutions, such as betadine, isopropyl alcohol, or diluted hydrogen peroxide. However, avoid using them for daily cleaning as they can damage cells.

Then proceed with the following steps to clean your piercing:

Soak a cotton ball, a paper towel, or a non-plush cloth with the solution. Avoid fabrics that could snag and pull the jewelry or leave fibers behind. Gently saturate the piercing and cleanse it. Don't remove the jewelry!
If you have a sterile saline wound wash that you buy from stores, then spay it while healing.
Ensure you cleanse the piercing of any discharge or crusty material.
Take clean gauze or cotton swabs and pat the area dry.

Your piercer should give you detailed instructions on how to keep your piercing clean once it has been placed.

Daith Piercing Aftercare

Avoid sleeping on the ear you had pierced.
Take care to avoid contaminating the piercing.
Avoid touching it or applying makeup very close to it.
Avoid getting in the water that might be dirty.
Clean your piercing twice per day using a saline solution made for wound cleaning or soap and water to prevent infection.
Avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.
And of course, make sure to avoid snagging on clothes or towels.
Wear loose clothing. Avoid wearing tight clothing or clothing that may rub against the piercing, as this can cause irritation and slow down the healing process.
Use hypoallergenic jewelry like implant-grade titanium and 14- or 18-karat gold. Surgical-grade steel may contain small amounts of nickel that could cause allergic reactions.
Don't move the piercing unless you're cleaning it. Pulling on a piercing early in healing is painful, but it also can get in the way of healing or damage the piercing itself.
Wait until your piercing heals before changing out your jewelry.
Watch for potential signs of infection and consult your piercer or doctor if it becomes infected.

You should ensure you get pierced by someone experienced and reliable who utilizes the right cleaning and sterilization procedures. You’ll also need to choose high-quality jewelry that you aren’t allergic to. After you get your piercing, be sure to follow all instructions from your piercer.

In the End

As you search for the best jewelry for your daith piercing, keep in mind that it takes most of a year for it to fully heal. It is best to keep it simple until then to avoid infection and the risk of keloids. After it has healed, you will be able to have lots of fun picking out which daith earrings work best for your style.