Despite the fact that the ear is a relatively small part of the body, there are many different types of ear piercings. The names of ear piercings generally correspond with the anatomical name of the bit of cartilage which is pierced. To the right, you’ll find a picture that combines the ear piercing places with a little ear anatomy so you can see how they correspond.

Here is a list of the different ear piercings. For all of the ear piercing types, you can follow the link for more information about that specific ear piercing.

• Lobe - The standard piercing associated with the ears. This piercing is sometimes stretched for a more dramatic look.
• Industrial - This is a bar that goes through a hole at the front of the ear, as well as a hole in the back in the outer cartilage known as the helix.
• Helix - This piercing, as one might expect, goes through the helix. The most common jewelry type used here is a captive bead ring.
• Snug - This is one of two piercings that are located on the anti-helix cartilage of the ear. The snug is usually pierced from front to back approximately across from the Tragus.
• Rook - This is the other anti-helix piercing. This one is pierced vertically approximately directly above the Tragus.
• Tragus - This piercing can either go straight through the Tragus, usually with a captive bead ring, though sometimes it is pierced vertically and a bar is worn.
• Anti-Tragus - As one might expect, the anti-tragus is the fold of cartilage just on the other side of your ear canal from the tragus.
• Conch - This is a term used to describe just about any other piercing done to the cartilage of the ear that isn’t already describe above. These are divided into inner and outer conch piercings depending on which plane of cartilage is being pierced.

Daith piercing is commonly misrepresented as being a particular ear piercing, but it’s a term that covers all piercing of the cartilage, not a specific piercing.

That should cover all the different types of ear piercings. If I missed anything, let me know.