I'll admit that I've become a liiiiiiiittle bit obsessed with piercings lately. Like, yes, I've always had my ears pierced, but in the last year, I've fully embraced the curated ear trend (and my stacked lobes are proof). So when my friend showed up to my apartment with a brand-new daith piercing last week, I was kinda, sorta, super surprised I hadn't heard of it before. Daith? What? So in the name of piercings, I immediately went into research mode and became a full-fledged expert overnight. Ahead, everything there is to know about getting your daith pierced (which, BTW, you'll absolutely want to get by the time you're finished reading this. You're welcome).
What is a daith piercing?
Daith piercings are located in the innermost fold of your ear cartilage (just slightly above your ear canal). Other than the fact that they look ridiculously pretty—especially when combined with decked-out earlobes and helixes—daith piercings are also anecdotally thought to relieve migraines by activating a soothing pressure point on the ear. Although there aren’t any studies that prove a definitive connection between daith piercings and migraine relief, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence, which, hey, I’ll take.
Of course, daith piercings aren’t for everyone. Unlike, say, your lobes, your cartilage is pretty unique to you and your ear. The smaller your cartilage is, the less likely you’ll be able to get it pierced (fun fact: I discovered while writing this story and looking closely at my own ear that I do not, in fact, have any room for a daith piercing, so el oh el).
Which side should you get a daith piercing on for migraines?
Like I said, there is zero guarantee that getting a daith piercing will help migraines, but if you’re willing to take a gamble, it’s best to choose the side of your head that your migraine feels most prominent. If your migraines aren’t specific to one side, pierce the ear you don’t sleep on—it’ll make your healing process way smoother (and, like, noticeably less painful). And even if your daith piercing doesn’t stop your migraines, you’ll at least have some sick new jewelry, right? Right.
How painful is a daith piercing?
It goes without saying that pain is completely personal—what’s super unbearable for you might be totally fine for your friend. That said, you can expect your daith piercing to feel pretty similar to an upper-cartilage piercing (e.g., your helix), which is usually more painful than your lobes. Other than a quick pinch and a little eye-watering, you shouldn’t expect any prolonged irritation or soreness, so long as you take care of it properly (more on that later).
How much does a daith piercing cost?
The cost of your daith piercing depends on a couple of things: (1) where you go and (2) what jewelry you choose. Here in Metro Manila, daith piercings usually start at around P1,500, although they may cost more, depending on the jewelry. At the end of the day, try to remember that a piercing is a literal hole in your body—so even though that kinda-shady tattoo parlor might be offering a good deal, it’s probably smarter to take your business elsewhere. It’s worth the investment, y’all.
How long does it take for a daith piercing to heal?
Every ear is different, but generally speaking, a daith piercing takes six to eight months to fully heal. And, nope, that doesn’t mean your piercing will feel ultra-sensitive throughout the entirety of the healing process—but it does mean you’ll have to be super strict about cleaning it regularly. Make sure you’re gently cleaning your daith piercing two times a day with a saline solution or an unscented soap.
One more thing: Every time your daith piercing catches on a T-shirt, pillowcase, or bath towel, it can irritate your hole and prolong the healing process. Avoid any mishaps by being super aware of your piercing.
Give it to me straight: Should I get a daith piercing?
If your sole reason behind getting a daith piercing is to help ease your migraines, it’s probably wise to look at other options. But if you’re into the cool and curated vibe (aka you’re all about the ~aesthetic~), there’s no reason you shouldn’t get a daith piercing, IMHO. As long as your piercer is able to access the area (i.e., your cartilage isn’t super tiny), you shouldn’t worry too much about it. If worse comes to worse, you take it out—that’s the beauty of a piercing (...no shade to tattoos).
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This article originally appeared on Cosmopolitan.com. Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.