Daith Piercings 101: What You Should Know
What to Know About Daith Piercings, According to a Pro
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If you're a fan of body modification, there's nothing like getting a new piercing. From a trendy curated ear to a sexy dermal, piercings are versatile and uniquely primed for showing off your personality. You can switch out your jewellery to get a fresh look or opt for stones that hold significance, but whatever way you spin it — every decision is another way to signal who you are without words. So, if you're looking for another one to add to your collection, we have the perfect addition: a daith piercing.
The daith is a cartilage piercing beloved by numerous celebrities like Zoë Kravitz, Miley Cyrus, and Kylie Jenner, and for good reason: there's something incredibly sexy about its peekaboo placement. Daith piercings are also said to have a more functional process, as many believe they help provide relief from chronic headaches and migraines. If your interest has been piqued, read ahead for everything you need to know about the trendy ear piercing, from how much they cost to how long they take to heal.
What Are Daith Piercings?
"A daith piercing is one that is in the innermost fold of cartilage in the ear," Jim Kelly, manager of piercing training at Banter by Piercing Pagoda, tells POPSUGAR. "The jewellery then sits around and in front of the inner conch and is usually a hoop."
In terms of placement, there is only one area that would allow a piercing to qualify as a daith, but several jewellery types mesh well with it, making them highly customizable. Additionally, like septum or rook piercings, you can get a faux daith, but it's not something Kelly recommends. "There are hoops that can be placed and pinched or fit in a certain manner to look pierced," he says. "These are notoriously difficult to keep in place."
Photo Illustration: Michelle Alfonso
Can Daith Piercings Cure Migraines?
There is a popular notion that daith piercings can cure migraines, but is it true? "That is inaccurate," Kelly says. In fact, the idea comes from the thought that daiths pierce the area used by acupuncturists who use the practice to treat headaches. However, medical professionals believe that an accurately placed daith piercing is actually about a centimeter away from the spot where acupuncture treatments are done and can also damage the area for future treatments.
Who Can Get a Daith Piercing?
There aren't too many stipulations on getting a daith piercing, but there are some things you may want to consider before taking the plunge. "If your daith area is too shallow, i.e. it doesn't protrude out enough from the conch area of your ear, you may not be the ideal candidate for the piercing," Kelly says.
Additionally, before getting a daith piercing, remember that its placement may hinder the usage of specific styles of headphones, specifically those worn in the inner ear. Therefore, any job or sport that requires you to remove piercings constantly would also not work out well with a daith piercing.
How Long Does It Take For Daith Piercings to Heal?
"Daith piercings generally take eight to 12 weeks to be healed enough to downsize or swap out to a different piece of jewellery, and upwards of six months to a year to heal fully," Kelly says. You'll know when it is healed because crust won't be built up in the morning and there will be no sense of discomfort when bumped very minorly.
When you first get the piercing, it's important to follow proper aftercare instructions in order to get to the 12-week mark without hassle. "To properly clean a fresh piercing, clean it twice a day with H2Ocean Spray ($12) or Wound Wash saline ($8) by spraying and saturating the area, removing any build-up with a Q-tip, and letting the solution dry on the ear," Kelly says. "Avoid submerging the piercing for the first three to six weeks and continue the cleaning process until the piercing is fully healed."
Risks of Daith Piercings
Like any piercing, because it's a foreign object being inserted into the body, daiths can be rejected, and it's important to know the signs. "Take note of the specific area your daith piercing is in when you first get it," Kelly says. If you notice — and it can be a very slow process — the piercing is moving toward the front edge of the cartilage where it would no longer hold jewellery if it continued in that path, I suggest taking the piercing out."
Also, if the jewellery stays in and the piercing fully rejects, there is a chance the cartilage won't heal without a split in the piercing area.
Cost of Daith Piercings
The cost of daith piercings varies, depending on everything from the jewellery material used to where your piercer is located. Material-wise, it is recommended to stick with either 14-karat gold or titanium, and at Banter by Piercing Pagoda, the piercing will incur a $45 fee plus the cost of jewellery, which can be anywhere from $35 to $120.
Daith Piercing Inspiration
Daith Piercing: Diamond Hoop
Since daiths are one of the few piercings that typically use a hoop for the initial procedure, you can have a bit more fun with your jewellery choice. Here, the hoop is connected by a single diamond stone.
Daith Piercing: Rainbow Hoop
For a daith piercing that pops, keep the rest of your piercings simple (you can even opt for one hole, as seen here) and make your jewellery the focal point of the ear.
Daith Piercing: Intricate Hoop Jewellery
This hoop has a more intricate Mehndi-inspired design alongside four additional piercings.
Daith Piercing: Simple Hoop
If you're more laid back when it comes to your daith piercing jewellery, opt for a simple hoop like the one seen here.
Daith Piercing: Colourful Stones
If you're a fan of colour, why not make your hoop look like the rainbow? This curated ear also matches the rest of the cartilage piercings to the jewellery used for the daith piercing.
