A Complete Guide to Rook Piercing

Cartilage piercing has been popular for several years and is still a popular choice for ear piercing. The pain level of cartilage piercing is definitely high, and it can be seen that most people have a high tolerance for pain. But we are not here to discuss the pain level of cartilage piercing today. A new trend of cartilage piercing has emerged, that is rook piercing , which is a piercing on the inner fold of the ear. Many people will buy gorgeous cartilage jewelry to decorate this unique piercing location. The following is a complete guide to Rook Piercing , where you can find everything you need to know.

What is a rook piercing ?

Rook piercing is a relatively new type of piercing that many people confuse with daith piercing . Since it is located just above the daith, you might mistake it for the same thing if you don't compare it . It is actually located in the fold of cartilage just below the auricle or helix. If you are getting this piercing, I recommend that you communicate with your piercer to make sure they understand that you want rook piercings and not daith piercings .
The space in this position is wider than that of daith and can accommodate multiple piercings, so many people choose to pierce in groups. Then choose multiple rook piercing jewelry to decorate, which looks very cute.
As a type of cartilage piercing, the recovery and care in the later stage are not much different from other cartilage piercings. But one thing to note is that the location of this piercing is in the fold of the ear, which is difficult to access during care, so a little patience is required when cleaning.

Rook piercing hurts

There is no cartilage piercing without pain, and Rook piercing is no exception. It is one of the most painful piercings. This pain does not come from the pain of the piercing itself, but the crunching sound you hear when the needle passes through the cartilage during the piercing process, which is the most horrifying. Many piercers say that this discomfort is completely different from earlobe piercing, just like the feeling of bone being pierced, and in fact it is true.
Those who have a high tolerance for pain, who feel that the pain is only felt for a moment, don't seem to have much discomfort after the piercing is done. Usually the piercer will have you lie on your side and then pierce your rook with a thoroughly sterilized 16-gauge needle. The whole process is quick and smooth, and some professional piercers will teach you to adjust your breathing to help you relieve pain.

Rook piercing healing time

Rook piercing is usually around 6-12 months, depending on the recovery of each person. If it is properly cared for and there is no inflammation, it can be healed in 6-8 months, and the jewelry can be changed freely. If inflammation occurs, it is necessary to consult a doctor or piercer according to the severity to determine whether interventional treatment or early removal of jewelry is required. In this case, the healing time will be extended to about 10-12 months.
Tip from professional piercer Della Simmons: Under normal recovery conditions, make sure the piercing is fully healed before changing the jewelry, otherwise side effects such as cartilage lumps may occur.

Aftercare tips for rook piercing

After completing any piercing, your piercer will give you some precautions and care tips. Follow your piercer's instructions to clean your piercing area with a sea salt solution every day. Use a cup that fits your ear to fill with a certain amount of sea salt solution, and tilt your head to one side to make sure your ear is immersed in the sea salt water for 2-3 minutes. Then wipe it dry with a paper towel or cotton swab. There are many stores that sell piercing care sprays, but in fact, many of them do not meet the requirements. We must make sure that these sprays only contain a mixture of salt and water, and some other additives such as tea tree oil, which can actually irritate the piercing and are not conducive to healing.
Here are some things to keep in mind from your piercer:

• Do not twist the jewelry on the Rook Piercing at will , at least not during cleaning. Otherwise, the cartilage is easily damaged and it will cause trauma to the surrounding skin, which can easily lead to scarring.
• Avoid wearing over-ear headphones, which can put pressure on the piercing and cause the jewelry to rub against the piercing. Frequent irritation can affect healing and may cause inflammation. If you must use headphones, choose in-ear earplugs.
• Don't sleep on your ear piercings . This is similar to the principle of wearing headphones. If you sleep on your side, it will press on your piercings. So choose to sleep on your back as much as possible to reduce friction and pressure on the piercings.

Cost of rook piercing

Rook piercings usually cost between $30-100. The location, reputation, and jewelry of the piercing shop all affect the price. My advice is not to skimp on the price, but to choose an experienced and reputable piercer. This is a permanent piercing, and you need it to look good. If you are tempted to go cheap and get an inexperienced piercer, it will not be worth it. Note that most piercing prices do not include jewelry.

Possible side effects of rook piercing

Any piercing can have some side effects, and the Rook is no exception. However, these side effects are avoidable with proper care and are not permanent. Here are some real side effects reported by rook piercing patients:

Piercing rejection

There are many reasons for piercing rejection, usually due to external trauma to the piercing site or allergies to the jewelry.
Hook the jewelry when putting on and taking off clothes with small necklines. Also, choose titanium jewelry as much as possible to avoid allergies. If you notice long-term redness, swelling, peeling, or obvious displacement of jewelry around the piercing, it is basically certain that rejection has occurred. In this case, you should remove the jewelry as soon as possible and let it heal before considering piercing again.

Piercing infection

This is not an uncommon phenomenon, and it often occurs in patients who do not follow the care instructions. This is completely avoidable with good hygiene and cleaning the piercing every day. Bleeding occurs in the first week after the piercing. Swelling and discharge are normal. If the symptoms do not improve after a week and continue to worsen, there is a high probability that an infection has been sent. At this time, you need to consult a doctor.

Piercing bumps

Piercing bumps are also a common side effect of Rook piercing. There are three main reasons for piercing bumps: hypertrophic scars, pustules, and jewelry allergies. Hypertrophic scars (also known as keloids) are caused by trauma, and it is common sense that trauma will leave scars. With careful care, it can be avoided. Pustules are caused by infection, so pay attention to care and cleaning. Jewelry allergies can also cause bumps.

What types of jewelry are suitable for rook piercing?

rook piercing jewelry is as wide as most cartilage jewelry selections. You can match it according to your preferences and style.
Barbells, especially curved ones, are best for rook piercing . They are also great starter pieces, perfect for narrow cartilage folds. Some barbells with opals or other embellishments are always a popular choice.
Ring jewelry is also a popular style for rook piercing . However, a ring that is too big may not be comfortable for the rook, so choose some hinge rings with a small diameter.
From a material standpoint, titanium is definitely the best and not expensive. Once you are fully healed you can switch to 14k gold or surgical steel. They come in a lot of styles and look really nice for everyday wear.

 

How do I change my rook jewelry?

Replacing rook piercing jewelry is very simple, mainly barbells and rings. For barbells, it is usually threaded, unscrew it and insert it into your piercing and tighten it. If it is a ring, it is usually hinged, just open the hinge, insert it into the hole and close it. When it is closed, you will hear a click, which means it is closed.