Rook Piercing is really sexy and cool, but most people have never heard of it or have little or no knowledge about it. And that’s why I’m here: to tell you everything you need to know.
This blog post will answer all the questions you may have about rook piercing.
What Is a Rook Piercing?
A rook piercing is a type of ear piercing that goes through the upper part of the ridge in the ear. It is also known as a tragus piercing, and it’s one of the most popular ear piercings in the world.
Rook Piercings have been around for a while, but they’re not really seen on many people anymore.
Rook piercings can also be placed in either of the ears if you want to avoid having another piercing on your lip or cheek.
Pros and Cons of Rook Piercing
The rook piercing is a relatively new addition to the world of body piercings. This particular piercing sits at the end of your eyebrow and can be done on either side.
Pros
1. It’s a very easy piercing to heal
You simply have to keep it clean, and away from any sort of rubbing or friction. It’s also a low-risk piercing, so if you’re worried about getting an infection or losing your temper and damaging it, this may be the one for you.
2. It’s unique
The rook piercing is unique because it’s an uncommon location for an earring to be worn. There are several other types of piercings that can be done on the ear, but having one done on your upper ear will definitely make you stand out from the crowd.
3. Easy to take care of
Since this type of piercing only goes through cartilage, it’s very easy to take care of and clean on a daily basis. You don’t have to worry about any infections or other problems associated with piercings that go through flesh or bone because this one only goes through a layer
4. You can have it on in one or the two ears
You can have it on in one or two ears and still look awesome, unlike the regular ear piercing that needs piercing on both ears.
You can wear one rook piercing in one ear and another in the other ear, or you can go for two rook piercings if you want to really make a statement.
5. Easy to do
Rook piercings are one of the easiest piercings that can be done at home. It’s very similar to doing a labret, which is another popular piercing that people like to do at home. All you need is a needle, some jewelry, and a sterile container for your supplies.
You don’t need any training or experience to do it yourself either! The only thing you have to worry about is sterilizing your equipment properly before using it.
Cons
1. You can feel pain
In most cases, it is not a very painful piercing. However, some people may experience more pain than others.
The jewelry that you use will also affect how much pain you experience. For example, if you wear a small gauge ring, then your rook piercing will hurt more than if you wear a larger gauge ring.
2. The skin around the piercing can get irritated
If there are any bacteria or dirt in the area of your rook piercing, they can cause an infection and irritation around it. This means that you will need to keep your piercing clean at all times so that it does not get infected.
3. Not so good for sensitive skin
If you have sensitive skin, you may experience some swelling and tenderness after getting this type of piercing done. Your body might also reject the jewelry after some time due to irritation from the jewelry rubbing against your skin throughout the day.
4. Can cause pain while sleeping
Some people experience pain while sleeping on their sides due to their rook piercing and others have had their ears torn during sleep causing them pain and discomfort while they heal from their injury.
5. Ears may swell up
The most common problem is swelling. If you get your rook pierced, it may swell up. The swelling usually goes away after a few days.
There may be some bleeding or bruising around the piercing hole. You can put ice on it to reduce the swelling and take an anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen to ease pain and reduce inflammation.
How to Clean Rook Piercing
Step 1: rinse with sterile water or saline solution
Rinse the outside of your rook piercing with sterile water or saline solution at least once a day.
Use warm water if you are comfortable with it, but don’t get the area too wet, or use hot water because this can irritate your skin even more than cold water would.
You should also avoid using antibacterial soaps on any piercings as they may cause irritation and dryness; using warm water instead is much safer and gentler on your skin.
Step 2: Dry Your Piercings After Washing Them
Drying off after washing them is just as important as washing them in the first place.
Make sure that you dry off all excess moisture from around your rook piercing before putting on any jewelry again for the best results.
Rook Piercing Aftercare
If the aftercare is neglected or not done properly, the piercing is likely to get infected. The aftercare solution can be a sea salt mixture or a saline solution bought from a pharmacy. The aftercare is done for the entirety of the healing process and involves cautions as mentioned:
- Wash your hands nicely before doing the aftercare and if possible sterilize your hands.
- For using the sea salt solution, you need to use a gallon of distilled water which requires about four teaspoons of pure (organic) sea salt.
- Make the solution lukewarm and dip a paper towel into the solution. Hold the paper towel on the pierced area for about 15 minutes.
- Make sure to keep on dipping the paper towel into the solution after regular intervals.
- You can also use a saline solution in the same way without the need of heating up the solution, but using a sea salt solution is a better way to go for.
- Do not substitute paper towels with cotton balls (as those tend to leave traces of cotton in the cartilage and may infect the affected area) and distilled water with any other type of water. Be extremely cautious if you do not want to catch an infection.
- Do the clean-up at least twice a day.
- Avoid removing the jewelry before healing as the piercing is likely to get closed up and all of your caution and back-and-forth haulings might go to waste.
- The jewelry size ideally is 16 Gauge 5/16, but some piercers might recommend a size that is a bit larger or smaller than that.
3 Signs of A Healing Tragus Piercing
The most common signs of a healing tragus piercing are the usual ones:
1. Ear feels tender
When your piercing starts healing, you may notice that your ear feels tender or sore to the touch (especially if you sleep on it).
This is normal as well and can last anywhere from about some months or more depending on how quickly your body heals itself.
2. Slight discharge
This is also normal until your piercing heals completely. Discharge should clear up within a few weeks of getting pierced and shouldn’t last longer than that unless there’s something wrong with the jewelry or your skin isn’t healing properly.
3. No more painful
Another sign that you are healed is when your tragus piercing stops hurting. You may notice that the pain subsides within some days, but generally, it takes months for the piercing to heal fully.
You will know when it is healed because the area around the tragus will be dry and flaky instead of moist, red, and swollen.
How Long Does a Rook Piercing Take to Heal
Healing time for a rook piercing is usually between 2 to 10 month. The actual amount of time it takes depends on several factors including how well you care for your rook piercing and your own personal body chemistry.
If you follow proper aftercare instructions, like using saline soaks and cleaning solutions, your rook piercing should heal quickly.
Does Getting a Rook Piercing Hurt?
The pain level associated with a rook piercing can vary from person to person, but generally, it’s considered moderately painful. The rook is located on the inner cartilage of the ear, making the sensation more intense than lobe piercings. However, the process is relatively quick, and many find the discomfort manageable.
Is Rook Piercing for You?
Rook piercing is not for everyone. If you are considering this piercing, please take into account that it may take up to 6 months for the piercing to heal completely and when fully healed, you will still have to keep your hands clean, avoid touching or rubbing it, and be careful with any hair products that you use around the area.
Your piercer will use an 18 gauge needle and pierce through your skin vertically until they reach the bone. They will then put a curved barbell in place so that it can heal safely without coming out prematurely.
Rook piercing cost depends on where you get pierced. Expect to pay anywhere from $50-$200 for this procedure depending on where you go.
The cartilage or the inner folds of the ear vary in individuals. You may not have enough folds to get the rook piercing done and you may want to resort to some other type of piercing.
Also, if you are prone to scarring and do not have a high pain tolerance or are not good with adhering to the aftercare consistently, do not get it done as it might do more damage than good.
Does rook piercing hurt?
Rook piercing is not pain-free. It is a piercing, and as such, you will feel a sharp pain when the needle goes through your skin. The pain should be bearable for most people,
Why does my rook piercing hurt so bad?
The truth is that there's more thick tissue to pass through than other cartilage locations, like the top of your ear. That's why it hurts so much when you get a rook piercing.
Is a rook piercing worth it?
Yes, a rook piercing is worth it. It makes you feel satisfied and beautiful. It is a great way to express yourself and your personality, especially if you want to show off your confidence.
Can you use mediterranean sea salt on piercings?
Unfortunately, it's not advisable to use Mediterranean sea salt on piercings. Saline wound wash is enough to keep the area clean and safe.
Conclusion
Rook piercing is a useful and popular piercing that can be easily added to your existing port piercing or used as a stand-alone piercing.
If you’re interested in exploring rook piercing, you can use this article to gain an understanding of both the procedure and the aftercare for it.
Or, if you already have a rook piercing, this article can aid you in maintaining a healthy environment for your piercing to heal more quickly.
