Snug piercing
The snug is a horizontal piercing through the ridge of the antihelix, in the middle of the ear. It is considered one of the most painful in the ear: the needle goes through thick cartilage, and there is little room left for the jewellery.
Titanium or steel
The material decides how the piercing heals.
Other ear zones
What fits here
Because the zone is shallow, a circular barbell or an open ring is taken — they need no room for a closure and give the swelling somewhere to go. A long straight bar does not hold here.
Size decides everything
Everyone’s antihelix ridge is a different width, and that is what sets the size. Before buying, measure the jewellery you have: a difference of one millimetre makes a ring either too long or one that presses.
Healing
From 8 to 12 months, sometimes longer. The snug is sensitive to sleeping on the side — for the healing period a pillow with a hole is worth getting.
Size and material
| Material | 316L steel — 9 models. Cheaper, corrosion-resistant, suitable for a healed piercing. For the first jewellery titanium is the better choice. Titanium — 5 models. Contains no nickel, so it causes no reaction even in a fresh piercing. Lighter than steel — less load on the tissue. The material of first choice. |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 1.2 mm — 11 models, 1 mm — 2 models, 1.6 mm — 1 model. The thickness must match the one the piercing was made with. |
| Bar length | 8 mm — 11 models, 10 mm — 10 models, 6 mm — 10 models, 12 mm — 4 models. A longer bar is needed while the swelling lasts, a shorter one — for a healed piercing. |
| Ring diameter | 10 mm — 10 models, 12 mm — 10 models, 8 mm — 10 models, 11 mm — 5 models. A smaller diameter sits tighter, a bigger one — looser and more visible. |
| Thread | External — 10 models, Internal — 2 models. An internal thread is hidden inside the bar — it does not scratch the channel when changing. |
FAQ
Which size should I choose?
The typical size for this zone is 1.2 mm thick, 6–8 mm. Jewellery smaller than needed presses on the channel, bigger — catches on clothes and hair. The exact size of each model is given on its page.
How long does a snug piercing take to heal?
The snug takes the longest of the ear piercings — 8–12 months. It is a through piercing of thick cartilage, and haste here always turns into swelling.
Why is titanium better than steel?
Titanium is about half the weight and contains no nickel. 316L steel is also fit for wearing, but there is nickel in it, and people sensitive to nickel feel it. For a fresh piercing titanium is the safer choice.
Can titanium be worn all the time?
Yes. Titanium does not oxidise in contact with lymph and does not change colour, so it is not taken off at night or in the shower. The jewellery is worth removing only for cleaning — and only from a healed piercing: a fresh channel is not left empty.
