What Were the Most Popular Ear Piercings in 2018?

Piercings are a simple, non-permanent form of body expression. And while about 14% of Americans had body piercings in places other than their ears in 2015, like nose rings and nipple piercings, ears remain one of the most popular body parts to pierce. But it’s not just lobes that can be pierced — so as this year comes to an end, let’s take a look back at some of the most popular and trendy ear piercings of 2018.

The upper lobe: Normally, when people get their ears pierced, they start with a normal lobe piercing. But this year saw a lot more upper lobe piercings. Upper lobe piercings are basically any piercing on the lobe that isn’t in the traditional spot. Instead of getting second or third holes pierced to go with their first lobe piercing, more people decided to skip the first hole and adorn their ear with piercings up their lobe. This piercing is a great option for those looking to ease their way into more adventurous piercings.

The snug: Known to be one of the more painful piercings, the snug goes through the anti-helix. This is the inner ridge of the ear cartilage and the piercing goes through horizontally. Because this is such a thick part of the ear, it can be quite painful. But this year saw a drastic increase in the number of snug piercings done. A snug piercing can pair well with other inner ear piercings or lobe piercings to give some balance to the overall ear.

The daith: A daith piercing is the lowest part of the forward helix — the cartilage fold right next to the ear hole. This piercing is not only cool and trendy, but it is also known as the migraine headache relief piercing. The daith piercing is said to help with migraines because it supposedly replicates acupuncture. For those looking for a more permanent solution to their migraines, the daith piercing may help. And if it doesn’t, then you’re still left with a really cool piercing.

This year saw a lot of new popular piercings, and some old favorites too. So if you’re not quite ready to jump into body piercings like belly and nose rings, consider starting off the new year with one of these awesome ear piercings.