Explaining the daith

The 411 on Daith Piercings (Plus Our Picks for Ways to Wear It)


All you gotta know about the dainty daith

Last update: 05/07/2021




Piercings have always been popular, no matter what era you grew up in. Maybe it’s the appeal of getting to wear jewelry in a less conventional way. Perhaps it’s the easiest and most subtle way to change up your look. Whatever your personal reasons for getting a piercing may be, there’s no denying the fact that it’s a fashion statement like no other.

Of all the ear piercings, there’s nothing quite like the daith piercing. You might not initially know what it’s called, but you’ve definitely seen people sporting a ring or barbell on that cartilage fold of their ear just above their tragus. The unique placement draws people’s attention straight to it, which is great if you’d like to give the illusion of smaller ears. Moreover, when a ring is used for a daith piercing, it follows the shape of the outer ear and can be aesthetically pleasing to look at.

 

The Name Game


If you’re wondering where the name comes from, it’s from the Hebrew word for “knowledge”, which is da’at. The person who supposedly coined it was a client of trailblazing body piercer, Erik Dakota, who is partly why daith piercings are now more well-known and loved today. While this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be a super genius to sport this piercing, it does help to learn more about it before you book your piercing appointment.

 

Claims of Migraine Relief


There has been a lot of buzz going around about how daith and tragus piercings can alleviate the symptoms of migraines - which is also why both these piercings are so popular. Since migraines can be a pain (pun intended) and can get so bad at times that it gets in the way of one’s daily activities, any and all solutions for relief are welcome for sufferers.

The connection between daith piercings and migraine relief is supposedly in acupuncture. This is the ancient Chinese medicine-based method of treating numerous ailments by using needles to trigger certain points to do so. In modern-day acupuncture, there are specific pressure points in the ear that provide relief for headaches and migraines and that lends credence to this notion.

Supporters of this claim also say that a daith piercing is located at a pressure point that can provide constant pain relief after the piercing. However, acupuncturists are trained to locate these pressure points in the ears, which may be extremely specific and might not be where the daith piercing will go. Additionally, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence but no scientific proof that bolsters the claim that daith piercings provide pain relief for migraines.

You’re probably better off booking an appointment with an acupuncturist and seeing a health care professional if you want relief for your constant migraines. As of now, the only thing a daith piercing can cure is your ache for creative expression and body acceptance.

 

Process and Pain Levels


Due to its placement, your piercer will need to use a curved needle to make the holes necessary for a daith piercing. After disinfecting the area thoroughly, your body piercer will work the needle into your ear then insert the jewelry afterward. Considering the depth and awkward placement of daith piercings, it can take 2 to 4 months and up to a year to completely heal.

Since the area has thicker cartilage than the rest of your ear, expect that getting this piercing will hurt a lot more compared to other ear piercings. You should also prepare yourself to see a lot more blood during and after the procedure since the area is more difficult to access and more pressure is required to pierce it precisely.

 

Aftercare


Daith piercings can take a while to heal and more effort is needed to clean and maintain it. Make sure to follow your body piercer’s advice for aftercare as the slightest bit of neglect can result in an infection or a permanent disfigurement. Perhaps the most important thing you need to remember is to keep contact with the area of the daith piercing to a minimum. This includes no sleeping your side and using headphones.

You should also be careful when putting ear buds in, wearing hats, styling your hair, or doing your makeup. Accidentally getting dry shampoo or setting spray into the area can sting and cause irritations if you’re careless. Additionally, make sure your bed sheets and pillowcases are regularly changed as well.

To clean the area, use mild soap and warm water or the cleaner your piercer will recommend to you. In case your daith piercing gets infected, don’t take out the jewelry. It’s best to keep it in to prevent the infection from getting worse and to ensure the site doesn’t close up. If you would like to have the jewelry removed, let your body piercer take care of it.

 

Price


Like with any kind of body modification procedure, the best thing to do is to go to a reputable body piercer who’s skilled at doing the piercing you want. Since daith piercings require more specialized tools and an experienced body piercer, expect to pay more for it. You might have to pay at least $40-$60 and around $70-$100 if you go to a more popular body piercer or shop.

 

Daith Piercing Styles We Love


One of the best things about piercings is how customizable they are! You can easily switch between different styles of jewelry depending on your mood or the occasion. Here are some of our favorites:

Classic Captive Bead Ring

You can’t go wrong with this earring! It draws the eye in towards the ear and the C shape makes it nice to look at with the curve of your ear. You can go for the traditional black captive bead ring:


You can also play things up with different colors and finishes too! Make things classier for a formal occasion with a gold ring:


When going to a party or taking a night stroll with your friends, you can make things a little more fun with a ring that glows in the dark!




Fun-Shaped Earrings

If you’re not a fan of round shapes and want a different design, definitely go for earrings with interesting shapes! Like a heart:


You can also take a gemoetric approach and go for a triangle-shaped ring instead:


Or show off your personality with the shape you pick, like this wing if you see yourself as angelic or fay:


Bejewelled Rings

Make your daith piercing sparkle with gems and jewels! How about a ring with a simple design like this:


You can go for one big gem to really grab people’s attention:


But if you really love shapes and bling, consider these:


Barbells

If your daith piercing is fully healed, and you want to wear something that doesn’t close all the way, barbells are your best bet! Make things fun with this anodized barbell piercing:


You don’t need to go for round closures for your barbells either. You can go for unique shapes to add more character to your daith piercing:


Play with the colors and designs of the closures of your barbells too! Go for something fun and crazy with this spiky piece:

 


 



The 411 on Daith Piercings (Plus Our Picks for Ways to Wear It)

Originally published on May 10, 2021

daith piercings - ear piercings - migraines