Everything You Need to Know About Industrial Piercings

Industrial piercings are basically any piercing that spans the distance from one side of the rim (helix) of the ear to another, connecting two piercing fistulas with one extra long bar. It can be placed horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and still be considered an Industrial (or a Scaffold, which is the term used in some European countries).

An industrial can't be created by connecting two pre-existing piercing holes because the angles of the holes will not line up correctly to create the proper balance. Balance is extremely important because stress on the cartilage can lead to infection and even permanent deformation of the ear. It takes a skilled artist to place a perfectly balanced industrial.

When pierced properly, an Industrial is a fun and attractive piercing. The jewelry pictured is a standard Industrial bar, which is just an extra long straight barbell. There are also many other barbell varieties which include spirals and twists for a little extra pizazz.

The gauge size of each individual industrial will depend greatly on the depth of the rim it will be penetrating on each size. Providing you've found an experienced piercer, their recommendation will be best, but the standard is typically 16 or 14 gauge. Proper length is also essential, which your artist will decide based on the chosen placement of the piercing.

With proper alignment, balance, and aftercare, and Industrial will heal in about 4-6 weeks, at which time you can opt to change your jewelry style. If you encounter any problems during healing, you'll probably need to wait an additional 2-4 weeks.