Piercing Guide

Piercing Guide

Piercing Guide

At MARIA TASH, we turn piercing into a luxury experience thanks to world-class piercers, an individualized approach, and unparalleled standards for health and safety.

The Piercing Experience

We pride ourselves on working with each client to deliver a personalized piercing experience. Your appointment starts with our stylists, who will talk through your vision and offer advice and suggestions, whether you are starting your Curated Ear® journey or adding to an existing curation. From there, our piercers determine the precise location and angle for your new piece based on your ear’s anatomy. This spot is marked with a MARIA TASH pen — yours to take with you when you leave. After antiseptic preparation of the skin, our piercers execute their craft as gently as possible. Once the needle is in position, we ask you to take a few deep, relaxing breaths, ensuring you are comfortable. The piercing process and installation are quick, and we are confident you will leave excited about your new look.

Placement and Angles

Our piercers base their work on each client's specific anatomy, considering the location of the jewelry and the angle at which it will hang. Piercers also take into consideration existing placements, making sure that new and old piercings work harmoniously and are spaced appropriately and beautifully.

Forward-Facing Piercing

Piercings are performed with a forward-facing technique. Piercers will consult with you during the experience, showing you proposed placements by marking with the MARIA TASH pen and allowing you to provide feedback. Our team is focused on precise needlework that ensures your jewelry sits at the optimal angle when viewed straight on.

How We Pierce

All of our piercings are performed with sterile, single-use needles instead of a piercing gun. Needles open a small space in the ear tissue, a method that limits swelling and scarring in the surrounding area. Because needles are so precise, they help us execute complicated placements like a Tash Helix℠ or Daith that cannot be done with a bulky gun. Needles also allow us to use different types of jewelry in your piercing, rather than limiting it to studs. In all, they provide a gentler, more artful piercing experience. 

Safety Comes First

When it comes to getting pierced or having jewelry installed, your health and safety are our top priority. Before your appointment, all pieces and tools are sterilized in a Statim autoclave, and every surface in the piercing room is disinfected. Your piercer will wear a mask and apron, and change out gloves during the appointment. After, your piercer will review thorough aftercare instructions. Taking proper care of your piercing is essential so that it heals properly before you begin experimenting with different jewelry.

Piercing Placements + Healing Times

Every client heals at a different rate and healing times change based on piercing location. This chart gives you a general idea of how long it will take your piercing to heal.

Every client heals at a different rate and healing times change based on piercing location. This chart gives you a general idea of how long it will take your piercing to heal.

2 - 4 Months
4 - 6 Months
6 - 12 Months
9 - 12 Months
2 - 4 Months
4 - 6 Months
6 - 12 Months
9 - 12 Months
PIERCING HEALING TIME
Lobe The Lobe is the soft lower section of the ear. It is a versatile location to experiment with many different piercings.2-4 Months
Helix This placement is located along the inside ridge of the upper ear between the Forward Helix and the Lobe. A wide range of jewelry looks striking in this popular piercing location. 6-12 Months
Conch The Conch is nestled in the middle part of the inner ear. Loop rings across both the inner and outer ear for a bold look. Alternatively, the area can provide a great frame for studs. 6-12 Months
TASH Rook Next to the Rook, the Tash Rook refers to any part of the flat plane of the upper ear above the Contraconch and is named after Maria herself. It makes a great canvas for studs. 6-12 Months
TASH Helix℠ A hidden placement that sits under the upper ridge at the top of the ear. Jewelry appears to emerge mysteriously from this discrete piercing. 6-12 Months
TASH Hidden Rook℠ A hidden placement that sits under the rim of the Rook. The entry point and wearable components of our jewelry are tucked under the anatomy to create a “floating” look. 6-12 Months
PIERCING HEALING TIME
Tragus The Tragus is the flap of skin that sits in front of the ear canal. Showcase smaller rings and studs in this intriguing placement. 6-12 Months
Daith Between the Tragus and Rook, the Daith is positioned in the inner fold of the ear. This bold placement is perfect for showcasing a ring. 9-12 Months
Rook A vertical piercing that goes through the ridge of the inner ear closest to the head. Rings and curved barbells are ideal for this placement. 6-12 Months
Forward Helix Picking up where the Helix leaves off, the Forward Helix is the convex flap of skin that helps connect the ear to the head. Several petite studs make for an interesting curation in this spot. 6-12 Months
Contraconch The Contraconch sits on the arched section of the ear between the Conch and Helix. Spotlight smaller studs in this unique placement. 6-12 Months
Antitragus The Antitragus is the ridge of cartilage above the Lobe and opposite the Tragus. This uncommon placement is the perfect spot for petite hoops and rings. 9-12 Months

Healing Time by Piercing Location

Lobe

The Lobe is the soft lower section of the ear. It is a versatile location to experiment with many different piercings. 

Healing time: 2-4 Months

Helix

This placement is located along the inside ridge of the upper ear between the Forward Helix and the Lobe. A wide range of jewelry looks striking in this popular piercing location.

Healing time: 6-12 Months

Conch

The Conch is nestled in the middle part of the inner ear. Loop rings across both the inner and outer ear for a bold look. Alternatively, the area can provide a great frame for studs.

Healing time: 6-12 Months

TASH Rook

Next to the Rook, the Tash Rook refers to any part of the flat plane of the upper ear above the Contraconch and is named after Maria herself. It makes a great canvas for studs.

Healing time: 6-12 Months

TASH Helix℠

A hidden placement that sits under the upper ridge at the top of the ear. Jewelry appears to emerge mysteriously from this discrete piercing.

Healing time: 6-12 Months

TASH Hidden Rook℠

A hidden placement that sits under the rim of the Rook. The entry point and wearable components of our jewelry are tucked under the anatomy to create a “floating” look.

Healing time: 6-12 Months

Tragus

The Tragus is the flap of skin that sits in front of the ear canal. Showcase smaller rings and studs in this intriguing placement.

Healing time: 6-12 Months

Daith

Between the Tragus and Rook, the Daith is positioned in the inner fold of the ear. This bold placement is perfect for showcasing a ring.

Healing time: 9-12 Months

Rook

A vertical piercing that goes through the ridge of the inner ear closest to the head. Rings and curved barbells are ideal for this placement.

Healing time: 6-12 Months

Forward Helix

Picking up where the Helix leaves off, the Forward Helix is the convex flap of skin that helps connect the ear to the head. Several petite studs make for an interesting curation in this spot.

Healing time: 6-12 Months

Contraconch

The Contraconch sits on the arched section of the ear between the Conch and Helix. Spotlight smaller studs in this unique placement.

Healing time: 6-12 Months

Antitragus

The Antitragus is the ridge of cartilage above the Lobe and opposite the Tragus. This uncommon placement is the perfect spot for petite hoops and rings.

Healing time: 9-12 Months

Lobe

The Lobe is the soft lower section of the ear. It is a versatile location to experiment with many different piercings.

Healing Time:2 - 4 Months

TASH Lobe

This unique piercing is located at the furthest point on the lower ear, where the Lobe meets the side of the face. Maria perfected this placement so that a range of hoops and studs sits perfectly parallel with the cheek in a forward-facing position.

Healing Time:2 - 4 Months

Helix

This placement is located along the inside ridge of the upper ear between the Forward Helix and the Lobe. A wide range of jewelry looks striking in this popular piercing location.

Healing Time:6 - 12 Months

Conch

The Conch is nestled in the middle part of the inner ear. Loop rings across both the inner and outer ear for a bold look. Alternatively, the area can provide a great frame for studs.

Healing Time:6 - 12 Months

Tash Rook

Next to the Rook, the Tash Rook refers to any part of the flat plane of the upper ear above the Contraconch and is named after Maria herself. It makes a great canvas for studs.

Healing Time:6 - 12 Months

Tash Helix℠

A hidden placement that sits under the upper ridge at the top of the ear. Jewelry appears to emerge mysteriously from this discrete piercing.

Healing Time:6 - 12 Months

Tash Hidden Rook℠

A hidden placement that sits under the rim of the Rook. The entry point and wearable components of our jewelry are tucked under the anatomy to create a “floating” look.

Healing Time:6 - 12 Months

Tragus

The Tragus is the flap of skin that sits in front of the ear canal. Showcase smaller rings and studs in this intriguing placement.

Healing Time:6 - 12 Months

Daith

Between the Tragus and Rook, the Daith is positioned in the inner fold of the ear. This bold placement is perfect for showcasing a ring.

Healing Time:9 - 12 Months

Rook

A vertical piercing that goes through the ridge of the inner ear closest to the head. Rings and curved barbells are ideal for this placement.

Healing Time:6 - 12 Months

Forward Helix

Picking up where the Helix leaves off, the Forward Helix is the convex flap of skin that helps connect the ear to the head. Several petite studs make for an interesting curation in this spot.

Healing Time:6 - 12 Months

Contraconch

The Contraconch sits on the arched section of the ear between the Conch and Helix. Spotlight smaller studs in this unique placement.

Healing Time:6 - 12 Months

Antitragus

The Antitragus is the ridge of cartilage above the Lobe and opposite the Tragus. This uncommon placement is the perfect spot for petite hoops and rings.

Healing Time:9 - 12 Months