Rook Piercing: EVERYTHING you Need to Know and Remember

Planning on getting a new rook piercing soon? Remember to follow this guide to be sure what to do before and after you get the piercing.

What is a Rook Piercing?

The rook piercing is a stylish yet minimalist type of ear piercing. It is located at the upper part of the antihelix, which is the obvious curve at the cartilage. The rook is two steps above your tragus and it also has the daith in between. It can be found at the ear’s outer rim.

Just like this piercing, the rook piercing is also said to help treat headaches and even migraines. It does not have approved studies though and the theory is not fully supported by medical professionals. This piercing is just an alternative treatment, so if you are getting it for your migraines and headaches, you should have minimal expectations.

The Rook Piercing Pain

There are two types of pain when it comes to piercings: the immediate pain during the piercing and the pain after getting the piercing. Read on below to know how much the rook piercing will hurt.

The Immediate Pain

Every type of piercing will hurt, no matter where its placement is. However, for the rook piercing, you can expect the pain to be on the lower side of the scale. It definitely will hurt more than the earlobe piercing, as it is the cartilage which will be pierced.

Everyone’s pain tolerance is different though, so the pain will still depend per person. The pain will usually be sharp, but it will also be fast. It won’t last for more than a couple of seconds, as the piercer will only need to make two holes and then insert the jewelry in.

How Long Will the Piercing Hurt?

The pain after the piercing is a whole different story though. This is a different type of pain – a throbbing and tender type. You will most likely feel this after a few days of having your piercing done, so make sure to expect this.

However, if the pain extends for more than a week, then go ahead and seek your doctor’s help, as this most likely means that you have an infection.

Things that will Happen at the Shop

First, your piercer will make you sign some consent papers for both you and their safety. Next, they will make you choose your jewelry. After that, you will be asked to sit at the piercer’s chair to have your ear pierced.

Once all that’s done, your piercer will then sanitize the equipment that he will be using then prepare you for the piercing. If you asked for a numbing cream, then your piercer should apply it on your ear now. They will then take a hollow needle and pierce right through your ear cartilage.

 

After piercing your ear, he will then go through the aftercare instructions and tell you the things that you should buy for cleaning your piercing.

Preparing for your Rook Piercing

Now, let’s head on to discussing how to prepare for your rook piercing. Read on below and be fully informed!

Get Lots of Rest

Having the flu and still pushing through with the piercing is a very bad idea. Instead, if you feel sick or you feel like you are going to be sick, then call your piercer and reschedule the appointment.

A strong immune system is needed for faster healing, which is why you need to prioritize your health first. Get lots of rest and make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep before the day of the piercing. Also, drink lots of water to keep the flu at bay.

Go to the Doctor

Ask your doctor if it would be okay for you to get a rook piercing. Some people won’t be allowed to get a rook piercing, as these people usually have very thing cartilages, which can be dangerous if pierced.

While you’re at it, you can also have an allergy test done to see if you are allergic to any type of metal. To be safe, just make sure to stay away from nickel, which can cause an allergic reaction for most people.

Lay Off the Drugs and Alcohol

You should lay off the drugs and alcohol at least for a while, as these things can greatly affect your piercing. Alcohol is a blood thinner, which means that you will bleed more if you decide to drink before getting or while getting the piercing.

Drugs, on the other hand, can make you feel sick and lethargic, which is definitely not good for your health and immune system. Lay off these things for a while, at least before getting your piercing and while trying to let it heal.

Buy What You Need

You will most likely feel tired after your piercing, and the first thing that you would like to do is to sleep and rest. Before getting the piercing, make sure to buy what you need for the aftercare.

Get some sea salt, cotton pads, and tissue from the grocery store. You’ll be thankful that you did, as aftercare is the most important part of your piercing.

Cleaning your Rook Piercing

Cleaning your rook piercing is just like cleaning every other ear piercing. Get the sea salt that you bought from the grocery, as well as the cotton rounds or pads.

Take one cup of warm water and one-fourth of a teaspoon of sea salt. Now, mix the sea salt and the warm water and dissolve the sea salt in it. Don’t stop mixing until it is completely dissolved in the water.

Once you have prepared the solution, get a cotton ball or pad and then soak it in the solution. With very clean hands, put the cotton to your piercing, leaving it there for about a minute or two.

If you want to keep yourself from infections and diseases, then follow this cleaning process and do it twice to thrice per day.

When your Rook Piercing will Heal

The rook piercing will heal depending on the condition of your own body. If you are always sick, then there is a chance that your piercing’s healing period will be delayed.

Also, if you get an infection on your piercing, there is also a huge chance that you would have to wait for more than a year for it to completely heal. Other times, you even have to consider taking it off, especially if it poses a danger to your health.

Ideally, though, the rook piercing will heal for about six months to a year. This is if you follow the aftercare instructions given by your piercer.

Lastly, do not change your jewelry if the wound is not yet fully healed, as this can irritate your piercing and can cause an infection. Only change the jewelry if your wound is completely healed.

Rook Piercing Infections, Risks, and Symptoms

Infection can be quite common when it comes to piercings, especially if it is neglected and not well-taken care of. List down the symptoms below to know if you have contracted a rook piercing infection.

Symptoms

If you have these symptoms, chances are you already have an infected rook piercing. Tell your doctor right away or visit a hospital to get rid of the infection.

Unbearable Pain

You definitely will experience pain after and during your piercing, but if it becomes unbearable, then chances are you have a massive infection due to your new piercing. If it persists for more than a week, then something is definitely not right. Rush to the emergency room or let your doctor know if you are feeling some kind of discomfort or pain on your piercing.

Extreme Redness and Throbbing

It is common to experience throbbing and see redness in the pierced area even after a few days of getting your piercing. Besides, a foreign object was just inserted into your ear cartilage, which means that it definitely will become red for some time.

But if you notice that the redness and throbbing do not go away even after a week or so, then go ahead and let your piercer and doctor know, They would tell you what to do and where to go to have it checked right away.

Heavy Discharge

Having clear and white discharge come out of your pierced ear is normal, but having green, yellow, or bloody discharge come out of it is definitely considered as a red flag. This might mean that your infection is already in its advanced stages and you need to see a doctor ASAP.

Fever

If you feel sick and you are running a fever, then chances are the infection has already spread all throughout your body.

This can be very alarming, so make sure to visit your doctor right away and ask what you can do and what medicines to take to fight the infection from spreading even more.

Risks of Getting a Rook Piercing

Every type of piercing has its own risks and dangers. Read on below to know what the risks of getting a rook piercing are.

Infection

Like what we said before, infection is quite common when it comes to piercings. No matter where the location is, there is a risk of you getting an infection. Besides, an unknown object to your body is being forcefully injected into it, which can be traumatic for your body.

Make sure to choose a shop that has a good reputation and has a well-sanitized environment to make sure you won’t contract an infection.

Piercing Migration

Piercing migration occurs when your own body rejects the chosen jewelry, just like it would with a splinter. Your body treats the jewelry as a foreign object, which means that it will sometimes fight off the possibility of the jewelry being accustomed to your body.

Getting piercing migration is high if you choose a jewelry that you are allergic to. The best way to combat this is to visit your doctor and have an allergy test done. If you find that you are allergic to a specific type of metal, then avoid jewelry that contains such metals.

Keloids, Scars, and Bumps

If you are prone to keloids, scars, and bumps, then chances are you will get one in your rook piercing.

The best way to avoid these is by not touching your piercing often and not changing the jewelry until your rook piercing is fully healed.

Pictures of Rook Piercing

We have compiled some of the best rook piercing pictures to inspire you if you are planning on getting one soon!

Earlobe and rook piercings

A silver hoop earring for the rook piercing

An elegant gold jewelry for the rook piercing

Lots of ear piercings including a rook piercing

An elegant take on the rook piercing

A simple gold earring used on a female model

A unique type of jewelry for the rook piercing

A tunnel piercing for the rook piercing

Purple earrings for the rook and other piercings

A couple of ear piercings including rook and daith piercings

A cute heart jewelry is used for the rook piercing

A gold hoop earring used for the rook piercing

A simple barbell earring for a rook piercing

A cute earring used for the rook piercing