Forward Helix

The small ridge at the front of the ear, by the temple. Tight — needs a shorter post.

Gauge
16g / 18g
Post while healing
6mm
Post once healed
5mm
Ring diameter
6–8mm
Healing time
6–12 months
Pain
3/5

Pierced 18 months

Works with Stud · Labret · Seamless ring · Huggie

If it is fresh or healing

SHORTER POST THAN HELIX. The tissue here is thin and the area is tight against the head — an 8mm post that suits a helix will protrude and catch. This is the single most common sizing mistake on the ear.

The anatomy

The forward helix sits on the small ridge at the very front of the ear, where the helix begins near the temple. The tissue there is thin and the area is tight against the side of the head.

This is the placement people size wrong more than any other on the ear. They know a helix takes an 8mm post, assume the forward helix is the same thing, and end up with a bar that protrudes, catches on hair and glasses, and refuses to settle. It needs a shorter post — 6mm while healing, 5mm once settled.

It is often done as a pair or a trio running up the ridge. If that is the plan, have them marked together from the start, because the spacing is fixed by the ridge and cannot be adjusted later.

Aftercare

Glasses arms and hair are the two things that will knock this one. Tie hair back for the first few weeks.

If the end is catching on things, the post is too long — that is a sizing fix, not something to wait out.

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