Snug

The snug runs horizontally through the antihelix — the inner ridge that curves down the middle of the ear. It is a long channel through dense cartilage, and the jewellery has to sit flush against a curved surface rather than a flat one.

It is the most demanding placement on the ear, and it is genuinely anatomy-dependent: a shallow antihelix cannot hold it. Expect nine to eighteen months, expect it to be sore longer than anything else you have had done, and expect a reputable piercer to turn you away if your ear is not built for it.

This is the one to be strict with. Irritation bumps are common and usually mean the jewellery is being knocked, not that anything is infected.

Do not downsize early and do not change the jewellery yourself. If it is still angry at six months, that is not unusual for a snug.