Although cartilage piercings around the ear’s rim have long been fashionable, current trends are seeing an increase in piercings in the inner folds of the ear. Designs like constellation or cartilage cluster piercings call for distinctive piercing locations decorated with stunning, modern jewelry selections. One of these is the rook.
The Rook Piercing: What Is It?
One of the most contemporary piercing varieties is the rook. This piercing, which is hidden in the cartilage fold directly below the ear’s rim or helix, is charming both on its own and when combined with other cartilage clusters.
It’s simple to confuse these two piercing types because they are right above the daith. Be absolutely certain to request the piercing you want while receiving this one. Bringing photographs can help ensure that you and your piercer are on the same page.
The general aftercare for cartilage piercing won’t be all that different from that of other cartilage piercings. Yet, because of its position between the folds of the cartilage, it is a challenging piercing for both you and your piercer to reach during the piercing.
You can learn all you need to know about the rook piercing right here.
Rook Piercing Pain
Like other cartilage piercings, the rook piercing is one of the more painful ones you may receive. Nevertheless, the discomfort is brief, and most people who have had the rook piercing attribute their discomfort to the crunching sound and sensation that they may experience when the needle passes through the cartilage.
The piercer will be mostly responsible for the pain. Most likely, an expert piercer would ask you to lie on your side so that you won’t faint or move about too much while getting your ears pierced. He or she will next use a hollow 16-gauge needle to pierce the rook. You should just feel a tug and a pinch since skilled piercers will tell you when to breathe to make the procedure simpler and they will penetrate your skin in one fluid motion.
Rook Piercing Recovery Time
It might take the rook piercing anywhere from 6 to 9 months to a full year to recover fully. People mend cartilage piercings at different rates, so before discontinuing aftercare procedures, check with your piercer to be sure the piercing is entirely healed. You run the risk of experiencing negative side effects like cartilage lumps if you attempt to remove the jewelry before complete recovery.
Rook Piercing Aftercare Guidelines
According to your piercer’s guidelines, you should clean your rook piercing twice to three times a day, just as you would any other piercing. Make sure the aftercare spray you select solely includes a solution of salt and water. The chemicals in many aftercare sprays, such as tea tree oil, will actually irritate the piercing and delay recovery.
Here are a few more suggestions to keep in mind if you want your recovery time to be as brief as possible.
Avoid donning headphones that touch your jewelry. The earring may rub against the piercing holes if pressure is applied to the jewelry, inflicting damage that might result in piercing bumps. Choose headphones or earphones that don’t impede the rook instead.
Keep your rook earrings from twisting. It can be challenging to follow this rule, especially when cleaning, but cartilage piercings require it. In addition to causing pain to the surrounding skin when you adjust the jewelry, cartilage is prone to injury. This may leave scars. Choose a cup that is large enough to enclose the jewelry without touching it when performing saline soaks, and avoid twisting the jewelry.
Avoid sleeping on the piercing. This will put pressure on the earrings, which will lead to issues, similar to the situation with the headphones. Keep your sleeping habits in mind while deciding which side to have your rook piercing on, and give it on the side you don’t sleep on some thought.
Rook Piercing Cost
The price range for the rook piercing is 2000 INR to 4000 INR. This cost frequently excludes jewelry.
Don’t cut costs. A novice piercer might set you up for failure by using subpar tools, not piercing sufficiently deeply, using the incorrect initial jewelry, and/or making any number of other errors. To obtain the piercing you deserve, you need to choose a piercer with the necessary skills.
Rook Piercing After Effects
Getting your rook pierced has several potential risks, just like any other piercing. The majority of these adverse effects may be avoided with the right aftercare procedures and treatment, and even when they do manifest, most of them are temporary.
The most frequent adverse effect of rook piercings is by far piercing bumps. There are a few distinct kinds of piercing bumps, but hypertrophic scars, pustules, or irritant bumps are the most common. Traumatic events typically result in hypertrophic scarring.
Take additional precautions to prevent snagging to avoid them. Poor aftercare procedures are typically the cause of pustules. Just keep your piercing dry and clean to keep them away.
Bumpy skin is a result of inflammation. These sorts of bumps won’t emerge if you wear the appropriate jewelry (14k gold for later pieces and titanium for starting items), avoid scratching the piercing, and keep any caustic substances away from the piercing.
You also need to be on the lookout for piercing rejection. If you take care to avoid snags, you can prevent it from happening because it often results in stress to the piercing site.
Growing piercing holes, red and flaky skin surrounding the piercing site, or jewelry that moves visibly are all indicators of piercing rejection. Consult your piercer if you believe your piercing is refusing. Normally, you have to remove the jewelry from a piercing that has started to reject and wait for it to heal before trying to pierce it again.
Piercing infections are another possible adverse effect, but they are generally uncommon. You shouldn’t get a piercing infection if you maintain good hygiene and clean your piercing every day.
Don’t panic if you have swelling, discharge, or even bleeding in the first few days after getting your body pierced. The symptoms of a piercing infection are usually rather severe, so you won’t be in any question about if your piercing is infected.
Nonetheless, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, so get advice from a doctor or your piercer if you think your rook piercing may be infected.
Changing A Rook Piercing
Because of its position, a rook piercing might be difficult to change. To become acquainted with the technique, you might wish to have a piercer adjust your jewelry a few times at first. If you fool about with the jewelry too much, even healed piercings might sustain stress and develop side effects like piercing bumps or jewelry rejection.
Just open the jewelry, use your fingers to feel for the hole, and then carefully put the new jewelry into the piercing, fastening it firmly. (See this page for instructions on opening various styles of body jewelry.
Remember that jewelry with threads has to be screwed in securely but not too tightly. If you screw it in too tightly, the fragile threads might be stripped.
Which Jewelry Styles Are Used in Rook Piercings?
Even though the rook is in such a restricted area, there are many different rook piercing jewelry designs to pick from so that you may personalize this piercing.
With rook piercings, curved barbells are particularly popular. Because it won’t pull on your piercing as much as a hoop could, and because you can purchase a barbell long enough to allow for swelling, it makes excellent beginner jewelry. Once your rook has healed, you may either keep with the longer barbell so that the jewelry hangs in the middle of your ear or purchase a smaller barbell so that the beads sit flush with your cartilage.
Other common designs for rook piercings include captive bead rings, clickers, and seamless hoops. For a more comfortable fit, use a hoop with a smaller diameter.
In terms of jewelry components, you ought to start with a titanium piece. Starting jewelry should only be worn for the first few weeks after having pierced since it is somewhat larger than usual jewelry to account for swelling.
It is suitable for delicate skin that is mending because it is cheap and includes a few alloys. Change to a 14k gold piece that is nickel-free once the swelling has subsided. In addition to being more durable than 18k or 24k gold, 14k gold looks gorgeous in all piercings, making it perfect for piercing jewelry.
FAQ
1. What to clean rook piercing with?
Use a saline spray or solution that you may find at a shop to clean the region at least twice each day. Clean gauze or paper towels should be dipped in saline solution before being gently wiped over your piercing. When cleaning it or at any other time, you do not need to rotate your piercing.
2. What do rook piercings help with?
A rook piercing, which is done in an uncommon location, focuses on the pressure point that is meant to primarily lessen migraines while also helping with stress alleviation.
3. What size rook piercing?
Because of the manner rook piercings are performed, a curved barbell is necessary. The required barbell length depends on the thickness of your skin. Typically, the lengths fall between 6mm and 8mm.
4. How does rook piercing hurt?
The rook will be pierced by your piercer using a needle. You can anticipate experiencing pressure and strong pain both during and after the puncture. The acute pain will become more widespread throbbing within an hour or two. This severe throbbing ache won’t go away for at least a few days.
5. How does a rook piercing heal?
In particular, rook piercings take a long time to heal. It will take anything from three to ten months to fully recover. It could continue to hurt throughout this period, especially if it develops an infection. Research shows that 32% of cartilage piercings eventually become infected.
6. Does rook piercing get infected easily?
Healing takes especially long with rook piercings. The full recovery will take anything from three to ten months. Especially if it develops an infection, it could continue to be sore during this period. Almost 32% of cartilage piercings get an infection at some time, according to a study.
7. Is rook piercing swelling normal?
You should expect some discomfort and redness after getting a piercing. Moreover, you could detect bleeding, bruises, and crustiness. Anti-inflammatory drugs sold over the counter can be used to relieve swelling.
Also read: Everything You Need to Know About Tragus Piercing