Getting a rook piercing within the ear can be one of the more painful piercings you can get in that area.  They are a unique way of expressing oneself and are one of the least common piercings around the ear.  It occurs when the fold of cartilage between the inner and outer conch, or anti-helix, is pierced.  Once rook piercings have been done, the jewellery used is often a ring or barbell.

As mentioned, rook piercings are one of the most painful in the ear area due to the amount of cartilage that the needle passes through.  However, this should not put people off as individual pain tolerances vary greatly.  This makes choosing the studio you will get your piercing at extremely important.  By opting for a clean, hygienic and experienced piercing studio you are more likely to get a quality procedure with the correct aftercare advice. 

After a brief cleaning and preparation period, the cartilage is pierced using a needle. The piercing professional will remove the needle and manoeuvre the jewellery in to the freshly pierced ear. Many claim that this is the most uncomfortable part of rook piercings, but again this is down to the personal pain threshold.

It is widely recognised that rook piercings are one of the most susceptible to infection due to their location.  They can easily be contaminated from daily activities like talking on the telephone or simply sleeping if proper aftercare is not undertaken.  Therefore it is wise to plan ahead before undergoing the procedure.  For example, during periods of the year when ear warmers or hats are often worn, it would be best not to get a rook piercing to avoid further irritation.

For the first few weeks, it may be best not to sleep on the pierced side to prevent unnecessary pain. Additionally, some people complain of a burning feeling or swelling soon after being pierced. For that reason, it is best to clean the rook piercing daily using warm water, a cotton swab and an unscented, special ear care saline solutions the piercer suggests.  Being well informed about rook piercings and taking necessary precautions will help put all worries to rest.

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