Apollo Tattoo Studio offers professional helix piercing in Los Angeles performed by certified piercers with years of cartilage piercing experience. Our Los Angeles helix piercing service uses needle-only techniques—never piercing guns—ensuring precise placement and optimal healing.
Whether you want a single helix, double helix, forward helix, or a complete curated ear design, our LA piercing studio provides safe, sterile procedures with premium implant-grade titanium and 14K gold jewelry options from brands like BVLA and Industrial Strength.
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5000+ clients 
What sets our Los Angeles helix piercing service apart
We never use piercing guns for cartilage piercings. Needles create cleaner punctures, reduce tissue trauma, and promote faster healing for helix piercings.
Only implant-grade titanium, 14k gold, and surgical steel from top brands like BVLA and Industrial Strength. No cheap mystery metals.
Our piercing team includes experienced professionals trained in anatomy and sterilization protocols. Every helix piercing is performed with precision.
Autoclave sterilization, single-use needles, and strict protocols protect your health during every helix piercing procedure.
We specialize in ear curation, helping you plan how your helix piercing fits into your overall ear design with complementary placements.
A helix piercing is an investment. We ensure yours heals beautifully with detailed aftercare instructions and free follow-up consultations.
Apollo's Premium Jewelry Partner
Handmade in Los Angeles since 1996. Lifetime guarantee. Implant-grade gold, platinum, and titanium. Over 3,000 original designs in our case — ask your piercer for a tour.
See the BVLA story →Explore our range of helix piercing placements at our Los Angeles studio.
The classic helix piercing sits on the upper outer cartilage of your ear—the most popular cartilage placement for its versatility and visibility.
Placed on the cartilage closest to your face, creating a striking look that frames your ear beautifully with studs or tiny rings.
Two piercings stacked vertically along the helix for a coordinated look. Can be done in a single session for perfect alignment.
Three helix piercings for maximum impact with balanced aesthetics. A statement look that works beautifully with matching or graduated jewelry.
Positioned in the middle section of the ear's outer rim, offering a unique placement that bridges upper and lower ear piercings.
Clear next step
Schedule your professional piercing appointment
Recommended first step
Book lobes, cartilage, or a styled ear appointment with Apollo.
Every piercing heals differently — here's what to expect
| Piercing Type | Location | Initial Healing | Full Healing | Pain Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helix | Upper outer rim cartilage | 3-4 months | 6-12 months | 4-5/10 |
| Forward Helix | Front upper cartilage near temple | 3-4 months | 6-12 months | 5-6/10 |
| Hidden Helix | Tucked under rim | 3-4 months | 6-12 months | 5/10 |
| Flat | Flat cartilage area (between rook & rim) | 3-4 months | 6-12 months | 6-7/10 |
5000+ clientsWhat to expect during your helix piercing at our Los Angeles studio
We discuss your desired placement, review your ear anatomy, and help you select jewelry. If you're building a curated ear, we'll plan how your helix fits.
Your piercer cleans the area and marks the exact placement. You'll approve the position in a mirror before proceeding—proper placement is crucial for helix piercings.
All equipment is opened fresh in front of you. Single-use sterile needles, autoclave-sterilized tools, and EPA-registered disinfectants.
Using a sterile single-use needle, your piercer creates a clean channel through the cartilage. The process takes seconds with minimal discomfort.
Before you leave, we provide detailed helix-specific aftercare instructions and answer any questions about your healing journey.
Premium jewelry for your helix piercing from trusted brands
Transparent pricing — jewelry sold separately
Jewelry sold separately
Jewelry sold separately
Jewelry sold separately
Jewelry sold separately
Jewelry Upgrades: Premium jewelry upgrades available. BVLA, Industrial Strength, and gold pieces priced separately based on selection. Additional piercings in same session receive a discounted rate.
Senior Piercer Senior Piercer
Bunny Vogt, a dedicated Senior Piercer at our studio since 2019, is known for her artistic eye and expertise in ear styling and curation. She excels at creating beautifully balanced ear arrangements, including helix configurations that complement each client's unique ear anatomy.
Founder Master Piercer
Blue Mason, our Master Piercer and studio founder since 2004, brings over two decades of cartilage piercing expertise including advanced genital work. His precision placement ensures every helix piercing sits perfectly on your ear's unique anatomy.
From consultation to aftercare, we're dedicated to delivering a safe, comfortable helix piercing experience at our Los Angeles studio.
Proper aftercare is essential for helix piercings since cartilage heals slower than soft tissue. Clean twice daily with sterile saline solution. Avoid touching with unwashed hands, sleeping on the piercing, twisting or rotating jewelry, and swimming during healing.
Helix piercings typically take 6-12 months to fully heal. Follow the guidelines and your new helix piercing will heal beautifully.
Book AppointmentClean 2x daily with saline solution. Avoid touching with dirty hands. Some swelling and redness around the helix is normal. Don't rotate or twist jewelry. Avoid sleeping on the pierced ear.
Continue cleaning routine. Avoid swimming and submerging in water. Don't change jewelry yet. Swelling should subside. Use a travel pillow to avoid pressure while sleeping.
Helix cartilage piercings take 6-12 months to fully heal, with some taking up to 18 months. Visit us for your first jewelry change—don't attempt it yourself during the healing period.
Getting your helix pierced at our Los Angeles shop is easy—you can choose what works best for you.
See What Our Satisfied Clients Have to Say
"Got my double helix done here and the placement is absolutely perfect! Blue took his time to make sure everything was symmetrical."
"Bunny did my triple forward helix and I couldn't be happier. The jewelry selection is amazing and healing has been smooth."
"Best helix piercing experience in LA! Clean studio, professional piercers, and beautiful jewelry options."
"Finally found a studio that uses quality jewelry for cartilage piercings. My helix healed beautifully!"
5000+ clients
Santa Monica, CA
Apollo was founded by Blue Mason in 2007. With 20+ years of body art experience, Blue brings master-level expertise to every piece. Read Blue's story →
Common questions about helix piercings in Los Angeles
Most clients describe helix piercing pain as a quick pinch lasting 1-2 seconds. Cartilage piercings feel slightly sharper than lobe piercings but remain very manageable. The anticipation is usually worse than the actual piercing.
Yes, we can perform double or triple helix piercings in a single session at our Los Angeles studio. However, we generally recommend limiting fresh piercings to 3-4 per session to avoid overwhelming your body's healing capacity.
There's no right or wrong ear. Consider which side you sleep on (avoid that side), your hair part, and any existing piercings. Our piercers can help you decide during consultation.
Avoid sleeping directly on a fresh helix piercing. Pressure delays healing and can cause irritation bumps or migration. Use a travel pillow or donut pillow to create space around your ear.
Piercing guns force blunt jewelry through tissue, causing unnecessary trauma—especially problematic for cartilage. Guns can't be fully sterilized and offer imprecise placement. Professional needle piercings heal faster with fewer complications.
Irritation bumps are common and usually result from pressure, touching, or improper aftercare. Don't mistake them for keloids (which are rare). Continue proper aftercare, eliminate the irritation source, and contact our Los Angeles studio if it persists.
Avoid earbuds during initial healing (first 2-3 months). After that, use them cautiously. Over-ear headphones are safer during healing.
A healed helix piercing shows no discharge, redness, or tenderness. The jewelry moves freely without discomfort. However, external appearance doesn't always reflect internal healing—wait the full healing period before changing jewelry.
Helix piercings typically take 9-12 months to fully heal, with initial healing occurring around 3-6 months. Some piercings may take up to 18 months depending on individual healing factors.
At Apollo Studio, helix piercing starts at $75 for the piercing service. Jewelry is sold separately — choose from implant-grade titanium, 14k gold, and premium brands like BVLA and Industrial Strength.
A standard helix piercing sits on the outer upper rim of the cartilage — the curved edge that wraps from the top of the ear down toward where it meets the head. A forward helix is on the inner front cartilage, the small ridge that sits just above the tragus near the temple. Same cartilage, different placement. Forward helix is often done as a double or triple (vertically stacked) and pairs beautifully with helix or tragus piercings for a curated ear.
A double helix is two helix piercings placed close together on the same upper outer cartilage, usually with matching or coordinated jewelry. Most clients prefer a small gap between the two so each piercing has space to breathe during healing. A triple helix adds a third in line. We can do both piercings in the same session, or stagger them so one heals before the next is added — we'll recommend the right approach during consultation based on your anatomy and the jewelry style you want.
We welcome clients from across the greater Los Angeles area.
Cities:
Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Venice, Culver City, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Westwood, Hollywood, Downtown LA
Walk-ins welcome or book your appointment today.
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