1st Lobe Piercing

Your 1st lobe is the original piercing, and for most people it's the very first one they ever get. We pierce it with a sterile, single-use needle rather than a cartridge, giving a clean, precise channel for your very first piece of jewellery. It's soft, fleshy and forgiving tissue, which makes it one of the most comfortable spots on the whole ear.

PriceFrom AUD $45

Pain level: 2/10
Method: Needle
Minimum age:: 5 years*
Jewellery type:: Flatback, Segment Ring, Barbell View jewellery options
Downsizing:: 6–8 weeks
Fully healed:: minimum 3 months

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Two Piercings From $80

Get two of your favourite standard piercings for just $80 when pierced with selected surgical steel jewellery. Read more

Pain is subjective, so treat this as a general guide rather than a guarantee of what you'll feel. Everyone's pain tolerance is different.

* Available: from 5 years with parental consent, 16 years and over without. Check our ID & consent requirements here. Note: in WA you must be 18 years to get pierced without parental consent.

What Is A 1st Lobe Piercing?

A 1st lobe piercing sits through the soft, fleshy part of your ear, well away from any cartilage. It's the piercing most of us grow up with, whether it happened when we were babies or something we booked in for ourselves later on.

Because there's no cartilage involved, healing tends to be straightforward and the placement itself is quick. Once it's settled, it's the perfect foundation for a fuller ear piercing placement down the track. If you'd rather skip the needle altogether, we also offer a needle-free version of this piercing on its own page, using a sterile cartridge system instead.

What To Expect

Here's how your experience at SkinKandy unfolds from the moment you arrive.

How We Pierce

Your 1st lobe is pierced with a single-use hollow needle, never a piercing gun. Our SK Certified piercing specialists are nurse-trained and certified in infection prevention, so the whole process is clean and considered from start to finish. Read more about our approach on the piercing info page.

Choosing Your Jewellery

We fit a 16 gauge straight barbell, flatback post or segment ring for most 1st lobes, with a 14 gauge sometimes used depending on your anatomy. Ask your piercing specialist about titanium options if you want something extra gentle while it heals.

Step By Step: Your 1st Lobe Piercing Experience

We'll chat through placement and jewellery options with you before anything happens, so you know exactly what to expect.
Your piercing specialist marks the spot and checks it with you, making sure it's even and sits where you want it.
The piercing itself is quick: a sterile needle creates a clean channel, followed by your chosen jewellery.
You'll be talked through why downsizing matters once your initial healing period is done, along with anything else you need to know before you leave.

BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE

Find Your Nearest Studio

Ready for your first piercing? Book in at your nearest studio and bring valid ID or a parent/guardian along if needed.

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Nearest studios

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Aftercare

Healing takes time, and that's completely normal. Sticking to a simple routine is the best way to keep your 1st lobe happy while it settles.

Your Daily Routine

Stock up on the essentials from our aftercare collection and keep your routine simple and consistent while your 1st lobe settles.

Clean your piercing with a sterile saline solution twice daily.
Avoid swimming for 6-8 weeks while it heals.
Avoid sleeping directly on the piercing.
Be mindful of headphones, helmets and hats pressing against it while it's healing.

When Can I Change My Jewellery?

Most people can downsize their jewellery at 6-8 weeks, though full structural healing takes a minimum of 3 months. See how healing time differs by piercing type before you make any changes.

Pierced: Day one
Downsizing:: 6–8 weeks
Fully healed:: minimum 3 months

Jewellery For Your 1st Lobe

The right piece makes all the difference to how your 1st lobe heals and how it looks once it's settled.

316L surgical steel labret piercing with a polished ball end and flat disc backing

Starter Jewellery

We pierce 1st lobes with a 16 gauge straight barbell, flatback post or segment ring, with a 14 gauge sometimes used depending on your anatomy. Explore flatback styles for a flush, comfortable fit, or our surgical steel range for a reliable everyday option.

Implant Grade Titanium Guided Internally Threaded Cherry Piercing Top - SkinKandy | Body Jewellery & Piercing

Building Your Stack

Once healed, check out segment rings if you're after a hinged hoop look, or browse the wider hoops and huggies range for more ways to layer future lobe placements together.

14K Solid Gold Guided Internally Threaded Claw Set Round Cubic Zirconia Piercing Top - SkinKandy | Body Jewellery & Piercing

Not Sure What Metal Suits You?

Not sure whether to go silver, rose gold or gold? Our guide to finding your style can help, or browse everything by material to compare options side by side.

FAQs

What is a 1st lobe piercing?

A 1st lobe piercing is the classic, original piercing placed through the soft, fleshy part of your ear. For most people it's their very first piercing, and it's the natural starting point for any ear stack.

Does a 1st lobe piercing hurt?

Most people rate it around 2 out of 10. Lobe tissue is soft with no cartilage, so it's one of the gentlest placements on the ear. Pain is subjective, so treat this as a general guide rather than a guarantee of what you'll feel. Everyone's pain tolerance is different.

How long does a 1st lobe piercing take to heal?

Most people are ready to downsize their jewellery at 6-8 weeks, with full structural healing taking a minimum of 3 months. Everyone heals a little differently, so listen to your body as it settles in.

What jewellery is used for a 1st lobe piercing?

We generally pierce with a 16 gauge straight barbell, flatback post or segment ring, though a 14 gauge may be used depending on your anatomy. Our piercing specialists will talk you through the best option on the day.

How old do I need to be for a 1st lobe piercing?

You'll need to be at least 5 years old with parental consent, or 16 years and over without. In Western Australia, you must be 18 to get pierced without parental consent. Check our full ID and consent requirements before you book.

Is there a needle-free option for a 1st lobe piercing?

Yes. If you'd rather skip the needle, we offer a separate needle-free 1st lobe piercing using a sterile cartridge system, which is a popular choice for babies and young children.

Is the 1st lobe piercing included in the two piercings from $80 deal?

Yes. Your 1st lobe piercing qualifies for our Two Piercings From $80 offer when paired with another standard piercing and selected surgical steel jewellery.

How do I look after a new 1st lobe piercing?

Clean it with a sterile saline solution twice daily, avoid swimming for 6-8 weeks and try not to sleep directly on it. Be mindful of headphones, helmets and hats while it heals. Our full aftercare guide has everything you need.

Build Your Ear Stack

Loving your 1st lobe? Explore a few other lobe placements worth adding as you build out your stack, or bring a sibling along for our double operator experience.