THE CURATED EAR
At HMp, we think of the ear as a canvas. Not something to fill, but something to compose. Each piercing you add is a considered choice: a piece of gold that becomes a permanent part of you.
The HMp collection is built for exactly this: components that interlock, layer and evolve. You might start with a single lobe piercing. Years later it becomes something remarkable. That's the point.
At HMp London you can be pierced from the waist up. Below is a guide to every placement: what it is, where it sits, and what to know before you commit.
THE EAR
The ear offers more possibility than almost anywhere else on the body. From the soft centre of the lobe to the firm cartilage of the helix, each position has its own character, its own healing journey, and its own relationship with the pieces you choose to wear in it.
LOBE
The lobe is the most universal of piercings, the entry point for many, and the foundation of every curated ear. Soft tissue, relatively quick to heal, and endlessly versatile. A single HMp piece in the lobe makes a statement. Multiple lobes, layered with components, make something else entirely.
Healing time: 3–6 months
HMp note: Most of our Readymades and Barbells work beautifully as lobe piercings. If you're starting here, we can already help you think about where you might go next.
UPPER LOBE
Just above the standard lobe position, the upper lobe is still soft tissue, making it a gentle next step if you're building upwards. Stacked with the lobe below, it creates immediate depth and intention.
Healing time: 3–6 months
HMp note: A natural companion to a lobe piercing. Try a Teardrop Barbell lower, something more architectural above.
Shop pieces for the upper lobe →
HELIX
The helix runs along the outer rim of the ear: bold, visible, and one of the most versatile positions for HMp jewellery. It catches the light. It frames the ear from the outside in.
Healing time: 9–18 months
HMp note: Cartilage heals slowly. This is where the HMp philosophy matters most. You want a piece you'll love for the long term, not something you're waiting to change.
UPPER HELIX
Higher on the rim, the upper helix sits at the very top of the ear. Often the most visible from the front, especially with the right piece. A natural anchor point for building a helix line.
Healing time: 9–18 months
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FORWARD HELIX
Where the helix curves forward, closest to the face. The forward helix is subtle and intimate, often only visible to those close to you. Small, precise pieces work beautifully here.
Healing time: 9–18 months
HMp note: The Flatback Barbell with a delicate end is a considered choice for this placement.
Shop pieces for the forward helix →
SURFACE HELIX
A surface piercing that sits on the flat area just above the ear canal, rather than through the rim. More complex to heal than a standard helix, and placement is critical; this is one to discuss in a consultation.
Healing time: 12–18 months
HMp note: Come and see us before committing. The right placement makes all the difference.
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AURICLE
Between the helix and the lobe, along the outer rim. The auricle is sometimes overlooked, which is exactly what makes it interesting. A piece placed here sits in an unexpected spot, catching the eye without announcing itself.
Healing time: 9–18 months
INDUSTRIAL
A single barbell that connects two points across the ear, typically the forward helix and the helix. Graphic, architectural, and unmistakably bold. Not every anatomy accommodates an industrial, which is why we strongly recommend a consultation before committing.
Healing time: 12–24 months
HMp note: Every ear is different. We can create a custom industrial bar sized precisely to your anatomy. This is not a one-size piece.
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DAITH
The innermost fold of cartilage, just above the ear canal. The daith is tucked away; you feel it before you see it. Rings and captive pieces work especially well here, sitting neatly in the fold of the cartilage.
Healing time: 9–18 months
HMp note: The HMp Captive Ring collection is designed with this placement in mind.
TRAGUS
The small nub of cartilage that protrudes just in front of the ear canal. The tragus is a favourite: compact, graphic, and always visible. It works beautifully with flat-backed pieces and small barbells.
Healing time: 9–18 months
ANTI TRAGUS
Opposite the tragus, on the inner rim of the outer ear. The anti tragus is less common, which gives it a quiet distinction. Not every anatomy has a pronounced anti tragus, so a consultation is advisable.
Healing time: 9–18 months
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INNER CONCH
The large, flat area of cartilage in the centre of the ear. The inner conch is one of the most striking placements on the ear, a bold choice that draws the eye inward. Studs and flatback barbells sit beautifully here.
Healing time: 9–18 months
HMp note: A single well-chosen piece in the conch can anchor an entire curated ear.
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ORBITAL CONCH
A ring that passes through two points in the conch, sitting as a hoop against the inner cartilage. Architectural and precise, the orbital conch has a graphic quality unlike anything else.
Healing time: 9–18 months
HMp note: Speak to us about this one. Placement and sizing are everything.
Shop pieces for the orbital conch →
ROOK
The fold of cartilage at the top inner edge of the ear, just above the daith. The rook is tucked, intimate, and slightly unexpected; you discover it rather than see it immediately. Curved barbells and smaller pieces work best here.
Healing time: 12–18 months
HMp note: Not every ear has a pronounced rook. Come in and we'll assess yours.
SNUG
The inner rim of the outer ear, a curved barbell that sits across the anti-helix. The snug is one of the more complex cartilage piercings, both to place and to heal. Anatomy-dependent and worth a thorough consultation.
Healing time: 12–18 months+
TRANSVERSE LOBE
Rather than passing straight through the lobe front-to-back, the transverse lobe runs horizontally, the barbell ends visible on either side of the lobe. Unusual and quietly striking.
Healing time: 6–12 months
HMp note: An unconventional choice that rewards confidence. Let's talk about it.
Shop pieces for the transverse lobe →
THE BODY
At HMp London, you can be pierced anywhere from the waist up. Below are the most requested body placements and what to know about each.
NOSTRIL
One of the oldest and most universal piercings in the world, and one of the most enduring. The nostril piercing sits in a long tradition of adornment, and in a small HMp piece, it feels entirely modern. Left, right, or both: a choice that changes a face.
Healing time: 6–12 months
HMp note: A small flatback barbell or a delicate ring works well. Bring us your references.
SEPTUM
Through the cartilage of the nasal septum, or more precisely, through the soft tissue just below it (the ‘sweet spot’). The septum piercing is as old as human adornment itself, and as contemporary as anything in our collection. It can be flipped up and hidden, or worn with a ring that makes an immediate statement.
Healing time: 6 months (tissue), up to a year for cartilage placement
HMp note: One of our most requested piercings. The right jewellery makes this.
BRIDGE
A surface piercing across the bridge of the nose, between the eyes. Rare, graphic, and completely singular. The bridge piercing is one of the most striking placements on the face. It requires a careful anatomy assessment and an experienced hand. Both of which we have.
Healing time: 6–12 months
HMp note: Not for the faint of heart, but remarkable on the right person.
EYEBROW
A surface piercing above or through the eyebrow. Asymmetric and directional, the eyebrow piercing has a long history in subcultural style, and a lasting relevance. Like all surface piercings, placement is critical to longevity.
Healing time: 6–12 months
NIPPLE
Intimate, powerful, and deeply personal: the nipple piercing is one of the most meaningful a person can choose. It is an act of self-possession. In HMp 18ct gold, it is also quietly beautiful. Available for all anatomies.
Healing time: 12–18 months
HMp note: This is a private appointment. You are in safe, skilled, respectful hands.
NAVEL
The navel piercing passes through the skin above (or below) the belly button. It has a particular relationship with the body’s movement, the way it catches light when you move. Anatomy-dependent: a flat stomach is not required, but a certain anatomy of the navel itself is.
Healing time: 9–18 months
HMp note: Come in for a consultation and we'll assess whether this works for your anatomy before you commit.
NOT SURE WHERE TO START?
That’s exactly what we’re here for.
A curation appointment with Hannah or our expert team will help you plan your piercing journey, considering your anatomy, your existing piercings, the look you’re working towards, and the pieces that will get you there. This is the conversation that happens before the piercing.
We love this part.
READY TO BE PIERCED?
Once you know where you’d like to go, browse the collection. Everything in the Ready-To-Be-Pierced range can be used directly in your piercing procedure. The rest of the HMp collection is yours to add, layer and build with as you heal.