Whether you've gotten the daith piercing for migraines or just think it's a cute fashion accessory, I've found some of the best daith earrings for active lifestyles. If you haven't followed my journey, you can start here. I've had incredible results. After almost a year and a half since getting pierced, I am still migraine free. Whatever your results, if you've had the “migraine piercing,” please take the survey linked at the bottom of this post. It will help gather the data necessary to put together the groundwork for an extensive medical study. Super exciting stuff!
Best Daith Earrings
Because my daith piercing took forever to heal–and by forever I mean like every bit of a solid year–I have only changed my daith earrings three times. I was first pierced with a small curved barbell, like the one they would use for an eyebrow piercing. This was ideal for sleeping, but not as easy to clean. I switched to a horseshoe, and that's been the easiest to clean but if it swings out, can be irritating for sleeping on that side. But, now that it is truly healed, it never bothers me.
The horseshoe shape also makes it difficult to wear earbuds. So, after a year, I figured my daith piercing was finally fully healed. While this was true for the most part, changing the shape of the daith earring caused serious irritation. I opted for a straight bar with one flat side to allow for an earbud to fit in my ear canal. Because I was originally pierced with a curved bar, I am going to stick with that shape. This area of dense cartilage doesn't seem to like being bent once fully healed.
Due to that experience, I'm back with my horseshoe for now and plan to try a crescent moon, heart shape, or some sort of cute daith earrings soon. But through this whole process, I found some earbuds that allowed me to still listen to music while I run.
Best Earbuds for the Daith Piercing
Running with full headphones on simply doesn't work for me. They're too bulky and create a hideous sweaty situation. I found that it only takes a little lobe hook and the earbud stays in place just fine. Bluetooth earbuds are even better if you're willing to pay a bit more.
How to Clean Daith Piecing Earrings
Cleaning the daith rings is the same as cleaning the piercing site itself. Taking the jewelry out isn't necessary. In the beginning, you'll want to clean the area multiple times per day–at the very least, once in the morning and once at night. I found that using a cotton ball soaked with hot salt water worked best and felt amazing.
DIY Solution:
Mix 1/4 tsp sea salt into a cup of water. Keep this solution in a closed container. Pour about 3 tablespoons into a microwavable glass and heat for 7-12 seconds. Saltwater heats quickly so get to know your microwave to figure out the appropriate time. *Be careful not to burn yourself!* Soak the cotton ball and stick it in your ear. Repeat as needed. When I was dealing with irritation and mild infection, I'd do this a few times (with a new cotton ball each time) and dip Q-Tips into the hot water and swab around the area. The hot salt water draws out the gross stuff.
Or just buy it:
If you're on the run, this saline spray is the way to go. It's super easy to use and crazy effective for keeping the daith ear piercing clean. You just spray the piercing–but do it over a sink and angle the can so you don't spray directly into your ear canal.
IMPORTANT:
FINALLY! A doctor in London, Dr. Chris Blatchley MB BChir, has put together a team of experts to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the daith piercing for migraine headaches. If you've had the piercing done, please take his survey. It takes about 10 minutes. 🙂 Thank you so much! I can't wait to see his results and finally have some real data behind this. As soon as possible, I will share what I can.
Daith Piercing for Migraines SURVEY
My Whole Daith Piercing Story
If you haven't followed along, you can catch up by reading these posts. 🙂
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Nicola says
Hi,
I just wanted to thank you for publishing & sharing your ‘Daith experience’.
I suffer from horrendous migraines and have even been hospitalised because of them.
I decided yesterday to take the plunge and get the daith piercing. Your blog really helped in my decision making.
Fingers crossed it helps and as you said, it actually looks pretty good 🙂
Thanks again
Shelley says
Hi Nicola,
Oh, I’m so happy to have helped in anyway. 🙂 I wish you the best of luck! Please let us know how it’s going for you! xoxo
Marci says
Hi I suffer from migraines as well. But I was wondering what ear I should get pierced, my migraines usually start in the back of my head and move up to my eyes. I get the Botox shots as well, every 12 weeks, they help some but I still get at least 2 – 3 a week.
carmen lyerla says
Hi Marci, I have had terrible migarines but most of mine start on the left side. I got my daith done on my left side. I got it done in April 2016. I have only had 1 migarine since then & it was very mild ( I used to throw up lose vision in 1 eye & could not tolerate sound) this time it only bothered my hearing a little. So I’ve had wonderful results my friend got hers done on the right side & has had fairly good results. Hope this helps.
Diane Hoffmaster says
I have heard quite a bit about these. I get migraines but they are hormonal and my OB told me they aren’t ‘true’ migraines so all the regular migraine remedies wont help : ( I wish this was a solution for me!
Shelley says
I used to get hormonal migraines too. Might be worth a shot!
Alena says
Hi Diane,
I had a similar issue and my doc put me on LoLoEstrin FE birth control. It helped a LOT. Maybe you can check that out?
Shannon says
Thanks for sharing your journey! Just one note though, I wouldn’t recommend ever using hot water on any piercing, as it’ll only irritate the skin more and lead to further problems. I normally boil water in my kettle and pour into a cup with some sea salt, then when it’s cooled to ‘warm’ I then use it on my piercing. I don’t have a daith, this is just my routine for other piercings I’ve had. Whenever I’ve tried using hot water it’s caused redness, dryness, and all round irritation and swelling and the dreaded lumps you suffered from 6 months in x
Shelley says
Oh wow! I never thought that could be the reason behind the irriation! Makes sense… thanks so much for bringing this up!
XOXO
Lynn Long says
I just bught some Ocean salt water nasal spray. I had no problems, It took about 2 weeks to heal, and didn’t hurt or get irritated at all. Thinking about getting the 2nd Daith. The first one worked about 2 weeks. Mingraines for me are almost always weather related. Wish I could control that!
Shelley says
Oh wow, yeah. According to Dr. Blatchley, it’s all about the precise location of the piercing. I hope you get lucky and the second piercing hits the right spot!
My migraines were sensitive to everything–hormones, diet, weather, stress… and they’re totally gone.
ellen beck says
Thats a long time for healing! I have seen others with them and have even seen magnets used. It is a very dense area to pierce I would imagine is why it took solong. I am glad to hear it is helping you.
Diane Chapman says
Thank you for you account of how it helped you. Most of my Migraines are on my left side. Did you do your on the side you have most of your migrains or the opposite side?
Terry Bussinger says
Do you have the Daith in both ears pierced?
Shelley says
Hi Terry,
I just have my right daith pierced.
Mary Adkins says
I have had migraines for years and they would hit me at the worst times. I would wake up in the middle of the night with a fully blown migraine. I really couldn’t afford to be down and out. ( I was a single mom raising kids) I couldn’t take the usual meds and found a small amount of relief from natural medications. The best thing I ever did for these terrible headaches was get past my fear and get my daiths pierced. When I had the first one done it actually gave me a small headache for a couple of hours and motrin took it down to a simple annoyance. The piercing was so easy to sleep on that I had the other one done two days later. My migraines went from 2-3 a week down to 2-3 a month right away. As they have healed it has gotten even better. If I get a headache it is a normal one that a tug or pressure on the earrings and a OTC meds can handle quickly. I am one of those people that has a bit of trouble getting cartilage piercings to heal but they have not gotten infected and have been well worth doing. I highly recommend this if you have issues with migraines. Sure, piercings hurt when you get them but they have saved me so much pain.
Shelley says
Hi Mary,
I’m so happy to hear the daith piercing helped your migraines! Thank you for sharing your experience! 🙂 As the months fly by, (it will be 2 years in Feb since my daith piercing,) I can almost not remember what the migraines were like. It’s so amazing!
Shelley
Cynthia M Guschke says
I’m Pentecostal and don’t wear jewelry. But I have severe migraines and finally broke down and did the piercing. It bothers me and I would like to know if there is any earrings that you could use where it would not be as noticeable.
Shelley says
Hi Cynthia,
Look towards the end of this post: https://amagicalmess.com/2016/03/ear-piercing-for-migraines-results.html
There is a clear earring. 🙂
Carol Oddy says
I have pierced ears but have not tried daith pierced ears for migrains which I suffer with most days.
McKenna says
Hi! I have been reading all of your updates on your daith piercing to relieve migraines. I am looking into getting mine pierced really soon, but I was wondering does it matter what ear you get pierced? I always feel my migraine pain behind my right eye so I wasn’t sure if it mattered what side the piercing is on.
I appreciate any help and thank you so much for writing on your experiences I hope to get the same relief as you!
Shelley says
Hi McKenna,
My migraines were always on the right side too . I got my right daith pierced, but have heard that it doesn’t matter which side you get done? However, I had asked my friend that studied accupuncture in China and she said “do the same side as the pain,” and that worked for me.
I hope it works for you! Please let us know what you end up doing!
Shelley 🙂
Andrea Wile says
I am a 55 heals female that has been plagued by headaches and migraines since the age of 12. I have seen specialists from 4 different areas from where I live. I have been on countless medications, and countless injections for these headaches with no resolution. Doctors just have up but not me. My hairdresser told me about Daith piercings and I have had them done. I am happy to announce that after 43 years of 24/7 headaches, they have dramatically dropped to 2 episodes a week and if I get one I just manipulate the earring and 15 to 20 minutes later, the head ache is gone. I highly recommend anyone who has the same problem to have this piercing done.I don’t walk around in a daze from the pain and my mood has changed. I have had people tell me they see a dramatic change in the way I act, talk and look.
Shelley says
Hi Andrea,
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I’m beyond happy to hear that you’ve finally found relief!
XOXO,
Shelley
Diana says
What ear buds do you recommend? I didn’t see a link
Jennifer says
Hi Diana,
It’s under about the 5th paragraph. Here is one affiliate link: https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Headphones-Wireless-Sports-Earphones/dp/B01M2CTKH4?tag=magicmess-20 Hope that helps. Thanks!
Apera says
Hi,
I have suffered from migraines for years, thanks to genetics. I usually get one a week sometimes two. I get the nausea and headache. I decided two weeks ago to get my daith pierced. I did both sides. I am proud to say I have been migraine free for two weeks. I went in with a migraine and as soon as the right side was pierced I felt a relief to my migraine. So happy I did it. It’s a life changer.
Shelley says
Hi Apera!
Oh, I’m so happy to hear you had results like mine! 🙂
Thank you for sharing!
Kelly says
I have a slightly strange question, but how big are your ears? I got a type of over-the-ear hooking headphones and they’re way too big on me, and they fall right off. I like the idea of them, though, so I’m wondering if the green ones you own are on the smaller or bigger size. Or if they come in kid sizes? Because I have basically child-size ear. LOL.
Shelley VanWitzenburg says
LOL
Hi Kelly,
That’s a great question! My ears are on the smaller side too, so I understand your issue. The green ones I have fit nicely. I wasn’t aware of a size when I got them–maybe it’s just the brand? They’re Skullcandy. I hope that helps! Otherwise, I’ll be on the lookout for other sizes!
Sara says
I have suffered from chronic intractable migraines since 1994. In 2008, I had to give up my career as a NICU RN due to medications and the inability to work. I had heard about the Daith piercings over the years but was skeptical that it would work at all; I wish that I’d have tried when I first heard about them. I basically had a migraine 24/7 and pain meds barely did anything, I’ve had Botox and injects in my neck and nothing worked. My PCP suggested the Daith piercings mid July, I did a bit of researching online and asked if any of my friends had any experience with it; I got some very positive reactions and referrals to an amazing woman that did the piercings. The following week I got both of my Daiths pierced and immediately had relief, I cried, I hadn’t felt that good in years! I was beyond amazed, I went from a 6-7/10 to a 1-2/10! I have been beside myself with the change, the difference- I feel like I’m getting my life back!
Thank you for sharing your journey so that others may have similar experiences. Trying to live with migraines is not really living. I would and have suggested the Daith piercings for anyone that suffers with migraines; if you’ve been through the gammet of procedures, medications both rx and otc, try it, it’s at least worth a try to eat any kind of relief. Also, thank you for posting the link for the survey- amazing info for a meaningful study.
xoxo
Shelley VanWitzenburg says
Oh, Sara, I’m so sorry you also suffered for so long but am so happy the daith piercings worked for you! Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope you continue to be migraine free! xoxo