HCH Piercing FAQ

An HCH piercing (Horizontal Clitoral Hood piercing) is a specialized procedure targeting the fold of tissue above the clitoral glans. The procedure is performed by a skilled professional under strict sterile conditions using precision techniques that minimize tissue trauma. The jewelry is inserted swiftly with minimal discomfort or pressure. Immediate aftercare focuses on daily hygiene and using a sterile saline solution as needed.

• The area is prepped thoroughly via alcohol or povidone iodine.
• A professional piercer marks the appropriate entry and exit points with a single-use sterile surgical marker.
• The area is pierced using a sterile, single-use, disposable needle, sometimes braced by a NRT or other various instruments.
• The piercer will then install a sterile, implant-certified barbell through the newly created piercing channel and thread on the bead.
• Extreme precision is required.

While both VCH (Vertical Clitoral Hood) and HCH piercings involve the clitoral hood, the primary differences lie in the direction which the jewelry is oriented. HCH piercings are placed horizontally across the clitoral hood, whereas VCH piercings are oriented vertically. These differences affect how the tissue responds and heals, requiring slight elongation in healing time.

HCH jewelry is available in various styles, including straight barbells, curved barbells but more common styles include captive bead rings and circular barbells. Quality jewelry is typically made from hypoallergenic materials such as implant-certified titanium or solid gold.

Jewelry for HCH piercings, like all body jewelry, should be sized specifically for the wears anatomy. Its these differences in length/circumference and thickness that make all the differences.

Choosing between VCH and HCH piercings means selecting a style based on personal aesthetic preference and anatomical suitability. Both require precise technique and strict aftercare. The decision typically involves considerations of how the jewelry will complement your natural anatomy and how the aftercare routine fits with your lifestyle. But the better question…. Why not both?!

Both procedures are performed with high precision using aseptic techniques. While the methods vary ever so slightly, I think the only notable difference is that the HCH could be slightly longer of a piercing process from start to finish, when compared to a VCH.

The healing process for an HCH piercing typically includes an initial inflammatory phase, followed by gradual tissue stabilization. Key steps include:

• Gently rinse with water while you shower. Use sterile saline solution/wound wash spray as needed.
• Abstain from sexual activity surrounding the piercing site for at least 6-8+ weeks to prevent irritation or infection.
• Avoid any touching, twisting, or playing with the piercing site or jewelry.
• Wear breathable, loose-fitting underwear to minimize irritation.

Healing times for HCH piercings vary from person to person but generally range from 6-9 weeks. Strict adherence to a gentle and natural aftercare routine can help expedite the process and reduce complications.

Pain is an experience that is aways relative to the individual. Most report that the pain is brief and manageable. Although the clitoral hood is sensitive, the procedure is performed very quickly, and the initial discomfort is commonly said to be short-lived. Following the procedure, careful aftercare helps mitigate any lingering soreness.

Design inspiration for HCH piercings can be found on the websites and social media pages of reputable piercing studios. These galleries typically showcase a range of jewelry options and placements, demonstrating how precise aftercare contributes to an aesthetically pleasing result.

Pros include a unique, customizable aesthetic and a heightened sensitivity that many find appealing. Cons may involve a longer healing period than a VCH. The success of an HCH piercing largely depends on both the skill of the piercer and your commitment to following detailed aftercare guidelines.

Many reviews emphasize the expertise of experienced piercers and the importance of following a gentle, natural aftercare regimen. Clients note that while the initial procedure may involve some discomfort, proper care results in minimal long-term irritation and excellent aesthetic outcomes.

Yes, many professionals offer both procedures simultaneously. A combined project like this may require a preliminary appointment to determine a carefully coordinated plan for placement and precise execution so that there aren’t any surprises on the day of your piercing appointment.

The process involves a detailed assessment of your anatomy to determine the optimal placement. Both procedures are performed with extreme precision and require a dedicated aftercare plan that emphasizes gentle natural healing, limited handling, and close monitoring throughout the healing period.

An HCH piercing targets the horizontal clitoral hood and is ideal for individuals with favorable tissue anatomy who desire an aesthetically pleasing and potentially stimulating modification. It is best suited for those who are committed to a strict aftercare regimen focused on natural healing and minimal manipulation.

It refers to a horizontal clitoral hood piercing, characterized by its unique horizontal placement across the hood.

It refers to a horizontal clitoral hood piercing, characterized by its unique horizontal placement across the hood.

It is a genital piercing that traverses horizontally across the clitoral hood using highly skilled piercing techniques. Success depends on both the skill of the piercer and strict adherence to an aftercare routine centered on natural healing and daily hygiene.

You can attempt the ‘Q-tip test’ at home, however, your professional piercer will need to make an assessment whether you have enough tissue in the clitoral hood to support the piercing horizontally.

The optimal jewelry for HCH piercings is implant-certified titanium, solid gold, or niobium as these are hypoallergenic and biocompatible with the human body. Common styles for an HCH Piercing include Circular barbells, captive bead rings and occasionally various barbells.

The best available jewelry for HCH Piercings is implant-certified titanium, solid gold, or niobium as these materials are hypoallergenic and biocompatible with the human body, promoting a faster healing time for initial piercings.

HCH piercings are placed horizontally across the clitoral hood, above the clitoral shaft. While triangle piercings feature a deeper horizontal placement that passes behind the clitoral nerve bundle, and is just slightly higher on the genital area. Triangle Piercings are assumed to hurt more than an HCH Piercing. Triangle piercings tend to take much longer to heal than HCH Piercings due to it’s increased depth.

• The area is prepped thoroughly via alcohol or povidone iodine.
• A professional piercer marks the appropriate entry and exit points with a single-use sterile surgical marker.
• The area is pierced using a sterile, single-use, disposable needle, sometimes braced by a NRT or other various instruments.
• The piercer will then install a sterile, implant-certified barbell through the newly created piercing channel and thread on the bead.
• Extreme precision is required.

• Avoid any touching, twisting, or playing with the piercing site or jewelry.
• Gently rinse with water while you shower. Use sterile saline solution/wound wash spray as needed.
• Avoid harsh soaps, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antiseptics.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day and urinate frequently.
• Abstain from sexual activity surrounding the piercing site for at least 6-8+ weeks to prevent irritation or infection.
• Wear breathable, loose-fitting underwear to minimize irritation.

Clementine Piercing offers HCH piercings in NYC. Johnny Pearce, one of the world's top rated and most trusted piercing professionals, holds tenure at Clementine Piercing in NYC—making it an excellent option for trusted piercing services.

Look for professional, APP-certified piercing studios with:

• Experienced piercers familiar with genital piercings.
• Strict hygiene and sterilization protocols.
• Positive client reviews and portfolio examples.

Please feel free to use trusted resources like the “Find a Professional Piercer” search function on the Association of Professional Piercers website.

The cost can range from $80-200 for the piercing service before adding on the cost of the jewelry. Generally, you can expect prices to reflect both the technical precision of the procedure and the comprehensive aftercare guidance provided, with costs typically ranging within a moderate bracket.

Design examples are widely available on the websites and social media channels of respected piercing studios. These images illustrate various jewelry options and placements, along with insights into the ideal aftercare routine—featuring gentle saline rinses and minimal interference—that supports successful healing. There is also an HCH piercing diagram located at the top of this page.

An HCH piercing experience typically involves a brief, expertly executed procedure with minimal discomfort. The real emphasis is on the healing phase, during which following a strict (but chill) aftercare routine—consisting solely of natural healing, daily hygiene and saline cleaning and limited handling—ensures that the tissue settles smoothly and naturally.

While 14g was once the piercing standard even for HCH, now most piercers agree that 12g is a much more stable choice for a HCH piercing that is healing. A slightly larger gauge like 10g may be used initially to provide even greater stability.

Yes Where can I get a PA piercing in NYC?

Professional studio websites, specialized body modification blogs, and reputable social media channels are excellent sources for viewing HCH piercing images. These resources showcase both the aesthetic outcomes and the effective aftercare practices that lead to successful healing.

Clementine Piercing offers the best HCH piercings in NYC. Johnny Pearce, one of the world's top rated and most trusted piercing professionals, holds tenure at Clementine Piercing in NYC—making it an excellent option for trusted piercing services.

Look for professional, APP-certified piercing studios with:

• Experienced piercers familiar with genital piercings.
• Strict hygiene and sterilization protocols.
• Positive client reviews and portfolio examples.

Please feel free to use trusted resources like the “Find a Professional Piercer” search function on the Association of Professional Piercers website.

Placement is based on a careful assessment of your unique anatomy and aesthetic goals.

Although the area is sensitive, most individuals report that the pain is comparable to the VCH piercing—very brief and manageable. With proper, natural aftercare centered on sterile saline rinses, most clients find that the discomfort subsides quickly.

It is possible, for an HCH piercing to be re-pierced through a pre-existing HCH piercing scar, and a VCH piercing to be re-pierced through a previous VCH piercing location. The scar tissue and piercing site must be evaluated for stability prior to piercing to ensure that the previous work was in the most viable location.

• However, it is not advised to attempt to use a remaining, pre-existing HCH hole in conjunction to form with a new VCH piercing because the holes of the piercings in question are occurring at very conflicting angles and locations.