cartilage is the area that hurts the worse from what i hear... anywhere on the ear/except the lobe that should be the least painful spot... but yea the upper ear, eyebrow, nose... ect ect.i'm such a wuss.. when i got my ears pireced i was 10.. they did one side and i shrieked... and refused to do the other one lol... had to though.. i mean i wanted both ears piered lol.and now i hardly wear earings hehe.