What is a Conch Piercing?
The conch is located in the large centre part of the ear, on the thick cartilage leading into the ear canal. This popular type of ear cartilage piercing, named after the ear’s resemblance to a conch shell.
Influencers and celebrities alike have embraced conch piercings, often styling them with hoops or studs. This trendy piercing has quickly become a must-have for ear stacking enthusiasts.
Do Conch Piercings Hurt?
While conch piercings are stunning, they can be slightly intimidating due to the thickness of the cartilage. Compared to other cartilage piercings like the helix, tragus, or flat, conch piercings may feel more intense.
Pain levels vary depending on your tolerance, but the piercing process is quick, and the sensation is similar to other cartilage piercings. However, most customers describe it as just a hot pinch and completely manageable.
Best Jewellery for Conch Piercings
Initial Jewellery
All conch piercings come with the choice of 4 jewellery options. Our 4 gorgeous orb flat-back labrets come in classic Surgical Steel, or you can make a statement with PVD Gold, PVD Rose Gold, or sleek PVD Black Surgical Steel.
Your first jewellery will generally be a 16-gauge flat back labret, ensuring comfort and safe healing. A longer post will be used to allow for swelling and must be kept in place for up to 6-8 weeks for initial healing.
However, you can upgrade to, titanium, 24K PVD gold, rose gold, black PVD, solid 18K gold, cobalt chrome, and Bioplast to choose what is best suited to your style. We also have over 200 attachment styles for customers to choose from.
Popular Choices
- Conch Hoops: Also called orbitals or hinged rings. Recommended only after the piercing has healed.
- Conch Studs and Bars: Flat back labret jewellery is comfortable and sits flat against the ear, making it ideal for everyday wear.
Tip: If you want to wear a ring in your conch, it should be for special occasions rather than for everyday wear. Sleeping on a ring can cause irritation, swelling, or micro-tears. To reduce risk, you can secure larger rings with bump dots to lay flat on the ear.
Initial Healing
Jewellery downsizing can occur 6-8 weeks after the initial piercing. When changing jewellery, always return to your piercer. They will help select the correct size, gauge, and style. You can opt for 16 gauge for standard size or 18 gauge for a daintier look, but thinner gauges may shrink the piercing hole.
Fully healed
Healing times vary depending on your overall health and how well you follow aftercare instructions. Typically, conch piercings take 12 – 24 months, and sometimes longer. Patience is key for optimal healing and long-term results.
Conch Piercing Aftercare
At Essential Beauty, all piercings are performed under sterile conditions with single-use needles and autoclave-sterilized jewellery and tools. Since a piercing is essentially an open wound, infection is a risk if not properly cared for.
All conch piercings come with regular piercing journey emails, these reminders help outline your piercing after care journey and answer any FAQ’s you may have.
Key Aftercare Tips:
- Weeks 1-2 clean twice daily with Sterilear Step-1 Piercing Spray.
- Weeks 3 and onwards Clean twice daily with Sterilear Step-2 Piercing Spray.
- Avoid sleeping on your piercing.
- Do not touch, twist, or knock your jewellery.
- Avoid tight clothing that may rub.
- Treat piercing bumps with Calm Piercing Bump Treatment Dots.
Remember, piercings heal from the outside in. Even if it looks healed on the surface, the inside may still be tender for months.
Can You Wear Earbuds with a Conch Piercing?
Avoid using earbuds while your piercing is healing. Repeated insertion and removal can irritate the piercing, prolong healing, and increase the risk of infection. Let your piercer know if you regularly use headphones, they can help find the best placement.
Why Piercing Placement and Sleep Matter
Most irritation and infections occur while sleeping. Even if you think you avoid pressure on your piercing, unconscious movements at night can knock the jewellery, causing swelling or discomfort.
Rings in particular are high-maintenance and can flip upwards, stretching the piercing or causing micro-cuts. Flat back studs are recommended for everyday use, while rings should be reserved for special occasions.
To help manage sleep a piercing pillow can used specially designed to provide the ear space you need for pain-free sleeping and smooth healing.
Ready to Get Your Conch Piercing?
Receive great service from our therapists at Essential Beauty, book your appointment online today or visit one of our salons to chat with our piercing experts. With the right care, jewellery, and placement, your conch piercing can be a beautiful, low-maintenance addition to your ear stack.
