August 12, 2024

Conch Piercing: Placement, Pain, Healing, Cost, Jewelry, Aftercare, Pros and Cons

Ear piercings are extremely popular and offer a fun way to decorate your body and express yourself. One type of ear piercing is a Conch piercing. The name comes from its location in the middle portion of your ear, which looks like a conch.

If you’re considering a Conch piercing, learn more about variations, pain, healing, cost, jewelry, and more.

What Is a Conch Piercing?

Conch piercings are located at the conch or “concha” portion of your ear, which is the inner middle portion of the ear that looks similar to a conch shell. They go through the ear’s cartilage, which is more hard and dense than the ear lobe.

Conch piercings can stand alone or they can be paired with other piercings for a more complex look.

Conch piercing

Image: Lucy Simmons.

Types of Conch Piercings

There are a few different variations of Conch piercings, including inner conch, outer conch, double conch, and Orbital Conch piercings. They differ based on their placement and how many piercings there are.

Learn about all of the potential Conch piercing types to ensure you get the one that best suits your style and preferences.

Inner Conch Piercing

Just like they sound, inner conch piercings are located at the center part of your ear. A hole is punctured right in the center to make way for a stud. So, it looks like the jewelry is in the center of your ear.

inner and outer conch piercing

Outer Conch Piercing

Unlike inner conch piercings, outer conch piercings are located at the outer portion of your ear, closer to the edge. This allows for a hoop or a ring that circles the outer edge of your ear.

Keep in mind: Actual placement will vary based on the anatomy and shape of your ear.

Double Conch Piercing

While single conch piercings involve a single puncture, double conch piercings involve two punctures. This gives you the opportunity to have two conch piercings right next to one another.

You can use the same type of jewelry in each piercing or mix and match.

Orbital Conch Piercing

An orbital conch piercing blends aspects of the outer conch and double conch. There are two piercing holes but just one piece of jewelry.

Two holes are pierced at the outer portion of your ear with a single cartilage hoop passing through them both. It gives the idea of an orbit, circling your ear.

Conch Piercing Pain

You may be wondering, does a Conch piercing hurt? On a scale from one to ten, Conch piercings can rate around a 7 or an 8. However, the actual pain level will depend on the individual and their pain tolerance.

Conch piercings typically hurt more than an ear lob piercing because they go through the cartilage, which is harder to pierce through.

Conch Piercing Healing Time

Another essential question to consider is, how long does a Conch piercing take to heal? Conch piercings can take from 6 to 9 months to heal.

There aren’t as many blood vessels in this area of the ear as there are in the ear lobe, lengthening the healing time. It could take even longer if you don’t take proper care of the piercing or change the jewelry too fast.

How Much Is a Conch Piercing?

A single Conch piercing will likely cost around $35, not including jewelry. With jewelry, you can expect to pay around $85.

However, the cost can vary greatly based on the piercer you go to and the type of jewelry you select. Generally speaking, the higher the quality of jewelry you choose, the higher the cost.

Conch Piercing Jewelry

When getting a Conch piercing, you’ll need to choose your jewelry. It’s typically best to opt for a safe, high-quality material for your initial jewelry. Once your piercing is fully healed, you can explore other jewelry materials and designs to figure out what works best for you.

1. Types of Conch Jewelry

It’s important to select the correct jewelry for your Conch piercing to support its healing and ensure a comfortable fit.

Conch Stud Piercing

Tragus Piercing: Pain, Benefits, Healing Time, Cost, Jewelry, Sizes, Aftercare

Implant grade titanium stud earring heart-shaped flat back 16G $22.9, SHOP NOW.

For an inner conch piercing, you’ll want to select a conch stud. This will go right through the center of your ear and can be adorned with a metal ball, diamond, shape, or arrangement of gemstones.

Conch Piercing Hoop

Gold hoop with a chain and CZ titanium 16G $21.9, SHOP NOW.

For an outer conch piercing or an Orbital Conch piercing, you’ll likely be selecting a hoop. Hoops come in different materials and styles that you can change out once your piercing is fully healed.

Shop Our Conch Piercing Jewelry

2. Conch Jewelry Materials

Some of the most popular materials for conch earrings include:

Implant-grade titanium: Conch piercing jewelry made of implant-grade titanium is a great option because titanium is lightweight, nickel-free, and won’t tarnish. It may help you avoid an allergic reaction and the need to frequently change out the jewelry. This metal is also used in the medical field for things like joint replacements and bone pins.
14K gold: Gold offers an elegant look and is a durable material, though yellow gold is often more hypoallergenic, and white gold can be more durable because it has nickel and other metal alloys.
Implant-grade stainless steel: A hypoallergenic option that’s often safe for those with sensitive skin.
Bioplastic: Soft, flexible plastic that may be recommended if you undergo surgery, X-rays, or other procedures that require you to remove metals from your body.

3. Conch Jewelry Size

When selecting conch earrings, you’ll notice there are various gauge options. For hoops, you’ll also have to choose a diameter, and for studs, you’ll have to choose length.

Gauge: Conch jewelry is typically 14 gauge (1.6mm) or 16 gauge (1.2mm).
Length: Conch studs typically range from 5mm (3/16") to 12mm (1/2") long depending on the thickness of your ear.
Diameter: Conch hoops can range from 6mm (1/4") to 12mm (1/2"), depending on the size and anatomy of your ear.

Infected Conch Piercing

Any type of piercing can get infected, but Conch piercings are more susceptible than lobe piercings. Look out for signs of an infected piercing so you can get it treated right away. Conch infection symptoms may include:

Redness
Itching
Swelling
Hot to the touch
Oozing or bleeding
Foul odor
Pain and discomfort
A large bump by the piercing

While some symptoms, like redness and swelling, can be normal right after you get the piercing, they should go away. If these issues linger or get worse, you should contact your piercer and a health professional.

For immediate relief and help with swelling, pain, and redness, consider using an ice pack or cold compress.

When Can I Change My Conch Piercing?

Most piercers recommend waiting to change your Conch piercing jewelry until it’s fully healed, usually in 6 to 9 months. Removing your jewelry too soon could contribute to an infection or could cause your piercing to close shut.

How to Clean a Conch Piercing?

Conch piercings are more susceptible to complications than ear lob piercings, so they require special attention and care.

It is recommended to use sterile saline that you buy from the store, rather than homemade saline, for cleaning your piercings. Homemade saline may be too salty for delicate piercing sites, leading to dryness and delayed healing.

Using mild, fragrance-free soap and water to clean your piercing site is also an option.

If you prefer homemade salt solution. You can start by mixing 1/2 teaspoon of non-iodized salt with one cup of distilled or boiled (for at least 20 minutes) water. You may choose to use less of the salt mixture like 1/4 to 1/8 teaspoon if you want a weaker solution that’s less likely to burn or sting. Stir the solution until it dissolves.

If you see signs of infection, you can also use antiseptic solutions, such as betadine, isopropyl alcohol, or diluted hydrogen peroxide. However, avoid using them for daily cleaning as they can damage cells.

Then proceed with the following steps to clean your piercing:

Soak a cotton ball, a paper towel or non-plush cloth with the solution. Avoid fabrics that could snag and pull the jewelry or leave fibers behind. Gently saturate the piercing and cleanse it. Don't remove the jewelry!
If you have a sterile saline wound wash that you buy from stores, then spay it while healing.
Ensure you cleanse the piercing of any discharge or crusty material.
Take clean gauze or cotton swabs and pat the area dry.
Never scrub, poke, prod, or scrape at the piercing.
Be sure to repeat this process at least 2-3 times a day or as advised by your piercer.

Your piercer should give you detailed instructions on how to keep your piercing clean once it has been placed.

Conch Piercing Pros and Cons

Conch piercings have both pros and cons that will vary from person to person.
Potential pros of conch piercings include:

There are many different jewelry options.
You can coordinate the piercing with other ear piercings.
There are different variations to make the piercing your own.
They are located in your ear, which is a common choice.
They allow you to express yourself.

Potential cons of conch piercings include:

They can be painful.
They require strict aftercare.
They are susceptible to infection and other risks like keloids.
They require a skilled piercer who can pierce through cartilage.
They take longer to heal.

Should You Get a Conch Piercing?

If you’re looking to get a new piercing, a Conch piercing could be great for you. Consider how it will look and narrow down what type of conch is your favorite. Then, make sure you’re willing to complete the right aftercare.

Once you’re ready, seek out a reputable piercer who will use sterile materials and who offers high-quality jewelry to choose from. This will help ensure a smooth process that makes you confident about getting your conch pierced.

Shop Our Conch Piercing Jewelry