Conch Piercings: Jewellery, FAQs & Guide

Conch piercing is rising in popularity and is especially popular when adorned with a hoop or ring. This is usually fitted close to the ear for a cute cuff style look. The conch piercing can be performed in several locations but the most common is in the ‘shell’ of the ear, hence the name. It is said that the inner part of the ear looks somewhat like a conch seashell. In this article, we have gathered all your most frequently asked conch piercings questions to help you, whether you have already had this piercing or are thinking about making the conch your next piercing.

How long does a conch piercing take to heal?

Conch piercing healing time will usually take between 3 – 9 months to fully heal. It is often recommended not to change the piercing jewellery until a year after piercing. With conch piercing healing tips such as not wearing headphones and not changing the jewellery, you should find the process runs smoothly. Make sure, as part of your conch piercing aftercare, to bathe the area twice a day with a salt water or Tea Tree Oil solution.

During conch piercing healing, take care to avoid knocking the area or putting pressure on the piercing. For example, make sure to avoid sleeping on the side of your piercing and avoid wearing headphones during the initial healing duration.

Customers sometimes worry about having problems such as infections with their new piercings but following simple aftercare regimes can help put your mind at ease. It doesn’t take much to keep your piercing clean. The key is in doing it regularly (usually twice a day). Keeping up with good aftercare practices during and after healing will help reduce the chances of a conch piercing infection. Aside from regularly cleaning the piercing, cleaning other areas such as around the ear and your headphones can help you ensure you don’t get an infected conch piercing.

When can I change my conch piercing?

We know many people are keen to change their conch piercing to a ring but during the healing process, it is definitely best to stick to a barbell or labret to minimise the pressure on the piercing and reduce the risk of it getting knocked or caught. We recommend waiting for a year before changing the jewellery. Believe us, your patience will pay off in the long run!

How much does a conch piercing hurt?

Many people ask how bad do conch piercings hurt? Conch piercing pain is on a level with most other cartilage ear piercing but some consider it to be a little more painful due to its location. Generally, it is thought of as a medium pain of about 4 to 5 out of 10. It is important to remember that conch piercing pain will feel different to different people and the rating is based on an average score.

Is the conch the most painful piercing?

The conch piercing is not considered the most painful piercing, however, it is considered to hurt more than some other ear piercings. This is due to the thickness of the cartilage that the piercing passes through. This piercing can sometimes bleed afterwards, especially if you have been pierced with a dermal punch, as this removes a small part of the cartilage. The piercing is also considered more painful due to the hardness of the cartilage in this part of the ear.

Does rook or conch hurt more?

The general opinion is that the rook and conch piercings have an equal amount of pain. Both piercings will hurt because they are passing through thick and hard areas of cartilage. However, the swelling you experience may differ. Again, this can vary as each body will react differently. The rook piercing can appear to swell more significantly because it is a smaller part of the ear.

What part of the ear is the conch?

The conch is the inner shell of the ear. Its name derives from the conch seashell which is of a similar shape. This is the middle part of the ear cartilage which offers plenty of space to achieve a fully customisable piercing. You can even add to your conch piercing by making it a double, triple, or quadruple cluster piercing.

What do conch piercings help with?

Through anecdotal evidence, it is said that conch piercings can help with chronic pain. This can be linked to acupuncture where points on the ear are used to relieve pressure. This isn’t the only ear piercing that can help with pain. It is now widely acknowledged by the general public that Daith piercings seem to alleviate the symptoms of migraines in some cases.

Outer Conch Vs Inner Conch

There are two options with the conch piercing. The inner conch is perhaps the most common and is placed in the lower shell of the ear. The outer conch is placed at the top of the ear ‘shell’. The inner conch piercing can be easier to wear with a BCR or ring than the outer conch due to the location. However, both will usually initially be pierced with a labret.

There are even more options than the inner and outer conch. You can get double, triple, or even quadruple conch piercings to create a piercing cluster. You could also try out the rare conch orbital piercing. This is often mistaken for a regular conch piercing with ring jewellery but is actually a different orientation to the usual conch piercing and requires two piercing holes to give the look that the jewellery is ‘orbiting’ the ear cartilage.

What piercings look good with a conch?

While piercing combinations are a matter of opinion, especially when it comes to creating your own piercing constellation, some of the more widely popular combinations include adding a flat piercing, helix or rook piercing to your collection. The overall look of your ear will also vary depending on the type of jewellery you use. A labret, for example, will look completely different from a conch piercing with a ring.

What gauge should a conch piercing be?

The conch piercing gauge will vary depending on how you were pierced. With a conch piercing, you can choose between a needle and a dermal punch. The dermal punch will give a larger gauge whereas the piercing needle will give a standard size of usually about 16ga (1.2mm). Remember, it is always best to check with your piercer which size you have been pierced with in order to make sure your new jewellery is comfortable and doesn’t undo all your good healing efforts. Once your piercing has healed you can choose an appropriate conch ring size for your new piercing.

What is the price of a conch piercing?

While it varies for each store the current conch piercing price at Blue Banana is £30 - £35, depending on the jewellery you choose. We always recommend getting piercing with a form of titanium jewellery as this material is hypoallergenic and durable. The cost of this piercing reflects the experience needed to safely perform a cartilage piercing.

Now you know more about conch piercings why not take a look at the rest of our Piercing Information so you can be sure you have all the information you need to make a decision about your next piercings. If you are ahead of the game, then skip straight to our conch piercing jewellery to customise your piercing.

Conch Piercing Procedure

Looking to get a conch piercing? Use our store locator to find your local Blue Banana Studio. There’s no need to book an appointment; you can simply go to the store of your choice and be pierced on the day.

Please ensure that you have checked the conch piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the conch piercing age restriction is 16 (ID may be required) or 13 with parental consent from a parent or guardian who is present.

Once you’re all booked in, you will have some forms to fill out. A member of Blue Banana staff will go through the steps and can help you pick out jewellery. Then you can meet the piercer! They too will give you a quick consultation and briefing before discussing the conch piercing location. There are two locations to choose from with a conch piercing. The outer conch is placed in the lower cartilage whereas the inner conch is placed in the upper part of the shell of the ear.

The conch piercing procedure typically involves a sterilised gauge needle which your piercer will pass through the cartilage, inserting the jewellery in the process. They may also use an additional tool to support the ear cartilage while the piercing in performed. There is an alternative way to perform the conch piercing which involves a dermal punch designed to create a larger hole for a bigger gauge of piercing jewellery. This will give the look of a stretched piercing. Since cartilage cannot be stretched, a section of the cartilage is removed to create this effect so make sure this is definitely what you want as you will need a surgical procedure to reverse this. The piercing site is cleaned thoroughly and marked with a pen first so you can check that you are happy with the location.

Conch Aftercare Advice

A conch piercing can take 3-9 months to fully heal due to the piercing passing through the cartilage of the ear. The healing time varies from person to person and will need top aftercare to ensure speedy healing.

During the healing process, it is important to avoid knocking the piercing or putting pressure on the area as this will slow down healing and can even cause unnecessary problems. For example, make sure not to sleep on the side with the new piercing. Other steps that can be taken to aid with healing include tying back long hair, not wearing earphones or other ear coverings, and avoiding contact with any kind of cosmetics including fake tan and hair products.

Like any piercing, it is important to maintain top hygiene when caring for your new piercing. Sticking to your aftercare routine for your conch piercing will help limit potential infections and ensure your piercing gets the best chance at healing quickly. Clean your conch piercing twice a day with salt water solution or Tea Tree Oil by gently bathing it using cotton wool.

While it is important to ensure your general ear hygiene is first rate, it is also advisable to avoid using soap on your new piercing so be sure to take extra care while washing your ears and removing ear wax.

If you would like further information, make sure to read our full Piercing Aftercare Guides to learn about side effects to look out for.

Choosing Conch Piercing Jewellery

There’s plenty of options when it comes to conch piercing jewellery from Blue Banana. Some popular styles include:

Conch Piercing Hoop
Conch Piercing Stud
Conch Piercing Ring
Conch Piercing Jewellery Surgical Steel

We tend to recommend choosing piercing jewellery such as a labret or straight barbell for the first year of having your conch piercing as this is much less likely to become caught or get knocked against anything, therefore helping your piercing to heal. Once your piercing is fully healed there are plenty of ring and hoop options to try out, which circle around the outer part of the ear – a popular look for conch piercings. It is vital for the healing process that you remain patient and don’t change your jewellery until your piercer has advised you to do so.

There are a variety of ways to style up the look of your conch piercing, especially if you want to coordinate your look with the rest of your piercings. This includes cute jewelled labrets and a variety of coloured BCRs to fit your vibe. When choosing your piercing jewellery there are a few things you should consider:

Jewellery Size – everyone’s ears are different sizes, so make sure to pick conch jewellery that sits just right in your ear. If you pick a hoop with a diameter or gauge that is too small it may not fit around the outer edge of your ear.
Jewellery Material – piercing materials differ not only through their look but also how they could react to your skin. If you have sensitive skin that may be prone to irritation, one of the many Titanium jewellery options is recommended. This material comes in a variety of colours and is durable too!

When searching for a piece of jewellery make sure you know your measurements. We display the piercing jewellery measurements as Gauge first (displayed in millimetres) then Diameter/Length, e.g. 1.2mm x 8mm.

Gauge – this is the thickness of the jewellery itself.
Diameter – the width across the widest point of the jewellery for hoops and rings.
Length – the length of the piercing bar, usually not including the ball.

We generally recommend that for new piercings you choose jewellery with a wider diameter or length. This can allow for extra room in case of any swelling. Make sure to check out the tips from our piercing guides for information about changing and removing piercing jewellery.

Other Guides & Ranges

Please Note: Blue Banana piercing information is based on knowledge from our experiences as one of the UK's top piercing studios. All details provided should be read alongside professional advice. Please see our full Piercing Articles Disclaimer, here.