If you’ve been looking for a sign to get a conch piercing this is it. But more than affirming your decision this will give you the lowdown on everything about it — from the pain level to the aftercare.
I’m sure you’ve spent hours and hours just thinking about whether or not you should go for it. And, to be honest, I don’t blame you. The conch piercing is as edgy as it is wearable. Depending on the jewelry you choose, it can go from bold to chic. It also looks good by itself or matched with other piercings for a curated ear.
Before you finally have it done, here are all the important things you need to know so you can set your worries aside and fully prepare for your new piercing.
What is a conch piercing and how is it done?
A conch piercing is done in the middle of your ear’s cartilage. If you’re not sure where it is, it’s the one with the most space on your ear.
You can get an inner or outer conch piercing depending on the shape of your ear. The style of earrings you’ll wear will also depend on this.
If the higher fold of your ear has more space, you may want to opt for studs. If the lower fold has more space, you may opt to wear hoops.
The good news is this type of piercing suits any and every ear shape. But it’s always best to ask your trusted piercer questions about placement and what will suit your ear best!
A conch piercing is done the same way most piercings are done. The most important thing to note is to find a reliable piercer who’s experienced and puts a premium on sanitation.
What type of jewelery to get
Aside from the style of jewelry, the material of the jewelry is also important! Make sure your piercer uses any of these: real gold or platinum, implant-grade stainless steel, or surgical titanium.
This will lessen the chance of your body wanting to get rid of the ‘foreign object’, which means less irritation and hopefully faster healing.
It’s always better to pay more for something that’s of good quality instead of opting for something that’s just okay at the time you got it but not the best in the long run.
How bad do conch piercings hurt?
Ah, the question everyone wants answers to.
You must remember that unlike the more ‘traditional’ or ‘typical’ piercings done on the lobe, the conch piercing is done to the cartilage of your ear. It’s not as hard as a bone but it’s not as soft as your earlobe either so you must expect it to be more painful than your usual piercing.
Of course, your pain threshold plays into this too. You may hear some people say it’s not painful at all while others will say it’s the worst piercing to get. Pain is relative!
Also, contrary to popular belief, taking painkillers before getting pierced may actually do more harm than good. Limit bleeding by avoiding NSAIDs such as ibuprofen.
How to take care of your piercing
For a fresh piercing
A piercing is essentially a wound, so you can definitely treat it like one.
Make sure you always wash your hand before touching or cleaning your conch piercing.
Just like you would a wound, you’re going to make sure your piercing is clean. Use water and soap or a saline solution to wash your piercing. You may think that alcohol is good because it’s antibacterial, but we all know how it feels to pour alcohol to an open wound. Just don’t do it! Alcohol also dries the piercing out too much, which may lead to cracks and more bleeding.
H2Ocean Piercing Aftercare Spray
NeilMed Piercing Aftercare Fine Mist
Steri-Wash Sterile Saline Piercing Wash
While healing
If you’re a side-sleeper, make sure you don’t sleep on the side where your new piercing is. Train yourself to sleep on your back while your piercing is still healing so as not to cause it stress.
Believe it or not, your nutrition can also help your wound’s healing process. Make sure you have lots of grains and fruits in your diet, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Aside from that, you also have to keep an eye out for signs of healing — and signs that it may not be healing well.
Is it swelling, hurting, and bleeding more than what you think is normal? You may want to go to the ER to have it checked. You can never be too cautious about an infection!
Healing time
Adding new activities to your daily routine that may help hasten the wound-healing process is definitely a plus. But it’s also important to know that wound healing takes time — lots of it. For a conch piercing, it takes somewhere between three and nine months. Yes, it can take that long!
So make sure you don’t rush the process and just take care of it as much as you can while watching out for signs that you think aren’t normal (as mentioned above, this can be extra swelling, throbbing and more).
Can you wear earbuds with a conch piercing?
While you’re healing, definitely not. Once you’re fully healed, you can try. It depends on the placement of your piercing as well as you earbuds.
With all of this info, I think you’re more than ready to get that conch piercing. Good luck, and rock it!