The name "Conch" comes from the English word for shell, which perfectly describes its location. This piercing is made in the deep, concave part of the cartilage (the so-called conch shell).

We distinguish two main types:

• Inner Conch: Located in the very center of the ear cavity, right next to the entrance to the ear canal.
• Outer Conch: Located higher and closer to the outer edge of the ear, on the flat part of the cartilage (today more commonly called simply a piercing Flat).

The ear cup is one of the thicker and harder areas of cartilage, so piercing it with a needle requires some force from the piercer.

The pain is felt more clearly than with the classic Helix and is most often rated at 5 to 6 on a 10-point scale. The procedure itself is associated with a strong feeling of pressure. It is often accompanied by a characteristic "crunch", which, due to its location in the "acoustic" shell of the ear, seems very loud to the patient.

The conch is located inside the ear, which protects the decorative front of the earring from getting caught. However, the problem is its back part (the flat labret disc), which rests on the back of the head and is susceptible to contact with hair or masks.

• The initial stage of healing (swelling goes down): 3 to 5 months.
• Complete healing of the canal: from 6 to 12 months.

1. Don't touch: Avoid touching the earring with dirty hands and refrain from "spinning" it.
2. Cleanse regularly: Wash the piercing site 2-3 times a day with sterile saline solution.
3. Avoid chemicals: Avoid using hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or antibiotic ointment. They may irritate the wound and delay healing.
4. Be careful with your hair and clothes: Make sure that shampoo or conditioner does not remain on the ear after bathing. Be careful when putting on sweaters!

This is the most important point of the program. If you dream of a large hoop wrapping around your ear, you need to be patient.

During healing:

The absolute and only safe requirement to start with is straight surgical titanium labret (G23). A straight barbell does not rotate in the wound, allowing the skin cells to calmly cover the canal.

• Rod Thickness: Most often 1.2 mm or 1.6 mm.
• Starting Length: Usually 8 mm, 10 mm or more (the ear cup can swell enormously a few days after the procedure).

Downsize (rod replacement): It's key here! After about 6-8 weeks, when the large swelling has gone down, the labret will begin to protrude significantly from the back of the ear. Too long a barbell will constantly catch on the hair and lead to the formation of painful granulation tissue. Go to the studio to replace the rod with a shorter one (e.g. 6 mm).

After healing:

When the canal is 100% healed on a straight labret (usually after 6-12 months), you are only limited by your imagination:

• Clickers and wheels: In order for the circle to cover the edge of the ear, it must have a fairly large diameter (usually 10 mm, 12 mm or more, depending on the anatomy).
• Chains: The hit of recent seasons! They are worn on both ends of the labret, allowing the chain to hang gently along the edge of the ear, imitating a ring but offering greater comfort.
• Extended fronts: Due to the large flat surface in the shell, Conch is the perfect place for powerful crystal clusters.