Can you have a conch pierced with a hoop straight away?

You love the idea of a conch piercing, but you do not want to end up with plain initial jewellery in a style you are unsure about.

We understand: initial piercing jewellery may not be quite the look you had in mind.

Or perhaps you’ve just left your piercer and already want to change your jewellery?

In this article, we’ll explain how to choose jewellery for a conch piercing. You’ll see why a hoop isn’t always a good idea. Our catalogue jewellery is for healed piercings.

Yes, we’ve already given you part of the answer.

But stay with us! You might pick up 2-3 useful tips.

When can you wear a hoop in a conch piercing?

Let’s start with a little context.

The conch is the spacious, hollow part of the outer ear. 

Distinctive and easy to style, it’s a popular placement. We love a conch hoop or a more discreet stud. It works beautifully in an ear stack, combining several pieces of jewellery.

But we suspect you knew that already.

Let’s get to the point.

The choice of a hoop or a post for an initial piercing depends on your anatomy, the placement and the fit of the jewellery. Let your piercer decide, following the APP’s criteria for initial piercing jewellery. Do not replace the jewellery yourself before the piercing has fully healed. 

A poorly fitted hoop can catch or put pressure on the piercing. The shape of the jewellery alone does not determine whether it is suitable.

But how do I know whether my piercing has healed?

We’re getting to that.

To assess how your cartilage piercing is healing, look at the piercing site. These signs alone cannot confirm complete healing:

• It should have its normal colour
• There should be no clear or yellowish fluid coming from it
• There should be no redness, swelling or pain

Following your piercer’s aftercare advice supports healing. Healing times vary, and a conch piercing can take several months or longer to settle.

If there are complications or repeated irritation, healing can take longer.

Now it’s time to explain a little more.

There’s more to the answer.

In some cases, your piercer may be able to fit a hoop earlier if healing is progressing well. Time alone does not establish that a change is safe. Any change during healing must be assessed and carried out by your piercer.

How do you choose your jewellery when it’s time for a change? What size should your hoop be?

What size jewellery should you choose for a conch piercing?

A conch piercing is relatively close to the edge of the ear, though not as close as a helix piercing.

For a healed conch, a hoop diameter of 10 or 12 mm may be suitable, depending on your anatomy and placement. 

You could also wear a stud for a more discreet, versatile look. A post length of 6 mm and a thickness of 1.2 mm are common options, but the fit must suit your piercing.

These are standard sizes you’ll find in shops, including ours.

As for materials, did you think we’d finished? Titanium and gold are 2 materials often chosen for piercing jewellery, provided their specific quality is suitable for the intended use.

Stainless steel and silver, including gold-plated or rhodium-plated silver, are possibilities for healed piercings. However, some people are allergic to them.

To insert or remove jewellery in a fully healed piercing, follow the instructions for its particular fastening. For an appropriate hinged hoop, unclip the fastening, open it enough to guide one end through the piercing and close it securely. Do not force the jewellery or pull on your ear; ask your piercer for help if needed.

Conclusion

We hope you now have a clearer idea of how to approach a conch piercing.

We know waiting can be disappointing.

But giving your piercing the months it needs to heal is worthwhile. 

Take care of your piercing by cleaning it daily as advised by your piercer and avoiding knocks and snags. This supports healing, although it cannot guarantee that there will be no problems.

If you’d like the look of a conch hoop before your piercing has finished healing, an ear cuff may be an option, provided it does not touch or put pressure on the healing piercing.

These non-piercing pieces can give you a preview of the look you want while you wait for your piercing to be ready for a change.

Discover our collection here:

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