Saw your favorite celebrity rocking some cool conch piercing and now you want one too? I can relate to that. Most people get into piercing because either they get inspired or get star-struck by seeing their favorite celebrity wearing rad piercing jewelry. Getting one is a fine choice but a lot of thinking and decision-making goes behind piercings, especially if it is a delicate place like a conch. One of which is the gauge size for conch piercing.
Imagine this, you are gearing up to join the conch piercing club, and someone throws around words like “gauges”. Hold up, what gauge is a conch piercing? And how are you supposed to choose a gauge for your conch piercing? It is not as complicated as it seems right now, I will be elaborating on the matter in this piece.
Key Takeaways
- Gauge is the thickness of the piercing needle jewelry.
- 16 gauge is good for conch piercing in general.
- Factors that affect the gauge for piercing are location, anatomy, comfort as a compass, healing time, & aesthetic harmony.
- For your conch piercing jewelry, you should choose quality material that will not cause any negative effect on your skin, such as titanium, surgical stainless steel, bioplastic, niobium, glass & gold.
- You can determine the right-sized ring for your conch by measuring the piercing or by consulting with your piercer.
- A few pros of getting a conch piercing are stylish and unique, it has versatility in jewelry options, has aesthetic freedom, has the potential for multiple piercings, and has no interference. A few cons of getting a conch piercing are pain and discomfort, longer healing time, risk of infection, initial swelling, limited sleeping position, and hair and clothing interference.
Piercing Gauges: Short Primer
Before we dive into the specifics of conch-piercing gauges, let’s embark on a quick journey to understand what those mysterious “gauges” are all about. In the realm of body piercing, the term “gauge” refers to the thickness of the needle or jewelry used for piercing. Interestingly, lower gauge numbers translate to thicker needles or jewelry.
So, when you hear about 14-gauge you are dealing with something thicker than a sleek 20-gauge. And you can not randomly pick a gauge number of your piercing. There are a lot of considerations that go behind determining what gauge number would be perfect for your specific body part piercing, especially those that deal with earrings since the skin is very delicate there.
Types Of Tragus Piercing
There are 4 types of tragus piercing in general. Which are:
1. Captive bead ring
A simple ring with a ball or bead in the middle is called a ball closure ring or captive bead ring. It is such a simple and stylish ring that you can wear it pretty much anywhere you want. A few good placements for captive bead rings are conch, belly button, lips, septum, eyebrow, etc. But one of the most placements would be the tragus. You will see many people rocking a cool metal captive bead ring on their tragus.
2. Barbell earring
Do you know the barbell that fitness enthusiasts use to exercise? The barbell earring is of a similar shape. It has two beads on both ends which gives it a barbell look. Some barbell earning can be slightly curved and the beads are straight, which may give it a horseshoe look. It is like wearing a mini teeny-tiny barbell or horseshoe on your pierced area. There are a few placements for barbell earrings and among those, the tragus piercing is quite prominent.
3. Tragus flat back earrings
Flat back earrings may look like barbell earrings but they are two different types. The back of this earring is flat and the front side has a bead. You can rock tragus flat black earning on your tragus without any issue. Plus side of this type of earrings is they minimize the friction or rubbing on the skin.
4. Hoops
If you want something really small and simple for your tragus then go for a hoop-type ring. They are small and simple round ring-type jewelry that you can give an elegant vibe to your style.
Gauge for A Conch Piercing
Now, let’s direct the spotlight on the gauge for conch piercing and the number or size that is suitable for your conch. In general, 16 gauge is recommended for both your outer conch and inner conch piercing. But you may go for a 14 gauge for your conch piercing as well if your piercer allows it for a conch earring.
The thing with gauge for conch piercing is, that it may vary from person to person because conch anatomy and conch thickness vary from person to person. Just like a same-sized shoe would not fit everyone, likewise same-size gauge would not be perfect for everyone’s earrings.
You can not just pick a gauge size as you wish. You need to keep in mind a lot of considerations before you decide on gauge size. This is because you are essentially getting a cartilage earring and need the correct gauge or you risk damage! Randomly going for a gauge size without thinking much could lead to increased pain during the piercing procedure, delayed healing, not being able to wear preferred jewelry, jewelry being too tight or too loose, etc.
You have to understand that the conch is a very delicate place. Getting an infection on the conch area could cause permanent scarring or permanent damage. Going for a bigger gauge and later not taking proper care could easily get the cartilage earring infected.
2 Ways to Determine Right-Sized Conch Piercing Ring for You
Generally, you can go about 2 ways to measure your conch piercing and figure out what size ring or hoop you need. Which are:
- Measuring the piercing.
- Consulting with your piercer.
Measuring the piercing
Use a caliper or ruler to measure the distance across the widest part of your conch piercing. Basically measure the piercing hole to the edge of the ear. This will give you an idea of the diameter or length required for your ring.
Consulting with your piercer
Your piercer knows what gauge they used to create the piercing hole on your conch. So, they can tell what measurement you need for conch jewelry.
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5 Factors That Affects The Gauge for A Conch Piercing
Intrigued to know what factors affect the gauge size for a conch piercing? There can be quite a few factors out there, I have listed only the crucial ones below.
1. Location
Conch earrings may seem pretty small, is a bit but that does not make things any easier. Do you want a piercing on the inner conch or the outer conch? Location on the conch matter, can affect if you will use a thicker gauge or a narrower one depending on the type of earring.
2. Anatomy
The ear size and thickness of the conch varies from person to person. Your piercer will take into consideration your conch size and the thickness of the conch for the cartilage earring so they can choose the right gauge size for your piercing.
3. Comfort as a compass
You could say your comfort is your compass. A bigger gauge will definitely provide you with increased pain and more discomfort during the piercing procedure. You will feel more discomfort during the healing phase as well. So, if you want to go through as little discomfort as you can then surely you should go for a narrower gauge for your piercing.
4. Healing time
Imagine a lengthy healing time for your conch, does not sound so good, does it? Lengthy healing time means you have to take extra care for the piercing for longer, go through the discomfort for longer, and not to mention your piercing will be prone to infection. And guess what can cause a lengthy healing time? A bigger gauge. The bigger the piercing hole, the more time it takes to heal. If you want a short healing time go for a narrower gauge for your conch piercing.
5. Aesthetic harmony
What is the prime reason behind you getting a conch piercing? To look cool and fashionable right? But you won’t be able to wear your preferred type of piercing jewelry if you do not consider the gauge size. A bigger gauge will make a bigger hole and small or thin jewelry won’t fit well, it will feel loose. So, if you want to go for delicate simple piercing jewelry consider getting a smaller gauge for your conch piercing.
Conch Piercing Jewelry
You can wear hoop earrings or a ring on your conch piercing. There are plenty of styles out there for you to choose from with the wide range of earring accessories that are available nowadays! Not to mention you can get custom-made piercing jewelry as well for your precious conch.
The bar length for the barbell/labret of your conch jewelry should be between 6 mm to 8 mm. And the inner diameter for hoops is 10 mm to 14 mm. Rarely the measurement could be more or less, usually, it stays within the mentioned range. But, make sure to consult with your piercer to know what specific measurement would be perfect for your unique conch piercing jewelry.
For the material for your lovely conch jewelry, you can go for:
- Titanium
- Surgical stainless steel
- Bioplastic
- Niobium
- Glass
- Gold
Choosing a low-grade material for your conch jewelry can seem like a way to save some money, but in the long term, it can cause you many issues. Some materials may cause irritation and in some cases, it can create mild infection as well. So, even if it costs a bit more money, do not hold back from choosing a fine-quality material that is less likely to cause an allergic reaction or any negative reaction to your skin.
Pros & Cons of Conch Piercing
In this portion, I have made a list of the pros and cons of getting a conch piercing. Make sure to take a look before you get your conch pierced.
Pros
Conch piercings are great and here are the pros of getting one:
1. Stylish and unique
Getting a conch piercing can be quite unique and it is also pretty stylish. It can add an extra layer of coolness to your look.
2. Versatility jewelry option
There are plenty of jewelry sizes and types for you to choose from. The range of jewelry options for conch is quite wide. The versatility gives you more options to choose from.
3. Aesthetic freedom
You will get aesthetic freedom as well. You can choose if you want the piercing on your inner conch or on your outer conch. Trust me, having this sort of aesthetic freedom is awesome. It gives you the choice to wear the jewelry right where you want to.
4. Potential for multiple piercings
Conch piercing gives you the option to get multiple piercings. People who want more can easily get multiple cool conch piercings if they want.
5. No interference
It does not interfere with your daily life. You can wear any type of clothing and it won’t cause any hindrance. Not interfering with daily life is one of the perks of having a conch piercing.
Cons
As with anything, there are cons that are related to it. Here are the cons of a conch piercing:
1. Painful and discomfort
Getting any sort of piercing will hurt a bit. But getting one of your ear cartilage or conch can be more painful than getting a piercing on regular skin like belly piercing. If you want a conch piercing then be ready to go through some pain and discomfort during the procedure as well as during the healing time.
2. Longer healing time
Cartilage or conch piercing usually takes more time than getting a piercing on your regular skin. Skin tissue heals faster than cartilage tissue. You have to understand the conch cartilage has no blood circulation. The lack of blood causes it to heal super slow. Do not worry, your conch piercing will heal but will take longer than your usual piercing.
3. Risk of infection
As with any sort of piercing, your conch piercing may get infected as well. Because the conch area has next to no blood circulation, getting an infection in this area would take much longer to heal and could complicate things.
4. Initial swelling
After you get your conch pierced it will have some initial swelling. This swelling will go away on its own as the area heals.
5. Limited sleeping position
While the conch area heals you won’t be able to sleep using certain positions. You have to choose a sleeping position where the pierced conch does not get pressed against the pillow. Sleeping on the pierced conch side may irritate the skin, disturb healing and the friction may end up causing an infection.
6. Hair and clothing interference
If you have long hair, then your hair may get tangled in the conch jewelry. Not to mention wearing and taking off clothing might be difficult during the healing stage of your conch piercing.
FAQs
Will my conch piercing hole close up if I don’t wear jewelry?
Once your conch piercing heals up completely, it will not close up even if you do not wear any jewelry. Because creating a hole in the cartilage can be permanent and will not close up over time. But the skin on the conch may grow and tighten or close the hole.
How painful can be conch piercing?
Even though pain levels may vary from person to person in general the conch piercing can be moderately painful and slightly more painful compared to getting a piercing on regular skin like the belly. The reason behind this increased pain is the thickness of the cartilage in the conch area.
What are the types of conch piercing?
There are two types of conch piercing. Which are:
- Inner conch piercing (Center hollow of the ear).
- Outer conch piercing (Outer rim of the conch).
How long does it take for a conch piercing to heal?
Generally, it takes around 6 to 9 months for a conch piercing to heal. Sometimes it may even take up to a year to fully heal. Conch cartilage lacks blood circulation, which is why it takes longer for it to heal compared to other piercings.
What is the price of a conch piercing?
A conch piercing can be anywhere from $30 to $90, where the rest of the price comes from the chosen jewelry. The type of jewelry and the cost of materials like gold hoop earrings will increase the price significantly! The price will also depend on the piercer as well.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right gauge for your conch piercing is crucial. If you choose a narrow gauge that is less than 14 then it might be a bit too narrow for you to wear your preferred jewelry. On the other hand, going for a larger gauge might make a bigger hole than you need. It is generally advised to go with 16 gauge for a conch piercing. However, you should consult with your piercer regarding gauge size before going through the piercing procedure.
Comfort, healing time, jewelry size and type, and placement of the piercing are some of the most crucial factors you need to keep in mind before deciding what gauge you want.
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