Earrings for conch and helix?

[EnglishRain]

I got my conch and my helix done at the end of August, and I think they're healing reasonably well. My body always takes a while to settle with piercings, and my skin can be quite sensitive.

For those of you with a helix or a conch, please can you show me what you wear in them? Are there types of stud/hoop you think are better to support ongoing healing? Anywhere you can recommend to buy from?

My piercer said rings/hoops shouldn't be used in a conch when first pierced. I've got studs in both at the minute. My helix has a small keloid on the back but it's not problematic. Will attach what I have at the moment. Ear is a bit red as I just gave them a good clean!

You've got another 3-6 months minimum (and probably more if you tend towards keloids) of keeping in plain studs - the ones you have look unsuitable for the healing stage, as the sharp edges will be constantly irritating the piercings whilst you sleep.

A CBR is the best for the helix after full healing has taken place.

I agree with the PP. You need another 6 months of healing before messing around with hoops. Maria Tash does some beautiful earrings for conch and helix but they are expensive.

Just a simple hoop in mine. I've had it done for over 12 months now and it can still get sore. My hair used to wrap itself around my stud and pull (plus I rode a motorbike and it caught on my helmet) so my tattooist put a hoop in it. I've not changed it myself yet.

@MitziK are you saying that a plain stud eg. With no crystals held in claws, would be better? I still don't sleep on the piercings, but my hair does get stuck on the helix in particular. The crystals on the conch one are not held by claws so that one isn't too bad. It seems really variable as to how long they take to heal, but I expect to be on the longer end given how my skin can be. I've got a standard lobe piercing in each ear and my belly button done, helix site is the only keloid so far, hoping it won't get bigger.

Thanks for the recommendations @zonkin and @TheReef your hoop suits your ear well.

Yes, a plain titanium bar would be better, as it allows the fistula to form and heal properly.

I have had my piercings for years (CBRs) and every so often, they can still get grumpy, despite being a very quick healer - but I waited and asked the piercer whether they were ready for changing, leaving when I was told first time that they weren't ready yet.

Once they're healed, the slightly uneven pressure of a hoop is not problem, but before then, yes, even though it's a bastard to get your hair caught in a bar (less than getting them caught in a butterfly style, as they're stupid in cartilage piercings anyhow), you need to let it heal totally before creating more microtears which, in your case, causes keloid tissue.

Have a look at Astrid and Miyu, they have mini hoops called clickers for helix piercings and they also sell conch hoops.

My conch was done in February and the original bar was hindering healing as it was a standard length and there was too much leverage. I swapped out for a shorter ptfe bar (it also has a slight flex) with push fit fitting so I could change the look without having to remove the bar about three months ago.

Maria Tash. Soel Gold for more affordable clickers