Apollo Tattoo Studio provides professional conch piercing in Los Angeles performed by experienced piercers specializing in cartilage ear piercings. The conch piercing passes through the large, flat area of cartilage in your ear's center bowl--creating a striking canvas for studs, hoops, or decorative jewelry.
Whether you want an inner conch, outer conch, or double conch configuration, our Los Angeles studio offers precise placement and premium jewelry options. We use implant-grade titanium and 14K gold from trusted brands like BVLA and Industrial Strength.
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5000+ clients 
What sets our Los Angeles conch piercing service apart
The conch offers versatile placement options. Our Los Angeles piercers assess your ear anatomy to determine optimal inner or outer conch positioning for your desired look.
Conch piercings look dramatically different with studs versus hoops. We discuss lifestyle, aesthetics, and healing to recommend the right starter jewelry.
We never use piercing guns. The conch's thick cartilage requires precise needle technique for clean punctures that heal properly.
Autoclave sterilization, single-use needles, and strict protocols ensure a safe, sterile conch piercing experience every time.
Conch piercings are popular anchors for curated ears. We help plan placement that complements existing or future piercings.
Detailed conch-specific aftercare instructions covering earbud use, sleeping position, and jewelry changes, plus free follow-up consultations.
Apollo's Premium Jewelry Partner
Handmade in Los Angeles since 1996. Lifetime guarantee. Implant-grade gold, platinum, and titanium. Over 3,000 original designs in our case — ask your piercer for a tour.
See the BVLA story →Explore our conch piercing options at our Los Angeles studio.
Sits in the ear's center bowl, closer to the ear canal. The most common conch placement, works beautifully with both studs and hoops after healing.
Also called a flat piercing, positioned in the cartilage closer to the antihelix. More surface area for decorative studs and ornate jewelry.
Two conch piercings--either both inner, both outer, or one of each--creating a curated, layered look within the ear's bowl.
A healed conch piercing fitted with a hoop that wraps around the outer edge of the ear. Requires full healing (9-12 months) before switching from initial stud.
Clear next step
Schedule your professional piercing appointment
Recommended first step
Book lobes, cartilage, or a styled ear appointment with Apollo.
Every piercing heals differently — here's what to expect
| Piercing Type | Location | Initial Healing | Full Healing | Pain Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conch (Inner) | Center bowl of ear | 3-4 months | 6-12 months | 5-6/10 |
| Conch (Outer) | Lower center, near anti-helix | 3-4 months | 6-12 months | 5-6/10 |
5000+ clientsWhat to expect during your conch piercing at our Los Angeles studio
We discuss your jewelry preferences, inner vs. outer conch placement, and lifestyle factors. If you want a hoop eventually, we plan placement accordingly--not all conch positions work well with hoops.
Choose your starter jewelry. We recommend labret studs (flat-back posts) for initial conch piercings--they heal better with less movement than hoops.
Your piercer cleans the area and prepares sterile equipment. Everything is opened fresh in front of you. We mark the exact placement for your approval.
Using a sterile single-use needle, your piercer creates a clean channel through the cartilage. The conch is one of the thicker cartilage areas, so you'll feel pressure. Jewelry is inserted immediately.
Before you leave, we cover conch-specific aftercare: saline cleaning, earbud restrictions, sleeping position, and when you can switch to a hoop.
Premium jewelry for your conch piercing--studs for healing, hoops after
Transparent pricing — jewelry sold separately
Jewelry sold separately
Jewelry sold separately
Jewelry sold separately
Jewelry sold separately
Jewelry Upgrades: Premium jewelry upgrades available. BVLA, Industrial Strength, and gold pieces priced separately based on selection. Double conch in one session receives discounted rate on second piercing.
Senior Piercer Senior Piercer
Bunny Vogt, a dedicated Senior Piercer, specializes in conch piercings and ear styling and curation at our Los Angeles studio since 2019. Her eye for aesthetics ensures every conch placement complements your unique ear anatomy and style.
Founder Master Piercer
Blue Mason, our Master Piercer and studio founder, has extensive experience with conch piercings and advanced genital work. His precise placement ensures beautiful results that heal well and look stunning with any jewelry style.
From placement planning to aftercare, we're dedicated to delivering a safe, comfortable conch piercing experience at our Los Angeles studio.
Proper aftercare is essential for conch piercings. Clean twice daily with sterile saline solution. Avoid in-ear earbuds during healing. Don't sleep on the pierced side, hold phones on the opposite ear, and never rotate or twist the jewelry.
Conch piercings typically take 9-12 months to fully heal. If you want to switch to a hoop, patience is key--wait until your piercer confirms full healing before making the change.
Book AppointmentClean 2x daily with saline solution. Avoid touching with dirty hands. Some swelling in the conch area is normal. Don't use earbuds. Don't rotate or twist jewelry.
Continue cleaning routine. Still avoid earbuds and swimming. Don't change jewelry yet. Swelling should subside. Hold phone on opposite ear. Don't sleep on the pierced side.
Conch piercings take 9-12 months to fully heal. Visit us for your first jewelry change. This is when you can switch to a hoop if desired. Cautious earbud use may resume.
Getting your conch pierced at our Los Angeles shop is easy--you can choose what works best for you.
See What Our Satisfied Clients Have to Say
"Love my conch! Bunny helped me choose the perfect placement for my curated ear. The stud is beautiful."
"Got my double conch done here and couldn't be happier. Blue is so precise with placement!"
"Just upgraded to a hoop after healing and it looks amazing! Thanks Apollo team for the guidance."
"Best conch piercing experience in LA. Clean studio, professional team, and gorgeous jewelry selection."
5000+ clients
Santa Monica, CA
Apollo was founded by Blue Mason in 2007. With 20+ years of body art experience, Blue brings master-level expertise to every piece. Read Blue's story →
Common questions about conch piercings in Los Angeles
Inner conch sits in the ear's center bowl, closer to the ear canal—it's the most common placement and works well with both studs and hoops. Outer conch (sometimes called "flat") sits in the cartilage area closer to the antihelix and typically uses studs rather than hoops.
Conch piercings rate moderate on pain scales (5-7 out of 10). The cartilage is thick, so you'll feel pressure during the piercing. The process is quick, and pain is brief and manageable for most clients.
We recommend starting with a labret stud. Studs heal better—less movement means less irritation. After full healing (9-12 months), you can switch to a hoop that's properly sized for your ear.
Avoid in-ear earbuds during healing (6-9 months minimum). They press directly on the piercing, causing irritation and healing delays. Over-ear headphones are a better option, though even these can cause pressure.
Conch piercings typically take 9-12 months to fully heal. Initial healing occurs around 6-9 months. Don't rush jewelry changes—patience prevents complications.
Irritation bumps usually result from pressure (sleeping, earbuds), touching, or improper aftercare. Continue proper care, eliminate the irritation source, and contact our Los Angeles studio if it persists. Most bumps aren't keloids—they're treatable irritation.
Yes! Double conch piercings (or combinations of inner and outer) create a distinctive look. We can perform both in one session at our Los Angeles studio.
Consider your lifestyle, healing commitment, and aesthetic goals. Studs are practical—better for healing, earbud-compatible after healing, professional-friendly. Hoops are dramatic but require full healing first and ongoing attention. Many clients start with studs and add hoops later.
Conch piercings typically take 9-12 months to fully heal, with initial healing around 6-9 months.
At Apollo Studio, conch piercing starts at $85 for the piercing service. Jewelry is sold separately — we carry implant-grade titanium, 14k gold, and premium options.
The inner conch sits in the deep center bowl of the ear, the round well right next to the ear canal. The outer conch sits on the flat ridge between that bowl and the anti-helix, on the outer part of the cartilage shelf. Both are conch piercings and heal on a similar 9-12 month timeline, but they take different jewelry — inner conch wears beautifully as a stud or small hoop, while outer conch is often done as a stud (or a large hoop that wraps the upper ear). We do both placements and can guide you through which suits your anatomy and curated-ear goal.
Yes — many curated ears include both. We typically recommend not doing both in the same session: each conch piercing puts pressure on a different part of the cartilage shelf, and giving the first one a few months to settle before adding the second leads to easier healing for both. During consultation, we'll map out the placements and jewelry plan so the finished ear looks intentional, not crowded.
We welcome clients from across the greater Los Angeles area.
Cities:
Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Venice, Culver City, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Westwood, Hollywood, Downtown LA
Walk-ins welcome or book your appointment today.
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