Frequently Asked Questions

Caier is a folk craft that originated in Sichuan, China. As the character 采 ('to pick') suggests, it is the art of gently removing debris from inside the ear.

Legend has it that it was once a leisure enjoyed exclusively by nobility; after spreading to the public, it became a specialised ear-cleaning trade.

Modern caier goes further — combining ear, eye and nose care with ear candling into a new kind of personal care and relaxation.

Ear picking = cleaning out earwax.

Caier = cleansing and care of the inner and outer ear, plus relaxation and stress relief.

Taiwan has long had 'ear picking' at traditional barbershops and men's grooming salons, focused purely on removing wax. Caier, from Sichuan, combines wax cleaning with outer-ear massage, a light, fresh feeling in the ears and the simple pleasure of a well-placed scratch — a craft devoted to relaxation and care.

Both spellings are used interchangeably. Worth noting: 采 is not a simplified character — it is in fact the older form, and the one closer to the true spirit of the craft.

It varies from person to person, and also with each practitioner's technique and tools.

Most people feel no pain at all — just a pleasant tickle during the session and wonderful lightness afterwards.

Depending on your constitution, sensitivity, earwax condition and how you feel on the day, a small number of guests may feel mild soreness, stinging or pressure.

Some discomfort is simply nerves. Ear cleaning is a genuinely soothing experience — come with an open mind and enjoy it!

Of course! Caier is a relaxing treatment everyone can enjoy.

It depends on the child. Because young children find it hard to lie still, and sudden movement could cause injury, we do not encourage caier for children under 12. Parents are advised to see an ENT doctor instead.

Absolutely — we are happy to serve senior guests. For those who are bedridden or have limited mobility, we recommend seeing an ENT doctor first. Home-visit services are assessed case by case; feel free to message us.

It depends on where the injury is. For outer-ear injuries such as otitis externa or skin wounds, we generally advise against ear cleaning while the skin is sensitive. Ear-shape differences such as cauliflower ear are fine as long as the canal is normal. For inner-ear injuries — otitis media, scratched canals or a perforated eardrum — ear cleaning is not recommended at all.

Of course! Hearing-impaired guests need earwax care too. One thing we must say up front: caier does not restore hearing.

Certainly. A professional practitioner adjusts tools and techniques to each ear type.

Dry ears or oily ears — every kind of ear is welcome here.

We do.

Teaching is not our main business, however,

so enrolment involves the right timing — and a few requirements.

See the Professional Ear-Cleaning Practitioner Course page for details.

Here are two interview videos you can watch first:

【至福の体験】初心者でも安心！オススメの耳かきマッサージ店 | 台湾yon チャンネル (in Japanese, with Chinese and English subtitles)

https://youtu.be/40OO5UveGP0

深夜まで営業の耳かき屋に行ったら極上すぎてとろけちゃった♡ | サンエン台湾 Sanyuan_TAIWAN

https://youtu.be/D5AW_0AHjMM

It mainly comes down to genetics, which determines your earwax type.

Dry-type earwax is crumbly, grey to tan in colour.

Wet (oily) earwax is sticky, yellow-brown to dark brown.

Dry ears typically produce flaky wax and tend to come with drier skin.

Oily ears produce damp, clumpy wax, usually with oilier skin and stronger body scent.

Most people in Taiwan and East Asia have dry ears.

Globally, however, about seventy percent of people have wet ears.

Both are formed from earwax; the difference is density.

When excess wax blocks the canal and starts to affect hearing or ear health, it is called cerumen impaction.

Left in place over a long time, impacted wax gradually hardens from the core outwards and becomes an ear stone.

Usually not — it isn't a normal state.

A very large wax blockage usually means cerumen impaction, which — like ear stones — affects hearing. You might notice muffled or lost hearing after a shower that recovers after a while or after sleeping. These are warning signs — if this sounds familiar, please see a doctor first.

Left untreated, it can lead to otitis externa, pressure imbalance in the ear, or even bacterial infection.

Large flakes of ear skin usually appear in people who often pick their own ears, and can be an early sign of fungal infection. Have it treated quickly and keep up daily hygiene to prevent it spreading.

Most dramatic earwax videos online are staged for effect. Clinically, very few people have wax like that — and it signals poor ear health. Please don't wish for giant earwax, ear flakes or ear stones; they are neither healthy nor normal.

From a practitioner's point of view, we don't recommend putting either one inside the ear canal.

By nature, cotton swabs suit oily ear types and ear picks suit dry ones — but ear picks scratch the canal easily, so use them sparingly.

If you simply want to keep things fresh, a shallow wipe at the canal entrance with a cotton swab is enough.

We don't recommend it.

Dry-eared people who use ear picks frequently tend to injure the skin.

Oily-eared people who dig daily often end up with unbearable itching.

Leave at least 10 days between each self-cleaning.

When you shower, wash the outer ear, behind the ear and the earlobe with facial cleanser.

Afterwards, give your ears a gentle blast with a hairdryer until they feel dry.

If wax needs clearing, wipe only the entrance of the canal shallowly with a cotton swab. Avoid pushing straight in and out — that packs wax deeper and can cause impaction or stones. We don't recommend putting a cotton swab inside the ear canal to clean it.

If it's just a build-up of wax with no pain or change in hearing, a practitioner can help clean it. If there is pain, discharge, reduced hearing or ringing in the ear, please see an ENT doctor first.

An ENT will usually prescribe ear drops to soften the wax so it falls out on its own, then move to irrigation or suction.

A practitioner relies on experience and the right tools to remove the wax gently, keeping you comfortable throughout — cleaning as care.

Itchy ears have many causes, and they differ between dry and oily ear types.

For dry ears, itching usually comes from flaking skin or dry weather.

For oily ears, it is usually the canal secreting fresh cerumen that feels itchy.

Try this first: press the small hollow just in front of the ear tragus, towards the temple. Rub gently 5–10 times, then press and release with light pressure 3–5 times. Many people find this feels better.

But if the itching starts every night at bedtime, or even wakes you in the middle of the night, your ear may have a fungal infection — please see a doctor as soon as possible.

Yes. Traditional Chinese medicine's auricular theory maps many points on the ear.

Gently rubbing your ears is a simple way many people like to relax.

Trying caier for the first time? The Classic Caier Course is a good place to start.

Our most popular courses:

1. Ear + Eye Course

2. MIMIC Trio

3. Ear + Candling Course

And if you'd like to unwind deeply, everything in our Luxury Courses is worth a try.

Between booking and your appointment, please avoid cleaning your ears with any invasive tools.

After the session your ears will feel light and clear. A few guests feel mild redness or itching inside — this happens when ears haven't been thoroughly cleaned for a while, leaving the canal a little sensitive afterwards. Your practitioner will apply a soothing ear-care product as needed.

You're always welcome to ask us anything about ear health and care.

Entirely up to you — whatever feels most comfortable. Your practitioner wears a mask throughout, and hands, room and tools are cleaned and disinfected regularly, so you can relax in a space that feels safe and calm.

An ear candle is a hollow candle made with beeswax; Ear Candling is the practice of placing one at the ear entrance and letting it burn.

It is said to come from folk traditions of ancient Egypt, India and Native American peoples. There is also a popular belief that a 'chimney effect' draws out earwax.

Medical research has confirmed that ear candles create no negative pressure and do not draw out earwax — what you find inside a burnt candle is wax mixed with moisture, not earwax.

Our Ear Candling is really about the aromatherapy massage during the burn — relaxing the head, shoulders and neck, while the scent of essential oils helps you settle into quiet.

That's why, for us, ear candling is about relaxation. Because essential oils are used, we don't recommend it during pregnancy.

A few guests feel thirsty or lightheaded after ear candling.

If you usually pick your own ears, the canal may feel a little more sensitive to swabs for up to three days. All of this is normal — drink warm water and rest well.

If you rarely have massages, a little soreness afterwards is normal. Take it easy that evening and get a good night's rest. You're always welcome back for regular massage, to keep your body feeling at ease.

The silver-bead eye wash — some studios call it eye therapy —

is a signature eye-cleansing treatment from Sichuan, the birthplace of caier.

The eyelid is gently everted, and a sterilised pure-silver rod is drawn lightly back and forth along the upper and lower lids to clear away debris.

It is usually paired with a warm eye mask and a gentle massage around the eyes.

Not available if you have had eye surgery (laser correction, double-eyelid, etc.) within the past six months. Not recommended with eyelash extensions. Eye makeup will be removed — best to arrive without it.

That day, your eyes may feel puffy and a little sore — like after a good cry. That's normal; by the next morning they should feel wonderfully fresh.

Any products used during the wash are commercially available, preservative-free eye-wash products.

Most people find their eyes feel fresh right after the wash. If you have dry-eye syndrome or ongoing eye discomfort, please have it checked by an ophthalmologist first — the eye wash is not a substitute for medical care.

The nasal refresh — also called nose washing or nasal therapy at some studios.

Methods and tools vary slightly between schools and lineages.

The aim is the same: cleaning the nose and tidying nasal hair, so breathing feels fresher.

At MIMIC EAR, the Nasal Refresh uses professional nasal tools with single-use cotton tips, together with a natural essential-oil cleansing solution or peppermint hydrosol. It finishes with a gentle massage around the nose and eyes.

Your nose may feel slightly cool afterwards.

Depending on its condition, some nasal hair is trimmed during cleaning; sensitive guests may sneeze or have a runny nose for a while. This is the nose naturally rebalancing itself — completely normal.

Because we believe caier is a treat to be savoured — not just a functional wax removal.

So even our most basic set, the Classic Caier Course, always includes ear conditioning and the gentle head-massage 'Dream Finish'.

If severe wax build-up, foreign objects or fungal signs are found during your session, we will show you the endoscope images and — with your consent — switch to special care: a surcharge of $900 (impaction clearing) or $1,300 (ear-stone removal).

If you already suspect a blockage, you can book the full special-care session directly in the booking system (standalone price: $2,400 impaction / $2,800 ear stone, about 60 minutes).

If you still wish to proceed with your original booking (eye wash or candling, say), we will assess the difficulty and your ear's condition, and adjust the fee using the special-care calculation.

Yes — every session begins with an endoscope check so you can see your ear's condition before we continue.

We do not, however, keep the endoscope in use during the cleaning itself.

Sorry — we are not a 'full-video' studio. The endoscope is used only at the start to confirm your ear's condition.

Here's why: the endoscope magnifies everything, and fitting both a camera and tools into the canal at once makes it hard for the practitioner to control pressure — which actually causes discomfort or pain. Studios advertising fully-visual cleaning mostly just use cotton swabs on camera, which is neither true caier nor very effective.

Caier tools are professional instruments, so we don't sell them to guests — and on principle we don't store privately purchased tools either.

If a fungal condition is found, that entire tool set is discarded after use. For regular guests, the set is disinfected and reserved for your next visit, then replaced once the condition clears.

No guest ever shares tools with another on the same day. Every set is cleaned and disinfected immediately after use, then cycled through a UV steriliser for at least an hour. Book with complete peace of mind.

We are appointment-only.

Message us on LINE before you come — walk-ins usually cannot be seated, and a quick check saves you a wasted trip.

1. Online booking

For most bookings, the online booking page is the easiest way — you can see open dates and times in real time and choose what suits you.

You can reach the booking page through LINE, Instagram, Facebook, Google Maps or this website.

2. Booking by message

For anything out of the ordinary, just message us and we'll arrange it by hand. For example:

Two guests at the same time

A group of three or more

No suitable time slot online

A particular ear condition, service request, or anything you'd like to check first

Reach us on LINE, Instagram, Facebook, iMessage or email.

3. Booking or questions by phone

You're also welcome to call — Lowie answers and arranges bookings. The phone suits quick questions, same-day bookings, or anything that needs a fast answer.

We may not be able to pick up while with a guest, and we usually stop answering calls after 00:30. If we miss you, please message us on LINE or another channel and we'll reply as soon as we see it.

For a regular booking, the online booking page is always the fastest.

[Add us on LINE]: https://lin.ee/ZQIz4se

[Book online]: https://mimicear.simplybook.asia/v2/

[Booking calendar]

Slots are open for booking up to two months ahead from today.

Regular guests are not bound by this — just message us to book directly.

[Opening hours and bookable slots]

Hours: daily, 10:30 to 02:30 the next morning. By appointment only.

Earliest booking 10:30; latest booking accepted 01:00.

Mumu: accepts bookings up to 19:30 daily, regular guests excepted.

Lowie: available for late-night sessions, with English and 日本語 service.

When choosing a service, note its duration (from 30 minutes up to about 3 hours 20 minutes) — it affects which slots you can select.

PS: a booking counts as confirmed only after the practitioner has reviewed and accepted it.

Two guests can be served at the same time during these hours:

　Mon–Fri　10:30–16:30

　Sat　　　15:00–20:30

　Sun　　　10:30–20:30

These are the windows when two guests can be served at the same time; sessions must finish by the end of the window. Longer services therefore need an earlier start — the booking system only shows start times that fit.

Outside these hours, message us in advance and we'll confirm how we can arrange the day for you.

In brief:

1. Mumu

→ Founder / Chief Practitioner

→ Accepts bookings up to 19:30 daily (regulars excepted)

2. Lowie

→ Professional practitioner / metaphysics consultant / editor

→ Late-night sessions / English & 日本語 OK

See the Practitioners page for full introductions.

The system's duration includes cleaning, disinfection and room turnover before and after your session. In the spirit of hospitality and infection control, we keep generous buffers so guests rarely cross paths.

Actual service time follows the menu.

For two or more guests, some hours allow both of you to be served at the same time; for other hours, message us in advance and we'll arrange it. See "What's the difference between the practitioners?" for the hours.

Note: consecutive bookings for two or more take less total time than the system displays.

Yes, though they'll need to wait in the lounge.

The treatment room is small, and we want every guest to enjoy a fully immersive, undisturbed session — plus infection control matters. Companions may not enter the room during treatment unless the practitioner agrees. Thank you for understanding.

If you mean booking for two: during some hours two guests can be served at the same time; for other hours, message us in advance and we'll arrange it. See "What's the difference between the practitioners?" for details.

When two guests are served at the same time, each usually has their own room. If you'd prefer to share a room, just let us know in advance so we can prepare.

Your booking is held for 15 minutes.

If something comes up and you know you'll be late, please tell us early so we can rearrange.

No notice, no reply to messages and more than 15 minutes late counts as a cancellation.

Arriving early is fine — up to 30 minutes ahead is ideal. If the previous session is still running, relax in the lounge.

Note: after three consecutive no-shows or same-day cancellations, future bookings require full prepayment to hold the slot.

Rescheduling is always to a later date (regulars may move earlier).

Requests must be made no later than the day before your appointment; last-minute requests count as cancellation — please rebook.

How rescheduling works:

1. Moving to a not-yet-opened slot is preferred; otherwise, as below.

2. If your new date is fully booked, we'll ask a guest in that slot to swap.

3. We'll ask at most three guests; if none can swap, your booking is cancelled and moved to the waiting list, or you rebook.

Note: after three consecutive no-shows or same-day cancellations, future bookings require full prepayment to hold the slot.

[Bus]

Tourism Administration (交通部觀光署) stop or Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall stop

(about a 5-minute walk)

[Metro]

MRT Bannan Line, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station

(From Exit 2, walk straight about 150 m, then turn right into Lane 280 — about 4 minutes)

[Car]

No free parking on site.

Nearby Qiao-an car park: NT$60/hr on weekdays, NT$80/hr on weekends

(fills up at weekends and mealtimes — arrive early)

Some street parking on Yanji Street and the back lanes of the East District; you can also use the CTS former-railway surface car park (華視舊鐵道平面停車場).

After 8 pm, yellow lines on Zhongxiao E. Rd and Guangfu S. Rd are OK.

[Scooter]

Free spaces in Lane 280 and Lane 260 off Guangfu S. Rd., and neighbouring lanes.

Yanji Street also works (NT$20 per entry).

[Finding the door]

From Exit 2 of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station, walk straight along the wide lane right outside the exit for about 150 m (not along Guangfu S. Rd.). At the corner where GŪLŪ GURU and 禾記茶餐廳 currently are, turn right into Lane 280.

The ground floor is currently 牛山町 (look for the sign) — we're directly above.

We are inside Lane 280, Guangfu S. Rd. The shopfront on the ground floor is numbered 31; we are on the 2nd floor of the same building.

The small plate beside the residential entrance reads 31-1. Our three brand names are on the door — ring the bell and come up.

Cash, bank transfer, LINE Pay (including LINE Pay Money), JKOPay, PXPay Plus,

iPASS MONEY and Payuni (credit card, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Google Pay) are all accepted.

For international guests, PayPay (Japan) and NETS (Singapore) are also accepted via iPASS MONEY, JKOPay or PXPay Plus.

[Tools]

Our tools are partly disposable and partly reusable.

No guest ever shares tools with another on the same day. Every set is cleaned and disinfected right after use, then cycled through a UV steriliser for at least an hour.

[Environment]

After every session the room is sprayed with disinfectant and treated with UV light. Practitioners sanitise with alcohol before starting and wear masks throughout. Public areas are cleaned and disinfected morning and evening.

Yes. During some hours two guests can be served at the same time; for other hours, message us in advance and we'll arrange it (see "What's the difference between the practitioners?" for the hours).

You can share our account with your friend or partner so they book themselves,

or book multiple slots and services directly from your own account — we'll confirm once we receive the requests.

There's a lounge where the waiting guest can relax.

Note:

for two or more guests together, actual service runs a little faster than the system shows.

Some carriers are known to delay SMS delivery (sometimes over 15 seconds).

1. If the code arrives after the 15-second resend window, don't tap resend — just enter the code when it arrives. There's no time limit for entering it.

2. If it never arrives, message us — we'll register you manually and arrange your booking, report the issue to the system vendor, and you can complete verification a few days later.

It means the day still has gaps, but none long enough for the service you chose,

or someone has booked the slot and the practitioner hasn't confirmed it yet.

What to try:

1. Pick another date.

2. Try a shorter service.

3. Message us (especially for two or more guests — we can adjust slots manually).

The menu sits at the bottom of the chat screen. If it isn't there, try these in order:

1. Tap "LINE 服務中心" at the bottom of the chat. When the menu is collapsed, one tap opens it.

2. Use LINE on your phone. The desktop version of LINE does not show this menu.

3. Update LINE to the latest version, then open the chat again.

4. Still can't see it? Open our LINE Service Hub directly. Services, booking and directions are all there:

https://www.mimicear.com/line/en/

You can also just send us a message in the chat. Mumu or Lowie will reply to you personally.

No need to scan it!

That QR code is for our checkout system to verify guests.

Sorry for the confusion.

The fix:

long-time Facebook friends, delete the whole conversation and message us again. Once you see "Get started", the function menu should appear for booking and records.

LINE's booking integration is more stable, with a handy rich menu (mobile LINE). We recommend adding us on LINE: search @mimicear or use this link: https://lin.ee/ZQIz4se

Still stuck? Message us and we'll book it for you by hand.