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If you're a regular concert goer, you already know the hazard of live music on your hearing. That ringing in your ears isn't a badge of honor, it's hearing loss.

As a professional music photographer, I shoot a lot of concerts, so I take my hearing protection seriously. I rely on my hearing for the cues to capture those rock-star moments, and I'm always looking for the best ear plugs to use for concerts. Here are my picks for the best earplugs to use for live music that will protect your hearing and help tinnitus.

So, why wear earplugs when attending concerts? The answer is really simple, and one you already know: hearing loss. That ringing in your ears after a show? That's damage to your hearing, something you can never get back.

Most live music reaches levels of between the range of 100 to 120-dB. At this level, hearing damage can occur in less than a minute. Needless to say, you risk hearing damage in a timeframe far shorter than a standard concert, let alone a song.

So if you really love live music, the smart thing to do is to wear earplugs to protect your hearing. Now that we're covered why you should wear earplugs, let's get into your options.

Foam earplugs are the most readily available and cheapest kind of universal fit (non-custom) earplugs. The foam plugs are compressed and inserted into the ear canal and can offer the highest level of decibel reduction. The downside is that proper insertion can greatly affect the fit, comfort, and effectiveness of the earplugs. Because they need a bit of technique for best results, they may not be the best option if you need to regularly insert and remove them (say, if you're a music photographer at a festival, for example). Even high-quality foam earplugs like Hearos are available at most chain stores.

Flanged earplugs offer several lips or rims in a cone shape that create a seal against the ear canal in a universal fit. The advantage of flanged earplugs over standard foam earplugs is that they are pretty much fool-proof to use, so long as they are inserted at a proper depth into the ear. The downside is that earasers earplugs may not be as comfortable to wear for extended periods of time for some people.

The Etymotic ER-20 is a classic example of a quality flanged earplug, which is also a high-fidelity earplug, though it's important to note that not all flanged earplugs are musician-quality. In addition, Eargasm are another brand of very high quality earplugs that use this flanged design.

High-fidelity earplugs are designed for musicians and performers. Unlike traditional earplugs that can muffle and distort sound, the quality of the sound remains clear — the volume is simply attenuated to a lower level. This effect is achieved by a special acoustic filter that lowers noise levels in a uniform way across the audible sound spectrum. High-fidelity earplugs can come in reusable, universal fit as well as custom-molded versions.

Etymotic Research and their ER-20 was one of the first high-fidelity earplugs, but now there are many options, including the excellent Earasers and Eargasm high fidelity earplugs.