By Bella Cacciatore, Ana Escalante, and Lisa DeSantis
If the last time you got an ear piercing was at Claire’s, then we have news for you: cool ear piercings are officially having a moment. Naturally, the types of ear piercings you choose to get matters. Back in the day, you could get one or two studs in your lobe or maybe a cartilage hoop to prove how edgy you were. But in 2023 there are different types of ear piercings for every single vibe, along with tons of earrings to match. Amory Body Arts
“Social media has made it easier to see what types of ear piercings are possible, and the unique, modern jewelry you can wear with them,” says Sam Hayler, lead piercer at London’s Astrid and Miyu jewelry shop and salon. “The fact that you don’t have to start with a plain silver ball helps when getting a piercing to mark a special event or birthday.”
According to Samantha Alvarado, RN, the director of nursing and education for Rowan Piercing Studio, there was a noticeable uptick in piercings—especially nontraditional ones—during the pandemic. “Because you couldn’t see what was under the mask, piercings became the new lipstick,” she explains.
And piercing doesn’t have to be a solo activity; in fact, it has become something fun for friends to do together. “I think that piercing parties are going to be a strong trend in 2023,” says Melinda Maria, founder of the jewelry line with the same name. These gatherings where the gals can hang and get pierced are basically the new Tupperware party, only instead of leaving with plastic containers whose lids you’ll inevitably lose, you’re leaving with something a little more permanent.
With so many options, choosing where to start can be overwhelming. We spoke to top piercing specialists about the coolest piercing trends to try in 2023. From tragus piercings to snakebites, scroll on for the earring trends that are about to be everywhere.
“We’re getting a lot of requests for snakebites,” says Lisa Bubbers, cofounder of New York piercing studio Studs. “This piercing style is two piercings stacked closely together, either with same jewelry in each or mismatched earrings.” Studs did Kaia Gerber’s snakebites, and it has become one of the studio’s most asked-for looks since.
This piercing looks great with hoops or studs, and you can either mix and match earrings or keep them identical, depending on your vibe. However, the healing process for this one can be a little intense. “The snakebite does require more care and attention, since two piercings close together can cause extra swelling,” says Bubbers. “We recommend using saline and not sleeping on that side for a few weeks.”
Already have a single piercing? Another option is to get a second hole slightly closer to your first one so you can double up on small hoops or studs. We love these simple gemstone hoops from Mejuri—not to mention the sapphire-and-emerald color scheme celebrities have been obsessed with lately.
We love how versatile the snakebite trend is because you can get in on it with piercings anywhere on the ear; all that matters is that the two piercings are stacked closely together. It’s also a great way to use a pair of earrings instead of buying singles. Wouldn’t two bees like Gorjana’s Diamond Bee Studs be the cutest?
Unconventional options like tragus piercings (that thicker cartilage at the center of your ear near the head, where the moon stud is shown here) are gaining popularity for their subtlety. “This is one of the more understated piercings,” says Hayler. “Since it sits quite close to your face, it isn’t immediately obvious.”
As with all cartilage piercings, this spot can take up to a year to fully heal and settle. Hayler recommends cleaning it twice a day with saline, and keeping your hands off it between cleanings.
One the best things about a tragus piercing is that it looks just as cool with single or double piercings as it does with a fully stacked lobe.
“The conch [the star hoop here] is the inner part of your ear that, most popularly, can have a hoop cuffing the outside,” says Hayler, who notes it’s one of her most requested styles. She points out that while this spot is perfect for a hoop, it’s best to get it pierced with a stud to avoid irritation and “piercing bumps,” but you can swap for a different style after six months.
Janeese Brooks, head piercer at Stone and Strand, is thrilled to see conch piercings come back. “I think they’ve returned to the scene alongside ’90s trends and are a great statement piercing for those who are tired of seeing the same normcore minimalist jewelry everywhere,” she says. Just be prepared to give it time to heal; since this spot is cartilage, it can take up to a year.
Not sure you’re ready for a full-on conch piercing? Another option is a gold cuff, like this one from Etsy, which looks incredibly cool paired with other thick gold hoops.
Bubbers is predicting that the contra conch, or outer conch, will be big this year. The piercing placement is the ridge of cartilage that sits outside the inner conch, she explains. It’s a little bit unexpected and plays nice with other cartilage piercings.
This unique piercing placement certainly adds to a decadent earscape, but for it to really shine, try it on a simpler style like this one.
A dangling stud look super cool and interesting in this hole because it gives the appearance that it’s floating. The Maria Tash Diamond Eternity Bar Charm Threaded Stud Earring is perfect for achieving this look.
Daith piercings (the plain silver hoop) came back into style a few years ago and haven’t gone anywhere thanks to their versatility. “This is a piercing that can be dressed up or down depending on your jewelry choice,” says Hayler.
Unlike conch piercings, this location is a good place to start with a hoop, says Hayler. “Hoops are preferred for this one, for ease of healing and cleaning,” she says. “It’s important to take your piercer’s advice on the jewelry to make sure it isn’t too heavy for the location chosen.”
Paired with delicate studs (like these gorgeous opal ones from Wwake), a daith piercing can look incredibly minimalist.
While cartilage hurts a little more and takes slightly longer to heal, the flat of your ear makes a fantastic canvas to show off small studs. It’s great for snakebites or a tiny trio of diamonds.
According to Brooks, this placement is Stone and Strand’s most popular non-lobe piercing. It’s particularly great if you want to make a statement but don’t love the look of maximalist jewelry.
Try mixing plain ball studs with different-size crystals for an expertly curated look.
If you’re too scared to veer into cartilage territory, fear not. Instead you can pile multiple piercings onto your lobes. “Sometimes people will ask to just ‘fill up’ their ear in a neat, evenly spaced row, while other times I’ll get asked to do some very personalized cluster piercings,” says Brooks, who credits Zoë Kravitz with popularizing the trend.
While this look is definitely made for Instagram, keep in mind that what you see online might not be best for you. “People’s ear lobes are actually very different in shape and size, so what looks good on someone else may not be the best fit for you,” says Brooks. She suggests consulting your piercer about what’s best for your ears and building the look around earrings of the size you’d wear every day.
Another thing to keep in mind? “Ear lobe piercings are generally the easiest to heal, but at the same time we advise caution against getting too many piercings at one go,” says Brooks. “Build up your look over time.”
If you’re a piercing newbie but want to expand past a stacked lobe, the mid-helix is perfect for you. Alvarado recommends this style if you have some real estate available between the middle of your ear lobe and your upper cartilage.
All of Rowan’s piercings are punctured with a straight needle and threadless flatback jewelry, meaning your mid-helix piercing will stay in place throughout the day.
There are a few piercings Alvarado says she doesn’t suggest for working health professionals (like the conch piercing, if you’re wearing a mask all day). Styles like the tragus piercing and the mid-helix piercing give the same edgy illusion without having to worry about fuss.
In contrast to the traditional helix piercing, the forward helix piercing sits on the space above the tragus. While this is a thin, cartilage-dense area, the process of getting it pierced is similar to a standard helix piercing.
As a result of the pandemic, forward helix piercings are some of the most trendy to date. “As a result we have seen more conch, tragus, and forward helix piercings over the past few years,” Alvarado says.
Ear Piercing Styles Men Similar to a stacked lobe, the options for a triple forward helix are endless. This studs combo—with a green baguette stone flanked by gold orbs—is perfect for an everyday statement earscape.