How many piercings is too many? Nah, we don't think you can overdo it either – so long as you go with someone reputable and experienced to decorate your ears.
As for where to choose your next stud, ear piercing has branched out from singularly studded lobes. These days, the areas we can embellish are increasingly intricate: rook, conch, daith, helix – so there's a whole constellation of places to choose from.
Given brands are offering up dainty and delicate jewellery to accommodate multiple piercings, there's nothing to stop us sprinkling our lobes with numerous tiny studs.
In fact, piercing has become such big business that jewellers have even begun to offer 'ear curation' services to suss out the anatomy of your ears and offer a bespoke configuration to suit you best. Leading the charge, is Maria Tash who has created an empire out of intricate and unexpected piercings (and a celeb following that includes the likes of Rihanna, Blake Lively and Zoe Kravitz). Plus brands like Tada & Toy, Dinny Hall, Orelia and Missoma all offer dinky studs, cuffs, hoops and huggies to embellish each piercing beautifully.
For those who can't quite wrap your heads around the idea of a curated ear, we've got the ultimate guide to every single different positioning of your piercings, the price and the pain factor so you can start planning for your post-lockdown piercing.
Here's every type of piercing you need to know ...
VERTICAL LOBE
If you have space for two earrings on your lobe, why not go for a vertical lobe piercing, which sees two studs stacked on top of each other. The look is set to be a big trend for 2019.
Pain factor: 4/10
Price: From £15 for each hole
UPPER LOBE
Ideal for small, intricate piercings, the upper lobe piercing is exactly that. Depending on your ear size, some people can fit up to three piercings between this spot and the lower lobe.
Pain factor: 4/10
Price: From £15
HELIX
A helix piercing typically sits at the top of your ear cartilage. There's plenty of room in this area, so double and triple helix piercings are quite common.
Pain factor: 5/10
Price: From £20
FORWARD HELIX
A forward helix sits on the inner and top half of your ear cartilage, it can be a single stud or ring, as well as a series of piercings.
Pain factor: 5/10
Price: From £25
CONCH
A conch piercing refers to the middle section of the ear. There is both an inner conch (pictured), which is when a stud is punctured right through the middle, and an outer conch where a hoop will start in the middle, but hug the outer edge of your ear.
Pain factor: 7/10
Price: From £25
INDUSTRIAL (OR SCAFFOLD)
An industrial piercing requires two holes, both in the outer cartilage. They're usually punctured diagonally opposite each other (but the angle is up to you), and linked together with a barbell.
Pain factor: 8/10
Price: From £30
DAITH
A daith piercing sits through the most inner part of the ear's cartilage. Interestingly, some people find this piercing offers them relief from severe headaches and migraines, although there is still no hard evidence as to why.
Pain factor: 6/10
Price: From £25
ROOK
Just above the daith sits a ridge, which is referred to as a rook. A curved barbell is usually the jewellery of choice for this spot.
Pain factor: 6/10
Price: From £25
TRAGUS
Sitting just above your ear canal, is the tragus. The size varies greatly from person to person, but it's usually only big enough for one piercing, whether it's a stud or a hoop.
Pain factor: 5/10
Price: From £25
ANTI-TRAGUS
The anti-tragus sits opposite the tragus with a similar pointy shape.
Pain factor: 5/10
Price: From £25
SNUG
Sitting slightly above the anti-tragus is a piercing spot called the 'snug'. Possibly because of how snugly a small hoop hugs it.
Pain factor: 6/10
Price: From £25
This article was originally published on Glamour UK.
