In recent years, The Internet™ has been flooded with how-did-they-think-of-that styling ideas, unconventional piercing placements, and really, really cool earrings, and it's got us eager to get back on the piercing chair, stat. 

The art of balancing, matching, and curating the perfect ear stack with five or more piercings per ear can prove challenging for even the most fashion-savvy. Read on for tips on perfecting your very own ear curation.  

How to create a curated ear:

To kick off an ear curation, you should start by identifying your personal style.

Is your style sort of minimalist? Or is it more avant garde? Is it boho? Taking your current jewelry style, the metals you wear, and your aesthetic style into consideration, along with your anatomy, you can begin to make decisions.

Playing with placement

Your ear shape and size will determine how you should build your stack. If you have large ear lobes, for example, constellation piercings are a good option since they cover more area. Alternatively, smaller lobes might benefit from spreading the piercings up your ear so they are not too crowded. Having said that, the most important spacing on an ear is the spacing between your first and second holes. Assuming that at some point you will want to wear a large stud in the first hole.

Check out our ear piercing guide for info on every type of ear piercing you can get, how much they hurt, and ofc some major styling inspo.

Finding the right jewelry

The trick is to balance three factors: skin tone, personal aesthetic, and the weight and style of the jewelry so that they complement one another. Find pieces that speak to you. Do you already own any pieces that you’d like to incorporate to your stack? Do you prefer dainty jewelry or statement jewelry? What color metals do you prefer? Would you mix & match metals? Would like to add some color? These are some simple and effective ways to give your stack a personal touch.

Tips on styling like a pro

Build around everyday pieces you already love.

First things first: start with the staples. If you only have one or two piercings, choose earrings that you love and wear all the time.