30 Best Ear and Nose Piercing Ideas to Try in 2024

“Constellation piercings are becoming increasingly popular,” says Alvarado, partly because you can easily customize the look with a blend of hoops and studs to create your own stack. Alvarado also recommends playing around with placement, whether you stick with a lobe set (as seen here) or try it in the flat of your ear.

If you were brought up in the early ‘00s, you’ll probably remember the helix as a “cartilage piercing.” It’s usually people’s first piercing after their lobes, Alvarado notes, because it’s a way to “test the waters prior to branching out into other more ‘exotic’ piercings.” Helix piercings are also super versatile, whether you slide in a hoop (as shown above) or a stud, or you ask your piercer to place the hole higher or lower, depending on your ~vibes~ or the rest of your ear stack.

IMO, an industrial piercing (i.e, two holes connected with a single piece of jewelry, usually a barbel) automatically looks cool and edgy. And when you pair it with a few dainty piercings, like teeny-tiny diamond studs, you’ve got a super-intricate, curated-ear look.

Can’t decide which side is your ~good side~? Pierce both nostrils, which Mayfield says have been one of the most popular piercings he’s done recently and will continue to trend in 2023. Just note that you’ll need to make two appointments spaced four to six weeks apart to give your body some time to heal first.

Consider this your sign to finally get that second, third, or fourth lobe piercing you’ve been wanting, especially since they’re usually the least painful. “Lobe piercings are in the soft tissue of the ear,” Alvarado explains. “There is minimal-to-no-discomfort for lobe piercings.” Plus, the piercings don’t really go out of style and swapping out jewelry is a breeze (like these pearly studs I’ve been eyeing).

Forward helix piercings just look cooler when there’s two of ‘em, I don’t make the rules. “A forward helix is a perfect little pop on the front of your ear, whether you have 2 or 20 piercings,” says Mayfield. “It’s like the pair of shoes you know you’ll pull out of your closet seven days a week and still looks good with everything and anything you wear.” If you wanna switch up the look, try a mix of contrasting gold and gemstone studs, rather than sticking with matching ones.

“A conch piercing is set in the middle of your ear, and you can’t go wrong with any jewelry you choose,” says Mayfield. You could go for two bb studs as shown above for a simplistic look, or switch to a classic hoop once the piercing heals if you want a more attention-grabbing piece.

A simple septum piercing is already a bold look on its own, as evidenced by one of my fave trendsetters, FKA Twigs. If you’re intrigued to try this piercing but don’t want to commit just yet, grab a faux septum ring set that you can easily clamp between your nostrils and adjust based on your vibes.

If you do have strong feelings about what your “good side” is (ily, left side of my face) or already have a nostril piercing you love, try this stacked-nostril piercing idea. It’s a fun way to switch up your classic single hoop by adding a cute stud just above it, or doubling up the bling with two studs.

If you’ve already got your lobes done but want more stackage, try a triple flat piercing, which involves three holes stacked in the flat part of your cartilage. It can be a cool way to incorporate some additional studs, whether they’re the exact same or a mix of sizes and metals.

I love how customizable this set of nose piercings is. Want hella hoops? Try a ring in your septum and your nostril. Looking for more ~demure~ vibes? Choose a small stud for your nostril and a simple gold or silver hoop for your septum (or just take out the septum piercing). Trying to make a big statement? Mix metals with a gold hoop in your nostril and a silver septum barbell. Truly endless options, here.

I’m very into the placement of these piercings by celebrity piercer Brian Keith Thompson on Anine Bing (ya know, the fashion designer who basically made graphic tees cool again). Pairing this horizontal lobe piercing with two hoop earrings on either side gives this curated ear a little edge. But it still feels minimal, thanks to a mix of thin, gold earrings.

I’ve been seeing gold ear stacks all over my Instagram feed, and it’s ultimately what inspired me to finally build my own. Chat with your piercer to come up with your own unique set based on your ear anatomy and preferences (for example, I don’t have a ton of lobe space, so I’m planning a super-cool helix stack). Once your piercings heal, grab a few simple gold huggies you can keep in all the time.

If you don’t really have space for a traditional second, third, and fourth lobe piercing, stack your piercings on top of each other for a cool, layered effect. Try it with some round studs, or make it a bit constellation-y with tiny stars.

Try focusing your layered stack at the top of your ear and on the inside, like these tragus (the cartilage at the center of your ear, closest to your head) and rook (the inner fold at the top of your ear) piercings. Then, stack your helix piercings. But if you’re constantly wearing cloth or surgical masks that earrings can get caught in, stick with inner-ear piercings and ear cuffs on your outer ear.

Daith piercings can definitely be on the painful side (the cartilage on that part of your ear is v thick), but when they look this good, it’s hard not to just say f*ck it and try it out. They’re a bit more rare than, say, a tragus or conch piercing, which makes them a strong compliment-getter too. So if you wanna keep it simple, stick with a singular gold hoop.

You don't need to have a fully stacked ear to make a statement—go for a simple row of three lobe piercings and incorporate a chain in your first and third holes. Any style chain will work to make your lobe piercing look a bit more striking, but chains covered in diamonds are definitely my vibe.

The best way to make your ear piercings look curated (even if you got them all done like seven years ago without thinking about it) is through matching jewelry. Whether you try one color palette like above or a monochrome metal look, it’ll seem as if your piercings were all done together, regardless of which ones you have.

Even Kaia Gerber has gotten in on the stacked ear piercing trend, as evidenced by her cute lineup of lower and upper lobe hoops and snakebite piercings (which, FYI, is a signature at piercing studio Studs, consisting of two super-close together helix piercings). Copy her stacked look by grabbing two sets of gold hoops—one slightly larger than the other—and wearing them together.

Hey, a double lobe piercing is simple but can take on so many different ~personalities~. Go for lots of shine with some rhinestone earrings (like in the pic above), or a minimalist vibe with two simple studs.