The ultimate guide to ear piercings for men is here. We know most guys have a lot of questions when it comes to ear piercings and men’s earrings. What kind of earrings do men wear? What do I do once my ears are pierced? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.
In the last few years, men have been wearing more jewelry due to changes in men’s fashion trends and the need to accessorize from the neck up when you’re on a virtual call for work. Earrings highlight your facial features and bring the focus back to your face. So whether you already have your ears pierced or you’re considering it, we’re here to give you a full breakdown on guy ear piercings.
History of Men’s Earrings
Men’s earrings are nothing new, as Ancient Egyptian men wore different earring types like studs and hoops to show off their status and wealth. Much of the history of jewelry follows this theme of status symbols, but are men’s earrings any different? Actually, yes!
While the Ancient Egyptians were showing off their gold earrings, only the lower classes of Ancient Romans and Greeks wore earrings. People of Western Europe continued to have mixed feelings about men’s earrings, even banning them at one point. Those who lived a more rebellious lifestyle wore small hoop earrings—I’m sure we can all picture a pirate wearing a cool pair of tiny gold hoops.
They went in and out of fashion after that for centuries. Fast forward to the twentieth century when men’s earrings made a huge comeback and are a popular accessory in high fashion and streetwear today. There are no longer any rules for men who wear earrings. Wear them to symbolize who you are, wear them for confidence, and wear them because you like them.
Types of Earrings
There are more options than ever for types of piercing earrings for men. From studs to hoops to dangling studs, there are different earring styles for everyone. When building your earring collection, you should have a few everyday essentials and then add in some trendy or fancier pieces. Let’s talk about the two most popular guy earring types: studs and hoop earrings.
Stud Earrings
Stud earrings are perfect for everyday wear. They can be subtle and sophisticated, trendy, or complete showstoppers. Aside from being the most popular, they are the most comfortable. They won’t pull your earlobe down and don’t get caught easily on your clothes during wintertime.
Fashion-forward celebrities like A$AP Rocky have two ear lobe piercings, and he often wears two diamond studs together. If you have multiple piercings, you can creatively stack different studs or hoop earrings to fit your style. Men's stud earrings are also versatile with different diamond cuts like round, baguette, and emerald shapes. JAXXON earrings are always hypoallergenic for the most comfortable fit.
Hoop Earrings
This is one earring type that always elevates your look. Hoop earrings for men come in many different styles, from simple to fully iced out. The hoop earring comes in different sizes as well, so if you have one or multiple ear lobe piercings, you can stack them with different types of men's hoop earrings to create a curated look. The great thing about hoop earrings is that they help frame your face. If you choose a pair of men’s hoop earrings that have diamonds on the side, like our Studded Framed Hoop Earrings, you’ll have everyone turn heads while you’re turning your own. Or keep their eyes directly on you when you rock our Studded Inset Hoop Earrings. It doesn’t matter if you choose a gold or sterling silver finish; both will help you stand out and create the perfect look.
Types of Ear Piercings
The modern man has a lot of options when it comes to ear piercings. Aside from the most popular ear lobe piercing, there are over 10 types of ear piercings for men, and you can have multiple of each piercing. This means you can get creative and create a customized look based on your style.
The next most popular ear piercing for men is the helix piercing, located at the top of your ear where there’s cartilage. Wondering how long do ear piercings take to heal. They usually take about six to eight weeks. However, a cartilage piercing requires a bit more care and a longer healing time, but celebrities like Robert Pattinson and Machine Gun Kelly rock these styles fashionably.
The best places to go get your ears pierced are tattoo parlors, luxury piercing salons, piercing stations at department stores, and independent professional piercers. Always go to a professional to get your ears pierced or anything else pierced.
Ear Piercing Care
If we can give any advice on ear piercing care, it’s to keep them clean and listen to your professional piercer’s instructions! We know most of us have very busy lives, and it can be easy to forget to clean your new ear piercing once or twice, but setting a routine to clean them twice a day and after a shower or workout will be the best thing you can do to avoid any type of infection in the long run. Cleaning your ear piercing is quick and easy, so follow these simple tips on how to clean earrings.
- Always wash your hands before handling your new ear piercing.
- Clean the area with saline wipes or saline spray to remove any debris and keep the area clean.
- Allow the newly pierced ear to air dry or gently dry with sterile gauze.
- Continue twice daily for 4-6 weeks or as directed by your professional piercer.
Earring Care
All jewelry needs to be taken care of, and part of that is a cleaning routine. Earrings especially need to be cleaned often because of the fact that you wear them in a pierced hole in your ear. Here are a few tips on keeping your men’s earrings clean, and if you want to learn more, our article called “How to Clean Earrings” will tell you everything you need.
Men’s earrings should be cleaned about once a month unless you wear a particular pair every day, then you should clean those every other week. The easiest way to clean your men's earrings at home and on the go is by using a jewelry cleaning kit. If you want to use some household items, mild dish soap, and water will get the job done! Just don’t let your earrings fall down the sink drain!
Jewelry Storage
While chains and bracelets can be easily seen while sitting on your dresser or in a drawer, men’s earrings can get misplaced very quickly if you don’t store them properly. A jewelry case that you can take with you when you travel is the best way to store your earrings and other jewelry pieces. This will keep your earrings safe and protect them from moisture too. If you need something in a pinch, a shot glass, a small bowl, or even JAXXON’s signature gift boxes and pouches will work.
Ask an Expert
Our JAXXON Journal has a lot of great how-to guides to care for your other jewelry pieces, so make sure to check them out. For more tips and advice about our men’s jewelry selection, ask our JAXXON experts. From finding the perfect gift for him to learning how to care for your high-quality jewelry pieces, they’re ready to help 24/7.
