Everything You Need To Know About Constellation Ear Piercings

Nothing shows off your personality better than a constellation ear piercing. These designs are not only for zodiac lovers. They can give your look a modern, ethereal, bohemian, or edgy touch. The best part is, the healing time for many of these piercings can be a breeze. Before you dive in, let’s find out what these mysteriously cool piercings are all about.

Background

If you’re familiar with earring stacking, then this is probably a no-brainer for you. For those who aren’t, constellation piercings are teeny tiny groupings of pretty earrings and studs delicately dotting your ear in the impression of a night sky. They’re also known as curated earrings. Part of the statement-earring trend, these multiple piercings can create designs to mimic your star sign, give your ear a chic twist, or to add a sharp edge to your look. Perhaps the most likable part about it is how adaptable the trend is to everyone’s ears. Every ear is different and having to sit on the sidelines while a fierce trend passes you by is no fun. But with constellation ear piercings, the design is based on your ear shape – not the other way around. If you have a long lobe, a shallow rim, or a crooked tip, it can still be transformed into a fashionable, artful display. Many professional body piercers have no problem improvising this trend to make your design stand out and pop, no matter what shape you have. For example, celebrity piercer Brian Keith Thompson, who has worked on big-name celebrities like Beyoncé and Jessica Alba, is frequently requested by clients to freestyle their ear design. His Body Electric Studio has championed the custom ear-piercing trend since 1992 – before constellation ear piercings even existed. For inspiration on your own constellation ear piercing design, check out his Instagram for fresh ideas.

Aftercare & Tips

Getting one ear piercing might seem like an easy task, but what about getting six or seven? Constellation ear piercings typically sport up to three or four piercings per ear, and each piercing has its own healing time depending on the placement. You might have to contain your excitement in between appointments at the shop. According to professionals, limiting your appointment to only five piercings per visit is recommended. Piercings require months of cleaning, caretaking, and maintenance. Consider doing your daily routine – except with a bunch of fresh holes in your ear. Normal things like sleeping on your side and exercising suddenly become a whole new task. Not to mention if an infection breaks out, it may double your healing time. You will have to work twice as hard for it to heal. Baby steps work best here for a healthy outcome.

It is absolute MUST to keep your jewelry in for at least six to eight weeks to keep the hole from closing. If it closes, you’ll have to go through the entire process again, which is a huge waste of time and money. Keeping your jewelry in will aid the healing process. This is essential if you’re going back to the shop later down the road because each piercing must be fully healed before going in for another appointment. Not only that, but It helps to avoid infections.

Most important of all, it pays to go to a studio that is honest and clean. The last thing you want is to end up with an infection from the shop you went to for a discount piercing. Some infections can be so dangerous they require emergency room treatment to save your lobes. To avoid this scary reality, keep trustworthy piercing shops on your radar. Schedule a day to talk to the owner. Meet the technicians. Ask him about his equipment. Read the reviews. Go through the archive photos. Learn about the owner. Find out how long they’ve been in business. For constellation ear piercings, you’ll also want to know how experienced they are with this type of trend. Many piercers who aren’t professionals won’t dare to touch the rim of your ear or cartilage, even though it is completely safe. Imagine how disappointing it would be to walk into a shop and find out they’ll only do a basic lobe piercing! A professional, experienced piercer is the one who can give you a stunning design with no risks to your health. You should trust your piercer just as much as you would trust your surgeon.

Alternatives

Ears that are sensitive to gold plates and nickel don’t have to sit on the bench for this trend. Constellation ear piercings use studs and hoops primarily, which have far more hypoallergenic options than most kinds of earrings. Titanium, though more expensive, is an excellent alternative to alloys like gold. Try platinum, stainless steel, or copper as a more affordable option that is equally as chic. Plus, these materials tend to last longer anyways!

For those who are in between appointments, or who simply aren’t ready to take the plunge, ear crawlers and cuffs are a piercing-free take on this look. They require no piercings at all. An ear cuff is versatile enough to be paired with studs or hoops to give your ear that “stacked” look. Or, you can pair it with a pretty crawler. They come in shapes and designs and are a breeze to put on. They work similarly to a traditional lobe piercing, except with a design that clamps (but doesn’t pinch) around your lobe to keep it secure. For those who are on the fence about constellation ear piercings altogether, this is a great test drive for the look. No needles needed.

Types

Now to get to the fun part: picking out your design. As stated earlier, constellation ear piercings are based on your ear shape. Different piercing placements depend on different parts of the ear. If you’re unsure, a professional can always advise what would look best on your ear. But if you’re ready to jot down a design, here are a few basic types of piercings to get you started.

Helix

This can be any piercing placed in the upper area of your ear. You can easily stack these to make double or even triple helix piercings.

Daith

Your innermost cartilage is the smallest fold of cartilage in your ear. These piercings are rumored to help with migraines, but there’s no science to confirm that yet.

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Rook

Like the daith, this is a cartilage piercing placed on the highest point of your inner ear. This eccentric piece creates a great stacked look when paired with a daith.

Tragus

Right in front of your ear canal is where you will find the tragus. This trendy placement is a popular choice for constellation ear piercings.