Happy New Y(ear)! 🎉

A new year is the perfect time to refresh your look with a new ear piercing (or two) for a Hole New You. To give you the inspo you need, we asked our team of expert Studs piercers to share their predictions for the hottest piercing and Earscaping trends of 2026. Check them out below!

Piercing: Stacked Lobe

What is it? A lobe piercing stacked directly above an existing lobe piercing or placed between your first and second to create a constellation-style look.

What do you like about this look? It allows you to create dimension on your lobes with minimal commitment.

Why is it popular? It’s unique and adds dimension to the lobes—especially for clients who want something elevated but find cartilage piercings too intimidating.

Considerations before getting

• Requires enough lobe space to place piercings safely and beautifully.
• Jewelry sizing matters — the wrong size can crowd or overlap.

Who would be a good candidate?

• Anyone who wants a curated ear without venturing into cartilage.
• Clients with medium to larger lobes or healed piercings looking to expand their look.
• Those who want versatility in styling.

Healing process

• Typical lobe healing: 4–6+ months
• Avoid touching, twisting, or sleeping directly on the piercings.
• Clean with sterile saline 1–2× daily.
  

Piercing: Faux Snug

What is it? A faux snug mimics the look of a true snug piercing but uses two separate piercings (typically a conch + helix or double helix) to create the stacked, tucked-in appearance—without needing the very anatomy-specific true snug placement.

What do you like about this look? It delivers the look of an advanced, complex placement for clients who don’t have the anatomy or want to avoid a true snug.

Why is it popular? A real snug piercing is highly anatomy-dependent, so the faux snug offers that deep-set, sculptural look while being far more accessible to most clients.

Considerations before getting

• You’ll be healing two cartilage piercings, not one.
• Jewelry sizing and placement must be precise to create the snug illusion.
• Some ear shapes may require slight adjustments in placement.
  

Who would be a good candidate?

• Clients who love the snug look but don’t have the anatomy for a true snug.
• Anyone wanting a bold but balanced mid-ear moment.
• Those open to a slightly longer healing period.
  

Healing process

• Typical cartilage healing: 6–9+ months
• Avoid touching, twisting, or sleeping directly on the piercings.
• Clean with sterile saline 1–2× daily.

Piercing: Snakebite Helix

What is it? Our famous Snakebite features two piercings placed closely together to create a striking, balanced pair that instantly draws attention to your ear ‘scape. Depending on your anatomy, this look can be placed along the outer helix or move inward toward the flat for a more sculptural effect.

What do you like about this look? It makes a statement right where most of your ear’s real estate is. With so much space along the helix, you can tailor the look to your style—whether you keep it minimal on the outer edge or move inward to take up more room on the flat with matching studs or contrasting shapes. It’s a placement that lets you get truly creative with jewelry.

Why is it popular? It’s an approachable way to explore cartilage piercings, and the placement is anatomy-friendly for most clients. The flexibility in styling and adaptability to different ear shapes makes it a top choice for building a curated ear.

Considerations before getting

• You’ll be healing two cartilage piercings at the same time.
• Requires enough cartilage space for safe, comfortable placement.
• Pressure from sleeping or headphones can impact healing.
  

Who would be a good candidate?

• Clients who want to explore cartilage or more advanced piercing placements.
• Those with more upper–ear real estate to comfortably support paired piercings.
• Anyone looking for a bold, standout look—whether they prefer clean symmetry or complementary contrasting jewelry.

Healing process

• Typical cartilage healing: 6–9+ months
• Avoid touching, twisting, or sleeping on the piercings.
• Clean with sterile saline 1–2× daily.

Piercing: Faux Rook

What is it? A Faux Rook is one piercing in the upper inner cartilage pierced with a dangle or drop-style jewelry to mimic the look of a traditional rook piercing. Since it doesn’t require piercing through the thick rook fold, it delivers the look of the Rook.

What do you like about this look? It gives you the elevated, tucked-in rook aesthetic without the commitment of a more advanced piercing. The dangle creates movement and dimension, making the placement look sculptural and intentional—while still being comfortable and easy to style.

Why is it popular? A true rook is highly anatomy-dependent, but the Faux Rook works for most clients. It offers a trendy, curated look that is eye-catching and jewelry-forward without requiring a complex piercing. 

Considerations before getting

• Jewelry style (especially dangle length and weight) will influence the final look and comfort.
• Placement needs to be precise so the dangle hangs naturally and achieves the rook illusion.

Who would be a good candidate?

• Clients who want the look of a rook without needing rook-specific anatomy.
• Those who want to explore cartilage piercings but prefer a less advanced option.
  

Healing process

• Typical cartilage healing: 6–9+ months
• Avoid touching, twisting, or sleeping directly on the piercing.
• Clean with sterile saline 1–2× daily.