Expert explains how matching your piercings to your face creates a harmonious and stylish look
Key Findings:
- Jewelry expert explains which types of ear piercing are best for each face shape
- Expert suggests piercing styles for those with oval, round, square, oblong, heart-shaped, and diamond faces
- Expert gives his top tips for perfect aftercare to speedily heal your new piercings
Ear piercings are an evergreen fashion statement, but the right piercings can do more than just add a touch of sparkle.
“Matching your piercings to your face shape is the secret sauce to creating a harmonious and stylish look that’s uniquely you,” says Blake Asaad, founder of GOODSTONE, a leading provider of exquisitely crafted diamond jewelry.
Here, Blake uses his jewelry styling expertise to reveal the best piercings for every face shape and explains how they can enhance your natural features, making you feel more confident than ever!
Oval Face: The Piercing Playground
Oval faces are the universal canvas of face shapes—everything works! “If your face is longer than it is wide, with soft curves and balanced proportions, you’re in luck,” says Blake. “You can experiment with all kinds of piercings, from classic lobes to adventurous cartilage placements.”
What To Try:
- Daith Piercings: Located in the innermost cartilage fold above the ear canal, the daith is a stylish choice for those who want something unique and subtle.
- Multiple Lobe Piercings: Stack them up for a bold yet sophisticated look!
- Rook Piercings: Found in the upper inner cartilage of the ear, the rook adds a bit of edge and highlights the curve of your ear.
Why It Works:
Oval faces are the most versatile face shapes, so piercings can enhance different aspects of your face without overwhelming it. Whether you’re adding drama or keeping it minimal, your face can handle it all. Having so many options lets your creativity shine!
Round Face: Elongate and Elevate
If you have a round face, meaning your face is almost as wide as it is long with soft, rounded features, the goal is to add length and structure to balance your features.
What To Try:
- Helix Piercings: The helix is the cartilage that forms the outside edge of your ear. “A line of hoops going up the side of your ear adds vertical length and dimension,” explains Blake.
- Dangling Earrings: Tassel or chandelier earrings are your best friends, as they draw the eye down and elongate your face shape.
Why It Works:
Longer and angular jewelry styles will elongate your face and bring out your features. The vertical lines from helix piercings or earrings dangling from your lobes create a perfect balance.
Square Face: Soft Curves To Complement Strong Angles
Square face shapes have bold and defined angles, with equally wide cheekbones, forehead, and jawline. The key here is softening those strong angles with rounded, circular jewelry.
What To Try:
- Tragus Piercings: This piercing is located on the small, thick cartilage just above the ear lobe. A dainty tragus piercing adds a focal point without competing with your sharp jawline.
- Layered Hoops: Positioned anywhere from the lobe to the cartilage, hoops of varying sizes add softness and movement, taking the edge off your angular features.
- Forward Helix: A triple forward helix stacked with tiny hoops adds subtle sparkle.
Why It Works:
Round shapes balance out your face’s straight lines, adding a touch of femininity and softness. Choosing softer piercings helps you feel chic and confident without diminishing your naturally striking features.
Heart-Shaped Face: Balance Is Key
If you have a heart-shaped face, your forehead is wider than your chin, and your cheekbones are high and defined. Piercings that balance the proportions of your face, especially in the lower half, are ideal.
What To Try:
- Conch Piercings: Located in the middle cartilage of your ear, this piercing adds an inward focal point, drawing attention towards the center of the face.
- Dangling Or Teardrop Earrings: These styles elongate the face and balance the narrow chin with the broader forehead.
Why It Works:
Heart-shaped faces benefit from jewelry that brings attention downwards, balancing out the proportions of the face. “It’s all about adding length and volume where it’s needed most!” Blake says.
Oblong Face: Add Volume And Width
For those with an oblong or rectangular face shape, your face is longer than it is wide and has defined, angular features. The goal is to add width and reduce the perception of length.
What To Try:
- Large Hoops: Big hoops add horizontal dimension to your face, helping balance out the length.
- Chunky Studs: Whether worn in the lobes or cartilage, big studs bring volume to your cheekbone area and help break up the face’s verticality.
- Helix And Anti-Tragus Piercings: The helix is located along the upper outer ear, while the anti-tragus is on the lower outer ear, opposite the tragus. These piercings create a strong horizontal line that widens the face.
Why It Works:
Chunky and wide piercings bring balance to your face, creating a look that feels more proportional.
Triangle Face: Draw Attention Upwards
If you have a triangle (or pear) face shape, your jawline is wider than your forehead. The key here is to draw attention upwards towards the narrower upper half of your face.
What To Try:
- Upper Lobe Piercings: Create symmetry by stacking multiple earrings or studs in your lobes, which helps draw attention to your eyes and cheekbones.
- Daith Piercings: This placement inside the ear adds an intriguing focal point without adding bulk to the lower half of your face.
- Climber Earrings: These earrings ‘climb’ up the side of your ear, creating an elegant line that naturally draws the eye upward.
Why It Works:
By adding interest to the upper part of your face, you can balance out your strong jawline and create harmony in your look.
Diamond Face: High-Cheekbone Highlights
If your face is diamond-shaped, your cheekbones are the widest part of your face, with a narrow forehead and chin. Your goal should be to accentuate your cheekbones without overwhelming them.
What To Try:
- Cartilage Piercings: Helix, daith, and rook piercings will add extra sparkle to your high cheekbones.
- Snug Piercings: Positioned in the inner cartilage, the snug sits near the middle of the ear, adding a unique and delicate touch.
- Teardrop Earrings: Emphasize your cheekbones with earrings that follow the natural curve of your face.
Why It Works:
“Diamond faces are rare and naturally elegant,” says Blake. “Adding dainty yet strategically placed piercings brings out the best in your bone structure without distracting from your face’s balance.”
Blake Asaad, founder of GOODSTONE, commented:
“After getting your ears pierced, the key to quick and smooth healing is all about consistency and a little TLC. For lobe piercings, you’re in luck—they heal faster than cartilage piercings, usually in around 6-8 weeks. Just keep them clean with a saline solution and avoid touching them with dirty hands.
“When it comes to cartilage piercings like the helix or conch, patience is your best friend, as these can take anywhere from 3 months to a year to fully heal. You’ll want to avoid harsh cleansers or over-cleaning, as too much fuss can actually slow down the healing process. Stick to gentle, twice-daily saline soaks.
“Sleeping on your fresh piercing isn’t a good idea, so try to keep it from being pressed into your pillow. A travel pillow can be a game-changer for getting some shut-eye without putting pressure on the wound.
“My top tip is not to rush into changing your jewelry too soon. It might be tempting, but waiting until your piercing is fully healed will save you from complications down the road.”
