Ear Alchemy: The Experts Explain Why the Curated Ear Isn’t a Passing Trend

As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you’ll like too. POPSUGAR has affiliate and advertising partnerships so we get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase.

Even if you’re not familiar with the terms “Ear Alchemy” and “ear curation”, you’ve likely seen the trend bubbling away on social media. Characterised by multiple piercings peppered across lobes and cartilage, ear curation is as much a statement about our style and personality as the way we dress or how we colour our hair. And it’s a piercing trend that’s not going anywhere, any time soon.

Where traditional piercing may remind you of trips to the chemist or local piercing studio as a teenager for a simple lobe piercing or single body piercing, ear curation is more about considering how you want to express yourself through fine jewellery and working towards this goal. 

Keep on reading to find out more about ear curation and find some of our favourite pieces linked below.

What Exactly Is Ear Curation and Ear Alchemy?

Sarah Munro, the Co-Founder and Creative Director of SARAH & SEBASTIAN, explains that “Ear Alchemy” is their brand’s bespoke piercing offering and is an intricate balance of form and function. “‘Ear Alchemy’ is how we refer to anatomy-specific placements of fine jewellery; the styling aspect of our luxury piercing service,” she says of the service offered only at the luxury Piercing Labs in Sydney and Melbourne. She explains that “Ear Alchemy” is a combination of personal style and the discovery of your unique ear anatomy — and after experiencing this service first-hand, I can vouch for it being a truly unique piercing experience.

This style of piercing is about the long game and, according to Munro, three piercings per session should be the maximum, to avoid overwhelming the body and to allow your new holes to heal properly and as quickly as possible. “Some piercings can take up to a year to heal, so the best way to achieve your desired look is to build it up over time,” she tells POPSUGAR Australia. 

While symmetry has been the traditional approach to ear piercings (particularly with lobe piercings), ear curation doesn’t follow the same rules. “For ‘Ear Alchemy’, our priority is to create balance with styling that is unique to your anatomy and aesthetic,” says Robert Sebastian Grynkofki, Managing Director at SARAH & SEBASTIAN. “What’s imperative is our piercers’ experience and skill to conduct piercings that are precise in their placement.”

How Do You Decide on Piercing Placement?

Deciding on the placement for your new piercing takes two things into account: your end goal and your anatomy. “Your piercer will examine your ears and detail your unique anatomy, pointing out unique features of your ear and often inspiring you to think outside of what you had originally planned for your piercing,” explains Munro, adding that considering the shape and size of the jewellery you wish you adorn your ear with will also play a role in deciding on placement. 

“We spend time going through our piercing edit of [internally-threaded] solid 18 karat yellow and white gold, diamond and opal earrings to choose the perfect piece,” Grynkofki says.

Once you’ve selected your jewellery pieces and locked in the placement (double- and triple-checking the markings laid by your piercer), it’s time to pierce!

What Is the Aftercare Process?

The aftercare process is, hands-down, the most important part of the piercing process and your piercer should always discuss this with you in detail before you leave the studio.

Instructions will include using Neilmed Piercing After Wound Care Spray ($19) twice daily and using a lint-free wipe to clean the area, avoiding touching the area (besides when cleaning the piercing site) and being aware that piercings may take longer to heal than you think — two to four months for ear lobes and up to a year for some other placements.

POPSUGAR Editor Picks From SARAH & SEBASTIAN