Earrings for guys have been steadily rising in popularity. Wearing earrings for men is a great way to show personality and stay on-trend.
The standard earlobe stud earring will be 20 gauge. For a guy, choosing the style is important. If you’re looking to make a statement, you can look at a hoop or dangle earring or a large stud. If you’re looking for everyday casual wear, you may look at a smaller stud.
Choosing the right earring can be important, especially if you are getting your ear (or ears) pierced! It takes a while to fully heal, so it’s important to make the right decision that you can wear to many events while it’s healing up.
Most Popular Styles and Sizes of Earrings for Guys
When you’re searching for an earring, there are some things you should keep in mind while looking at each particular type. Facial structure, statement type, event type, and formality all come into play when making the decision.
Just like any other fashion choice, some earrings may be impractical or inappropriate for certain situations. You probably wouldn’t wear a swimsuit to an interview! The same would go for a large hoop earring to an interview.
Many men will opt to get a single piercing, but it’s also just as popular to get both earlobes pierced now as well! Wherever you decide to wear your earrings, keep these style and sizing tips in mind.
Studs
Studs can make a statement or can be subtly matched to your outfit to give you some extra style. Studs can come in practically any color and style!
If you’re looking to make a statement with your stud or going out for the night, you may look into a large diamond stud. This could be anywhere from a 7mm to 10mm stud earring that would look great to make a statement.
If you’re looking for minimal office everyday wear, you would likely be looking between 4mm and 6mm. You’d also want to stick to something simpler style-wise. A good choice is a dark black gem or diamond.
Hoops
Hoops are a great choice for men looking to make a more edgy statement. Hoop earrings can be worn with long hair. They can also be worn with buzzed sides. Depending on how you dress up, they can complement an outfit well and give you a more edgy look.
For example, if you’re wearing a suit, a hoop earring will show that you still have an edge. Many men go for a more huggie-type earring, which is measured in diameter. These will likely be anywhere between 8mm and 12mm.
See also: Hoop Earrings for Men: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Gauges
If you want to really make a statement, you can go for gauge earrings. These are still not widely accepted in the business professional world, so if you proceed with these, make sure your career choice will not be impacted.
Gauges actually stretch out the earlobe as you go up in size. After passing 0 gauge, they may never heal back—so make sure you are committed! There are a lot of different styles of gauges, including wooden ones that make a statement or simple “tunnel” gauges, which go through the ear.
A zero gauge is the size of a hole puncher, essentially. When you work your way up, you can typically only go one or two sizes at a time and must wait for it to heal. They stretch out your earlobe piercing. You start at the size larger than what you were pierced and can go up to two inches in diameter!
Many gauges are hollow on the inside, and you can see right through them. This is great for an alternative or edgy look. Gauges often go well with a lot of tattoos because they are a type of body art as well!
Can Guys “Try Out” Earrings Before Piercing Them?
Piercing can be a big decision! If you’re nervous about it or don’t know if you can pull it off, there are options for you to “try before you pierce.” If you’re looking to wear an earring to a specific event and don’t want them all the time, these might be the best options for you.
Magnetic
If you aren’t positive about making the plunge into the pierced earring world, there are a lot of magnetic studs nowadays. These are simply magnets that can be worn as earrings. Most of them resemble studs. They have a lot of sizes and styles, so you can try a lot out without actually getting a piercing.
The downside of a magnetic earring is that it can hurt after a while. The magnets are typically strong in order to not fall off, and it can squeeze your earlobe after a long day or night of wear. They are also typically made of lower quality materials, so they may irritate a sensitive ear.
Clip-On
Clip-on earrings are another great alternative if you aren’t positive about getting the piercing done. Like magnetic, they do not require a real piercing to be worn. They have many options to try, but you will likely find hoop or dangle earrings with clip-on earrings. They have to go around the ear to actually clip.
The downside of these are the same—they are made with lower quality metals. They also can hurt or irritate the ear after a long time of wear.
Earrings for men can make a huge difference in style and statement! It is a good idea to pay attention to size to make sure you are making the right decision for the statement you are trying to make.