Everything you need to know about earrings for men

You want to wear one or more men's earrings but don't know where to start? Stud earrings, diamonds, hoops, or even dangle earrings, the choice is vast and it can sometimes be difficult to know which earring to wear, on what occasion, and how. To help you, we have tried to list all the questions you might have in this article!

When to wear a men's earring?

Men's earrings are jewelry that can provide both a casual and an elegant and chic style, depending on the ear stud or hoop chosen. Depending on your profession and where you work, some earrings will be more appropriate than others. Thus, if you have to wear a suit and hold a high-responsibility position in a bank, it is unlikely that you can wear a diamond stud or a gold hoop. A more minimalist and sober look might be preferred.

However, if your profession allows you to express your style as you wish, go for it!

Outside of work, men's earrings can be worn daily. At home, with friends, for an evening out, or at a restaurant, assert your style and match your earrings to your outfit.

On the other hand, for physical and sports activities, it is not recommended to wear large earrings or dangle earrings that could bother or injure you. Simple stud earrings will be more suitable. Note that for water activities, it is best to remove all your jewelry.

How to match your earrings to your face?

Each man has a different skin tone and face shape. Remember to match the color of your earring to your skin tone and the shape of your earring to your face. 

The colors that best suit fair and rosy skin are silver and gold. Pink, however, will tend to accentuate the pink in your complexion.

For pale and milky skin, white and silver go wonderfully, unlike gold and yellow tones.

Olive skin with an "olive" undertone is often the easiest to accessorize: everything suits them!

Finally, for very dark and deep skin tones, go for gold and yellow colors! Let's now look at the different face shapes.

Oval faces will ideally wear round earrings, while triangle or heart-shaped faces will prefer geometric or straight earrings. For square and round faces, it's simple: the ideal earring shape is generally the opposite shape, meaning rounded earrings for square faces and square or rectangular earrings for round faces.

These are general guidelines, but keep in mind that the most important thing is to wear a pair of earrings that makes you feel good about yourself and matches your style.

How to wear men's earrings with style?

Remember to match your earrings with your outfit. A black stud earring or a small diamond stud can complete a chic look. A gold men's hoop earring or a dangle hoop with a feather or a skull will complete an original and rock look.

If you already wear extravagant accessories, try not to overload your look with huge and colorful earrings. More discreet stud earrings will be preferable. Similarly, if you wear earrings to work in the office, choose a chic men's earring, or even a minimalist one.

Choose the metal and finish of your earring carefully and favor an earring that is comfortable to wear and gives you confidence.

For men, how many earrings should be worn?

There is a tendency to believe that, unlike women, there is a rule for men regarding the number of earrings to wear. This is false! It all depends entirely on your preferences and tastes. Do you like wearing an earring on each ear? Perfect! Do you prefer to wear it on only one earlobe? Go for it! Do you want to wear two earrings on a single lobe? Nothing is stopping you!

One of the advantages of our time is that everyone is free to adopt the style they desire and that there are no longer any rules or codes to follow regarding men's earrings. Shapes and colors vary, and so does the way they are worn!

Take inspiration from celebrities who wear earrings like Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, or Cristiano Ronaldo. These three celebrities are also fans of men's earrings worn on both ears.

How to choose men's earrings?

When it comes to buying silver earrings for men or men's hoops, it can sometimes be difficult to make a choice. We present the different types of earrings.

Men's Stud Earrings (also called ear studs)

Men's stud earrings are among the most popular men's jewelry. Discreet, they are easy to wear daily and do not weigh down your earlobes. They come in various shapes, metals, and colors. Diamonds are also a type of stud earring.

Men's Diamond Earrings

Men's diamond earrings are elegant and their sparkle is generally noticeable. You can choose to wear a small diamond or a large diamond depending on your style. At Stag, all our men's diamond earrings are made of zirconium oxide, also called zirconia, which allows for a sparkling stone like a real diamond but at a much more affordable price.

Men's Hoop Earrings (also called creoles)

When we think of men's hoops, we immediately imagine the pirate hoop! And it's true that since time immemorial, gold hoops have been associated with pirates and corsairs. But nowadays, it is primarily a symbol of asserted style. Hoop earrings can be gold, silver, or even set with precious or semi-precious stones. They come in different diameters. Some men even wear them as an ear chain, meaning they wear several hoops of different diameters consecutively on the same ear.

Men's Dangle Earrings

This is a variation of the men's hoop earring. The dangle earring is often worn by men as a single earring. It usually consists of a hoop to which a pendant representing a motif or a small object is attached: snake, star, etc...

Fake Earrings

Fake earrings are jewelry designed for non-pierced ears. There are those with a fake clasp like a clip-on and magnetic earrings. These consist of a magnet that holds the two parts of the earring around your lobe. They are ideal if you are hesitant about getting your ears pierced and want to see what style a pair of earrings would give you.

Plugs and Tunnels

At Stag, we do not yet offer tunnels or plugs. They are cylindrical in shape and are inserted into your piercing to stretch it. This process requires a lot of patience and is not suitable for all occasions or styles.

What are the different earring fasteners?

At Stag, we use 4 types of fasteners for our earrings.

The most common: the push-back clasp

Also called a butterfly clasp, the push-back clasp consists of a post on one side and a butterfly-shaped backing on the other. The post is inserted into the earlobe piercing, then into the butterfly backing which is adjusted comfortably around the lobe.

The most classic: the hoop clasp

For hoops, this is the most classic and simple clasp. The hoop separates slightly so that one part of its circle can insert into the other part.

The most fashionable: the Russian clasp

The Russian clasp is found on many modern hoops. It has an articulated post that attaches to a small latch.

The most secure: the screw-back clasp

For the screw-back clasp, the post is inserted into the earlobe and then into a screw-on backing that holds the jewelry very securely on your ear. This type of clasp takes longer to put on than a push-back clasp but ensures optimal hold. It is mainly used for stud earrings.

Can you sleep with an earring on?

It is advisable to remove your jewelry before sleeping, especially long earrings that could get caught in your bed linen during your sleep. You could lose your earring or injure your ear.

Which ear should men wear their earring on?

A false belief suggests that the ear on which a man wears an earring could indicate his sexual orientation. This is false! Whether you are straight, gay, or bi, wear your earring wherever you like and remember that we are in 2021, meaning a modern era devoid of rules concerning men's earrings.

Can you wear earrings while playing sports?

Stud earrings can be easily worn at the gym. However, avoid hoops and creoles. For combat sports like boxing, it is avoided to wear any kind of earrings. A misplaced blow could cause a lot of damage with an earring. Regarding water sports, to preserve your ear jewelry as long as possible, it is advisable to remove them before entering the water.

Do earrings cause allergies?

It is often the nickel or lead present in metal alloys that cause allergies. For sensitive people, the preferred metals for earrings are stainless steel or surgical steel, titanium, 925 silver, and gold.

If you have no history of metal allergies, you can choose the metal that suits your look and budget.

How long does it take for a piercing to heal?

The healing of an earlobe piercing takes an average of 6 weeks. For safe healing, be sure to follow the aftercare instructions you will be given when you get your ears pierced.

Which earring should you wear the first time?

A new piercing will take several weeks to heal: at least 6 weeks. During this period, you will need to keep your earring in without removing it. It is therefore preferable to choose a comfortable piece of jewelry that you can sleep, work, and do your daily activities in without being bothered. Choose a simple small stud earring made of a hypoallergenic material.

What does it mean when a man wears only one earring?

It has no particular meaning. While it may have had a meaning at one time, nowadays, it doesn't matter which ear you wear your earring on or whether you wear one or two earrings. Styles are diverse, and every man expresses his personality according to his tastes and desires.

Does getting your ears pierced hurt?

Yes, it can hurt a little, but only for a minute. Some people say they feel a pinch. Others say it stings a bit, and still others that they barely feel it. Each ear is different. But hey, if a 7-year-old girl can do it, so can you.

New to this? Read our guide on how to get started without being mocked.

Want to take the plunge? Discover our entire collection of men's earrings in stainless steel, designed for everyday wear.