12 Fall 2023 Piercing Trends That'll Upgrade Your Stack

Vertical lip piercings have over 182 million views on TikTok, proving that the ’90s-era look is back. According to Sharp, folks are getting more experimental when it comes to their piercings, and the vertical lip is a great example of that.

Helix piercings are located on the upper part of your cartilage, and they’re always the perfect spot to showcase your earring collection. Try a double or triple helix with two or three holes, or opt for a forward helix along the front of your ear. According to Sharp, this spot feels fresh and unique, especially if you already have other cartilage piercings.

Forget having two piercings on your lobe — this fall, go for three. According to Priya Bhatnagar, the vice president and general manager of the piercing division at Claire’s, trilogy piercings are having a moment. It features a triangle-shaped triple piercing that looks great on the lobe or further up the cartilage.

Chaotic earring stacks continue to be big, so the more asymmetrical and mismatched you can make yours this fall, the better. Get two piercings on one side and five on the other or lean into the trend by wearing a dangly earring on one side and only one stud on the other. According to Sharp, asymmetry is a fun and trendy way to make your piercings your own.

Have you tried the gold versus silver filter on TikTok? It’s supposed to help you see whether your skin tone looks better with one metal over the other. If you can’t quite decide, though, no worries: According to Sharp, mixed metals are in, so you should feel free to wear silver and gold all on one ear.

A tragus piercing — located on the little flap of cartilage in front of your ear canal — is the perfect spot to add a pop of shine to your ear. It’s a subtle piercing, Sharp says, but one that gives you an instantly-edgier look.

Imagine how pretty it could be to have a constellation of gems scattered up your cartilage. Bhatnagar says this look continues to be popular, and one that gives you flexibility when it comes to swapping out jewelry. “You can try mixing and matching metals, combining piercings and cuffs, or getting creative with styles like connectors and crawlers,” she says.

While huggie style earrings have been in for ages, they’re going to have a major moment this fall, Sharp says. These hoops sit close to your ear and add a stylish, sophisticated pop of shine to your lobe. They’re also super comfortable, so you can put them in and forget about them.

While this placement will always be popular — and is almost always the first piercing people get — Sharp says the classic, simple look is coming back in vogue. Plus, you can still have fun with lobe piercings by adding unique jewelry. If you have the room, try wearing two earrings in one lobe piercing. This works particularly well if you had gauged ears and now have more real space for jewelry.

According to Bhatnagar, other unique lip looks, like the spider bite piercing, will be extra cute this fall. It’s two side-by-side piercings on the lower corner of your lip that look a lot like a bite mark.

If you’ve been into the quiet luxury fashion trend this year, don’t forget about your ears. There’s a major trend towards investing in classic earrings that won’t tarnish, says Sharp. These are the earrings you put in, wear everywhere, and they still look good weeks later. “It is also better for those who are more sensitive to metals and need a higher-quality product to prevent infection,” she adds. Sharp suggests looking into 14k gold.

If you’ve been dreaming about getting a nose piercing, it’s the perfect time to go through with it. According to Sharp, a septum piercing adds a dose of creativity to your look, no matter what you’re wearing. Another option is to try the double nose piercing with one stud or hoop in each nostril.