How to wear an ear cuff: where it sits, how to put it on and what to pair it with

What is an ear cuff?

An ear cuff is an open ring that clips around the rim of your ear. Nothing goes through your ear: it stays in place because it gently hugs the cartilage. No needle, no healing, no waiting. Delivered today, worn tomorrow.

That makes it different from everything else you wear in your ear:

An ear cuff is ideal if you don't want a new piercing, if you'd like to see how gold looks higher on your ear before you commit to one, or if you simply fancy something new without a needle.

Where does an ear cuff look best?

There are two spots that suit almost everyone.

• The middle of your ear. Halfway up the rim, a little above your lobe, where your ear is thinnest. That's where it slides on most easily and feels most comfortable.
• Higher, towards your helix. At the top of your ear, an ear cuff looks just like a helix piercing, without the hole. A lovely way to find out whether you want one.

Wear it in the middle and you keep room above and below for the rest of your stack. Higher up, it draws a line of gold along the rim. Want to know what every part of your ear is called? Read helix, tragus, conch or flat.

The ear map

Tap a spot

Every spot has its own piercing. Tap to see where it sits and what fits.

Helix

The upper rim of your ear: made for stacking small studs.

Gold Helix Piercings →

How to put on an ear cuff

It's quicker than you think. The first time might take half a minute, after that a few seconds.

1. Find the thinnest spot. Run your finger along the rim of your ear: just above your lobe, your ear is at its narrowest.
2. Slide it on. Place the opening of the cuff against the rim and slide it over that thin spot.
3. Move it into place. Gently ease it up or down to where you want it. On a thicker part of your ear, it sits more firmly.
4. Take it off the same way. Slide it back to the thinnest spot and lift it off. No pulling or twisting.

Too loose or too tight? Move it to a thicker or thinner part of your ear rather than bending it open or closed. Gold is a soft metal and doesn't like being bent again and again.

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Essential Ear Cuff £149.00 Beaded Ear Cuff £129.00 Cubic Zirconia Eternity Ear Cuff £159.00

Pairing: the ear cuff in your ear stack

An ear cuff is the line that finishes your stack. Follow the rule from how to build an ear stack: bigger at the bottom, smaller towards the top, and one statement piece.

One piercing, or none

One ear cuff halfway up your ear and a pair of plain huggies in your lobes. Calm, yet it instantly looks considered. No piercings at all? The cuff on its own is enough.

A full lobe

Huggies in your first and second holes, a plain ear cuff above them. Leave a finger's width between your top huggie and the cuff, so each piece has room to shine.

With sparkle

An ear cuff with cubic zirconia is your statement piece. Keep the rest plain: smooth huggies and, at most, a tiny gold sphere in your helix.

Ready for a real piercing higher up? Our guide to the helix piercing covers how it's done, how long it takes to heal and which piece fits.

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Essential Small Huggie Hoops (10mm) £199.00 Twisted Huggie Hoops (12mm) £259.00 Sphere Piercing £109.00

Is it comfortable? Wear and care

An ear cuff that sits well disappears after a few minutes. If it starts to pinch after a while, slide it a little towards a thinner spot.

• Sleeping: best to take it off. On your pillow, it presses against your ear.
• Sport and swimming: off as well, so it doesn't slide away.
• Getting dressed and brushing your hair: take a little care, a cuff can catch.

All our gold earrings, ear cuffs included, are real 14 or 18 karat gold, nickel-free and suitable for sensitive skin. Real gold doesn't rust or oxidise. If lotion or perfume dulls the shine, polish it with a soft cloth.

Gold Ear Cuffs Real gold, nickel-free, from fine huggies to bold hoops. Shop Gold Ear Cuffs