The 2:3 Ratio Ear Piercing Rule: A Guide to Creating a Balanced Look
A curated ear, a term coined by luxury body jewelry designer Maria Tash, refers to a combination of jewelry styled in multiple piercings on the ear to create a unique look that’s all your own. It considers your ear shape, different piercings you want, and specific jewelry you’re looking forward to wearing. However, creating a curated ear means developing a sense of balance among the piercings you want to get. That is why you need to follow the 2:3 ratio ear piercing rule.
In this article, we’ll explore the 2:3 ratio ear piercing rule, ways to follow it, and its benefits.
What Is the 2:3 Ratio Ear Piercing Rule?
The 2:3 ear piercing ratio is a guideline and not a hard-fast rule you must follow. The basic principle is that for every two piercings you have, there should be three units of space between them. Typically, this means that you have two piercings on one section of the ear (such as the lobe) and three piercings on the upper cartilage area of the ear. The goal is to create an uncrowded, harmonious, and balanced look to your ear.
Benefits of the 2:3 Ear Piercing Ratio
Visual Balance
Following the 2:3 ear piercing ratio naturally draws the eye upward, following the curvature and shape of your ear and balancing the softer, more delicate lobes with the edgier, more structured cartilage piercings.
Harmonious Aesthetics
The last thing you want is for your curated ear to look random and unplanned. Following the 2:3 ratio also helps provide a framework so that your piercings look like they were planned out purposefully and carefully.
Enhanced Personal Style
Not everyone has the same ear anatomy, making us all unique. Curating your ear and creating a balance with your specific anatomy in mind can highlight your ear’s unique anatomy and your overall style.
How to Apply the 2:3 Ear Piercing Ratio to Your Ear Curation
1. Evaluate Your Ear Anatomy
Since so many piercings, including the lobes, are anatomy-dependent, it's best to consult a professional piercer and tell them you want to create a curated ear look. Your piercer can evaluate your ear’s shape and anatomy and recommend piercings that suit your anatomy.
2. Plan Your Piercings
Once you’ve had your ear evaluated, it’s time to plan your piercings. If you’re new to piercing or are afraid of the pain of cartilage piercings, it’s best to start off with the lobes. You can start with one and add more later, or you can start with three. However, even if you’re brave and want to do a whole bunch of piercings at once, it’s recommended that you don’t get more than three at a time so you don’t overwhelm your body during the healing process. If you already have lobe piercings, it’s time to move to cartilage piercings. For every two lobe piercings, aim to add three cartilage piercings. For example, if you have double-lobe piercings, you may want to mix it up and get your conch, helix, and tragus to create a balanced look.
3. Play Around with Jewelry
Once you’ve picked the piercings you’ll get, whether spread out multiple times or some in one sitting, the next part is the best–it’s time to pick out jewelry.
Picking out jewelry is where you can have a lot of fun creating a curated ear. To create visual harmony, you can stick to one type of metal, like 14k gold or titanium. However, just because the goal of the 2:3 ear piercing ratio is to create balance, it doesn’t mean you can’t mix and match things.
Something that can create an edgier curated ear look is to mix metals and shapes. You can alternate between hoops and studs once your piercings fully heal. You can alternate between materials for jewelry, like gold for your lobes and silver for your cartilage piercings.
Lastly, you can create a harmonious look by sticking to a theme. Some people opt for gemstones in a monochromatic look. Others use a theme to create a balanced look. For example, if you’re into florals, you can get flower-shaped studs for your piercings or hoops with flower designs. You can also opt for a Harry Potter theme, picking the Deathly Hallows symbol stud, the Golden Snitch stud top, the Sorting Hat stud, and Harry’s glasses and lightning bolt scar top.
Following the 2:3 ear piercing ratio rule is easy and a collaboration between you and your piercer. Have fun picking out lobe and cartilage earrings. If you want more information on aftercare and costs, check out our guide to cartilage piercings.