It’s no secret that we’re loyal fans of L.A.'s piercer-to-the-stars Brian Keith Thompson. He’s pierced us, he’s pierced our friends, hell, he’s pierced Beyoncé — all with a swift, delicate hand and artful precision. Suffice it to say, when he talks best practices, we listen; when he recommends jewellery combinations, we update our shopping carts; and when he spits trends? We write down every last word. This time around, he’s ushering in the prettiest (and most practical) piercing trend we’ve seen on celebs and L.A. cool girls alike: constellation piercings.
Constellation piercings are exactly what they sound like: an artful grouping of piercings, normally three or more, that are as unique as the star clusters they're named after. While the technique has been around for years, it's especially picking up traction in L.A. now. Why? For starters, it’s fresh and modern, completely unique to the individual, and it falls on the less intimidating end of the piercing spectrum because it can be done on just the lobes — which is appealing for those not into cartilage piercings. These piercings also tend to be incredibly dainty and minimal, perfect for girls who prefer their jewellery to be less costume.
But the best part? They're wildly practical, which you'll see ahead. To get the inspiration flowing, Thompson walked us through some of his recent constellation piercings, sharing tips on jewellery choice and arrangement. Check 'em out ahead.
If your first lobe piercing is off-centre — maybe because your best friend did it for you in the sixth grade — this triangle shape is a great option. "You can take something that you’re not happy with and give it a brother and sister, and...it becomes something that you’re totally stoked about again,” Thompson says.
Those with symmetrical piercings are ideal candidates as well. Thompson often adds a tiny stud centred above two spaced-out piercings to create a similar triangle shape. The result is truly eye-catching, and “it makes it more fun,” he says.
Sometimes, Thompson alternates between hoops and studs to create a unique, textured constellation. But, regardless of shape, he typically sticks to one or two jewellery brands. "Body Vision LA is my number-one go-to for everything," he says. These tiny rings and studs are from the company and can be found at many piercing studios. He also likes NeoMetal for more traditional, classic shapes and high-quality diamonds.
Jewellery tip: "Right now, I am really into doing something big paired with something dainty — like a planet and a couple of moons," Thompson says. "It just looks really cool." (Because we know you'll ask: That gold spike ring is by Body Vision LA.)
Photo: Courtesy of Brian Keith Thompson.
The vertical-stacked trend works on every ear: "Everyone’s anatomy is so uniquely different; some people have large lobes, some people have barely any lobes at all, some people’s cartilage curves differently,” Thompson says. “This is cool because there’s no set of instructions — you just build it as you go.”
Photo: Courtesy of Brian Keith Thompson.
Piercings are a bit like changing your hair colour: If you want to go big, you sometimes have to work in stages. "It really depends on the person, but for me if you do too many piercings [at once] you’re just asking for problems," Thompson says. He recommends getting no more than five piercings in a single session; and those new to the game should stick to two or three. Tip: Let them heal before going back for more.
There's more to consider than the initial pain. "You can get the piercings and walk out of the studio and feel great, but you may not understand that you have another five months of taking care of these — it’s a responsibility," he explains.
Photo: Courtesy of Brian Keith Thompson.
His favourite combination? "I like starting with sets of three; two doesn’t really make a constellation, but three does," he says. Here, Thompson placed a single stud directly above a low lobe piercing for another stacked look.
He always considers the whole ear in the design. "[This] looks like the diagram of a constellation," Thompson explains.
Photo: Courtesy of Brian Keith Thompson.
Adding a second lobe piercing is a great way to round out two older piercings.
"This is something that can be unique for every single client," Thompson says. "It's not a cookie-cutter piercing trend — and each ear can be styled many ways."
Photo: Courtesy of Brian Keith Thompson.
Sold on the trend? Swinging by Thompson’s L.A. studio Body Electric is a surefire way to score the look you crave — or heed his advice to find an in-the-know piercer in your city. "Do some research: Look on Pinterest and Instagram to find some stuff that you like, then find a piercer,” he says.
Cleanliness, a modern jewellery selection, and a good reputation for safe practices top all, but aesthetic is key to finding someone who just gets it. “Definitely don’t walk into a place that you know nothing about, because then you’re just asking for trouble,” he says. "Put your time in. There are great piercers all over the world — you can find them; sometimes you just have to dig.”
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