How The Over – Uaetodaynews

Do you know your rook from your conch? Your tragus from your helix? The answer for a growing number of middle-aged women is ‘Yes!’ They are all parts of the ear ripe for piercing, and midlifers are having sparkly diamonds and gold studs punched through them in their many thousands.

‘There’s a reason our first outlet was in John Lewis,’ says Natasha Lyons, CEO of piercing chain Tish Lyon, alluding to the store’s slightly older, middle-class demographic – exactly the market for this ear-piercing boom, which has seen the trend for multiple piercings spread beyond its former teen and 20-something audience.

But what’s behind this craze? ‘When you’re very young,’ says Lyons, ‘it’s all about looking attractive to men, then when lots of women become mothers all the focus is on the family. Then comes the menopause and it’s very freeing. Personally, I no longer care about the male gaze, I’m just doing things for myself. Lots of women have this new attitude: I’m going to look how I want. I won’t be dictated to by my parents, partner or kids.’

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YOU’s features director Marianne Jones, 60, is about to have her fifth ear lobe piercing, and agrees with Lyons. ‘Like my female friends, I’m rediscovering my freedom, with the time and money to spend on things that bring me joy. And a very pretty diamond earring does it for me.’ She adds, ‘For middle-class, middle-aged women these piercings are a safe way to make a statement – unlike tattoos, which are permanent and look awful on ageing skin.’

Of course, tattoo parlours and piercing shops were, until recently, very similar. Unless you were off to Claire’s for a lobe piercing, you were entering stores selling bongs and skater clothes, while a heavily pierced dude stuck needles through people at the back. I’m not knocking these places – they are where I had most of my nine piercings done and the quality is often exceptional – but they are not exactly appealing to 50-something women getting their ears done for the first time in 30 years.

Now a new breed of piercing parlour has popped up; think Astrid & Miyu and Maria Tash, which, alongside Tish Lyon, aren’t just non-intimidating but glamorous too. Lyons explains that in previous decades piercing used to involve titanium and steel, but the emergence of gold jewellery has helped the look appeal to a wider market. It’s certainly led to the rise of the ‘curated ear’ – the trend for a variety of hoops, huggies and studs across every nook of lobe and cartilage. Famous fans include Sienna Miller (43) and Charlize Theron (50). Compared to the piercings midlife women grew up with – the fierce look of 1980s punk or the belly button and nose piercings that became popular in the 90s – the curated ear is chic and pretty.

And it’s not just the end result that people love, but the process. As the high street moves towards ‘experiences’ not just shopping, bougie piercing parlours are social hotspots. Lyons says her stores often host multigenerational sessions – ‘mothers and daughters, a grandmother and a grandson’ – and planning the next appointment is part of the fun (‘My friends and I always talk about what we’re getting next,’ confirms Jones.)

For YOU’s deputy editor Lindsay Frankel, a piercing session at Artmageddon in Macclesfield, followed by lunch, has become an annual tradition with her two sisters. ‘We decided we didn’t need stuff, so for the past two years our Christmas present to one another is a piercing day out. We pay for each other’s piercings and it feels fabulous to come out with some sparkly jewels in our ears. We also discuss what we’re getting in the lead up, which is an excuse for lots of chat in our WhatsApp group. The first year we did this I’d wanted my helix done for ages but was too scared, but my sisters egged me on and I love it – and it didn’t hurt.’

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Indeed, some midlife piercing addicts love their new look so much they go beyond the ear, says Lyons. ‘We have lots of ladies in their 50s getting their nose done, and they say, “I’ve always wanted to do this.”’

And the midlifers’ piercing jewellery of choice? ‘We are selling a lot of diamonds,’ says Lyons. Now that’s a self-gifting trend we can all understand.