Studs Is the New Company Making the Ear-Piercing Experience Fun
Just last month, I was talking to my coworker about how I want to get some new jewelry for my ear piercings, but I don't know where to turn.
I live in Los Angeles, and I pretty much only have access to Claire's at the Culver City mall, or an array of musty-scented tattoo shops in Venice or Hollywood, where they sell overpriced titanium hoops. I lamented to my colleague about how I wanted cute, dainty jewelry to adorn my lobes and cartilage. I have a handful of ear piercings, so ideally I need them to be affordable purchases—but never outright cheap.
Following a search, I stumbled upon Studs, New York City's new, moderately-priced, cool-girl ear piercing shop that fills the longtime gap in the industry. While I couldn't hop on a private jet to The Big Apple stat, I browsed the company's array of offerings on their website. While bummed there's no shop on the west coast (they're expanding this year), I found myself in a deep hole, rummaging through their various "earscape" options, and admiring the fact that the shop already has some A-list fans (hello, Kaia Gerber and Karlie Kloss!).
I was so taken by the jewelry styles and the vibe and purpose of the company, I reached out to the Studs team to see if I could chat with one of its founders about launching their business. Not only did they happily oblige, but they also sent me a piece of my choice—a gold Crystal Huggie—that I had no problem finding a home for on my lobes. Keep reading for what co-founder Lisa Bubbers had to say!
Sweety High: With the creation of Studs, you've mentioned trying to find a happy medium between a Claire's-style store and a tattoo parlor—why on earth do you think this hasn't been done sooner?
Lisa Bubbers: After we went to get piercings recently, we realized that there really wasn't a place that was accessibly priced, used healthy needle piercing practices and had cool, trendy jewelry—so we created it!
SH: What's been your inspiration for the jewelry?
LB: We wanted Studs to be a place that anyone can come and not have to conform to our style, but be able to create a look that uniquely expresses who they are. Our assortment ranges from delicate, small pieces to bold statements, so there's truly something for everyone.
SH: What has the experience been like since launch?
LB: We've been so pleasantly surprised by the reaction. This is something that there was a really big demand for so we've been blown away by the positive response so far.
SH: Aside from the decor and vibe, what makes an experience at Studs different from that of a general piercing place?
LB: At Studs, we're singularly focused on the ear-piercing experience. From the moment you walk in the door you're able to shop for cute, accessibly-priced jewelry, meet with a piercer to design your look and talk through any questions you have, and you leave with information on caring for your new piercing.
Once you have your ear piercings, HERE's a definitive ranking of every struggle you'll experience after the process.