I spent $350 to get my ear professionally styled with new piercings, and it made me wish I'd tried it sooner

Customized ear piercings, a service curated to match a client's personal style, have gained popularity over the last few years.

TikToks and Instagram posts about the custom service, which accounts for the ear shape, preferred style, and current piercings, have hundreds of thousands of views under hashtags like #curatedear and #piercedandstyled.

The before and after transformations of clients at various piercing shops are definitely interesting, to say the least.

I was curious to see what all the hype was about so I excitedly (and nervously) booked myself a custom ear-piercing session at a shop close to me.

I had never put too much thought into my earrings. Prior to the customized service, I had a random collection of ear piercings I accumulated throughout my youth.

I went into the service with three piercings in one ear and four in the other — all but one were in my lobes.

I was excited to work with a professional who'd be thinking about the best aesthetic for my ear.

I decided to get my new piercings at Lulus Body Piercing, a shop located in Westminster, California.

To book a customized ear-piercing service, I scheduled a consultation through the Lulus website, where I could choose from various available appointment times. I selected a Thursday appointment at 11 a.m. and arrived about 15 minutes early.

There was also an option to get a virtual consultation, which was $100 on its own. However, an in-person consultation at Lulus is technically free, as the only costs factored into the bill are the prices of jewelry and the piercing service.

I opted for an early appointment because I wanted to avoid crowds and I ended up being the only client there.

When I arrived, I thought the shop was very colorful and feminine. It seemed like Lulus was pouring out goddess energy, which helped me feel braver about the experience.

I was a bit apprehensive about the process, but the staff was attentive and kind throughout the entire consultation.

After speaking with the employees, I began to feel a bit more comfortable about getting new piercings.

I know it can be intimidating to have someone tell you what looks best on you so I was happy to learn that the process of picking out jewelry and identifying what I liked wasn't too complicated.

The staff made recommendations based on what I said I liked and informed me which pieces would best go with different piercings. The jewelry also varied in price since they were made with different kinds of metals.

In the end, I chose 14-carat gold single heart and four-crystal marquise single earrings, which were $100 and $130, respectively.

After I decided what I liked, Lulus staff members suggested what kind of piercings would best flatter my ear.

An employee named Ilieana had a few suggestions based on my interests but more importantly, she listened to what I really wanted and needed.

Ilieana said that the best piercing for me would be a flat, a type of cartilage piercing located below the ear's upper outer rim. She also suggested a helix, another kind of cartilage piercing, since I wear AirPods daily and she wanted to avoid any piercings that could get in their way.

After speaking with her, I felt ready for my new piercings and jewelry.

When it was time for the service, my piercer, Alyssa, walked me back to the piercing room and prepared me for what was coming next.

Everything in the room seemed extremely clean and neat, which was even more reassuring.

Alyssa talked me through the whole process and explained what to expect as she began to pierce me.

Alyssa coached me through the whole process and took most of my nerves away.

I focused on my breathing and was shocked by how little pain I actually felt throughout the service.

The entire piercing experience took about five minutes so it was over before I knew it. I was even able to smile during the piercings because they went so smoothly.

After Alyssa was done, she handed me a mirror so I see my new flat and helix piercings. Seeing two new piercings already made me want more.

We sat for a couple of minutes and talked about piercing aftercare and the healing process, which, in my opinion, can be the most stressful part of this type of service.

According to Alyssa, my new piercings can take up to nine months to fully heal. Luckily, I received a saline solution and lots of tips (like not sleeping on my side with the new piercings and avoiding using cotton swabs to clean them) to ensure a speedy recovery.

I walked into Lulu's with an open mind and lots of nerves because I knew new piercings and jewelry would be a commitment and that the healing process requires work on my part.

I'm also not used to having more than one earring in at a time so seeing three pieces of jewelry in my ear at once was a nice change.

I'm obsessed with my new piercings and jewelry. I think the flat and helix piercings were a great addition to my ear.

I also think the quality of the jewelry is amazing, as both pieces were made of 14-carat gold, an ideal metal for new piercings that doesn't degrade over time. Overall, the consultation, jewelry, piercings, and take-home saline solution for aftercare cost about $350.

Still, I think the experience was worth every penny and I'd recommend the service to anyone who wants to elevate their style in a unique way.

Earrings can be an amazing accessory and I think the assistance with designing a type of ear blueprint can make all of the difference. I can't wait to go back and get more custom piercings.