One side of the cuff flange should be behind the ear. The other side should be on the front. Until you get used to the way a correctly positioned cuff sits on your ear, it will be easiest to put the cuff on while looking at your ear in a mirror.
It is often easiest to use whichever hand is located on the same side of the body as the ear you’re working on. When putting a cuff on your left ear, use your left hand to hold the ear taut. When working with the right ear, use your right hand. Pinch the top of the ear just above the cuff in place using your index and middle fingers. Pinch the earlobe in place using your thumb and ring finger. Gently tug the top and bottom of your ear in separate directions, causing the outer ridge of the ear to stretch just enough to become firm and taut.
Only the front flange should settle on this inner portion of the ear. The cuff itself needs to wrap around the rim of the ear, and the back flange should remain completely behind the ear. Most ear cuffs should be positioned just midway along the outer rim of the ear, just above the top of the earlobe. [2] X Research source
The ear cuff should be comfortable. If it makes your ear sore, it’s too tight. If it starts slipping off or slipping further down your ear, it’s too loose.
Adjustments made with your fingers can be done while the ear cuff is on your ear, but you should work carefully and in slow increments to avoid misshaping the cuff or injuring your ear. When working with ornate wire ear cuffs, you may also need to adjust the angle of the cuff’s decorative wiring with your fingers so that it matches the natural curvature of your ear.
Since you’ll be applying more pressure, you should remove the cuff from your ear before making any adjustments to it. Doing so will allow you to make more precise alterations and should reduce the risk of accidental injury.
If the ear cuff does not have an earring attached by a chain, this section can be skipped.
Similarly, if the chain sags too much, you can adjust it by sliding the cuff further up along the outer ridge of the ear. Make sure that the chain is not twisted around the earring and that it falls to the outside of the cuff and earring. Use your fingers to make any necessary adjustments.
The simplest ear cuffs are dainty hoops that wrap around the ridge of the ear without any further adornment. These hoops can be made of light wire, heavy wire, or solid metal. Some hoop ear cuffs have a separate earring piece attached by a thin chain or series of chains. This earring should be placed into an earlobe piercing. Other ear cuffs can be more ornate. The cuff itself rests in the hollow of the ear (as described in the “Placing the Ear Cuff” section), but the decorative part is meant to encircle the outer curve of the ear. This decorative portion can be made of dainty wire or solid metal. Some ear cuffs are even studded with gems or similar elements.
Even small ear cuffs stand out, so weighing both ears down with cuffs can make your overall look seem heavy and cluttered. You should only wear ear cuffs on one ear at a time, but the ear you choose does not matter.
When you take this option, though, it’s best to keep one or both elements fairly subdued. For instance, you could wear simple diamond stud earrings with a decorative cuff, especially if the cuff has an open space in its design to accommodate an earring. Another option would be to wear a pair of long dangling earrings with a simple wire hoop cuff. You should not, however, wear an elaborately designed ear cuff with heavy dangling earrings. The two pieces will likely clash and create too much weight.
Like earrings, other jewelry you wear—necklaces, bracelets, rings—should balance out the ear cuff instead of competing with it. An ornate statement necklace can be worn when you have simple hoop ear cuffs, but when you have a more elaborate cuff, you should stick with things like small pendant necklaces or plain dangle bracelets when you choose anything at all.
Tie your hair back or arrange it in a messy bun. Consider putting a deep side part in your hair so that the side with the cuff is more exposed. If nothing else, you should at least expose the ear cuff by sweeping your hair behind your ear.
