Whether what’s in your wardrobe lives and dies by what’s happening at Fashion Week, or, quite frankly, you couldn’t care less, the truth is that trends born on the catwalk will trickle down to inform your style. Whether you like it or not.

And if fashion powerhouses like Italian label Valentino and luxury streetwear favorite Vetements are anything to go by, men’s earrings are about to have a serious moment.

For some celebrities though, long earrings are less of a trend, more an evergreen style statement. Take Jamie Foxx, for example – has anyone seen the star without his signature studs? Or that self-proclaimed “pretty motherf*cker,” A$AP Rocky, whose look wouldn’t be complete without his diamond earrings.

That’s also true for the sartorially savvy men who do their shopping at the London boutique Machine-A. “Our store is quite unisex, so we have always had men who wear earrings,” says business manager Mia Poirier. But what about if you’re more of a tentative shopper? Throw caution to the wind. “Accessories are not to be feared. They’re just decoration, so you shouldn’t be afraid.”

Before you take the plunge into the final frontier of men’s jewelry, here are all the practical considerations of a piercing.