Trendy ear-piercing studio Studs opens in Rice Village

Why it matters: The brand has made "earscaping" — the subtle art of decorating your ear with personalized piercings and earrings — a thing, while becoming a Gen Z favorite.

• Studs' other claim to fame is piercing with single-use needles instead of piercing guns. The company says, "Needles result in less tissue trauma, shorter healing time, and an overall more hygienic piercing procedure."

How it works: The Houston studio pierces Wednesday through Sunday. Appointments are recommended.

• Pricing: $35 for one piercing and $50 for two, plus the cost of jewelry, which ranges from $30 to over $100.

Our Axios colleague Sami Sparber visited Studs' Austin location earlier this year.

💭 Her thought bubble: Millennials had Claire's; Gen Z has Studs. And influencers have helped the playful brand gain a cult following.

• I'm part of the Claire's-to-Studs pipeline. I'd suggest their curated sets, which make it easy to get a perfectly styled stack.

Pro tip: I gifted my sister a piercing appointment for her birthday, and we both left the Austin studio with new earrings.