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The unlikely trend has made ear safety stylish. What’s the harm?
The soundtrack of your teens and twenties usually involves crowded festivals, loud nightclubs, and headphones dialled up to high-volume.
But Gen Z are starting to reject this cacophony with help from an unlikely accessory: the earplug.
Studies have shown that for many young people, noise exposure poses a serious risk to the health of the ears and can even lead to permanent hearing loss in later life. According to the World Health Organisation, 1.1 billion people are at risk of hearing loss due to noises from personal devices or loud music events.
Despite these statistics, people have been slow to embrace solutions like ear plugs – once seen as clunky, uncool additions to a night out
But that’s all changed with the rise of the ‘designer earplug’, made popular and widely available by brands like Loop and Hears. By jumping on rising awareness of hearing health and Gen Z interest in wellness, these companies have filled a gap in the market with sleek, stylish earplugs that come in a range of colours and functions.
Hearing loss isn’t a glamorous topic; it creeps in slowly, often unnoticed until it’s irreversible. For many, that faint ringing in the ears after a concert is a fleeting nuisance. For others, it’s the early warning sign of tinnitus – a lifelong condition for which there is no cure.
@annaboebana @LoopEarplugs have been the best life hack as a traveling mom. I used the experience plugs to filter noises at noisy events and train stations, and the engage plugs helped with my noise sensitivty in social settings. Absolutely life saving for me and my sensory sensitivities. Use my personal code LOOPXANNA10 if you’d like a discount on your first order! #looppartner
Gen Z isn’t waiting to find out which camp they’ll fall into. Instead, they’re embracing earplugs not just as a health measure but as a lifestyle upgrade. Videos with the hashtag #loopearplugs have garnered over 30 million views on TikTok, and the nifty little accessories have become a mainstay of the festival and nightlife scene this past summer.
Traditional foam earplugs were utilitarian at best, ugly at worst. They dulled almost all sound, leaving wearers feeling isolated. Loop and similar brands have flipped that narrative with sleek, circular designs and a range of colours. In fact, earplugs have started to look more like jewellery than medical equipment.
Designer earplugs are discreet enough to wear on a night out, but conspicuous enough to feel intentional – a signal that their owner is clued in, self-aware, and health-conscious.
