Ears are neat. Did you know that everyone’s ears are unique to them, like a fingerprint? This is why some people have the anatomy for a particular piercing and some people don’t. But we all have the anatomy for some ear piercings and if you have ear piercings, you need jewelry! So today we’re take a moment to talk about ear jewelry styles and how they differ!
Clickers
Clickers are circular on the bottom but the top portion, where the barbell is, may be either curved or straight. Either way, there is a visible hinge and clasp where it “clicks” into place, hence the name. These can be worn in many piercings, just be sure to get one with the appropriate style of barbell. Don’t put a curved barbell into a piercing that requires a straight one and vice versa. These are nice because they’re easy to insert and easy to remove and come in a range of styles and sizes.
Hinged Segment Rings
These are similar to clickers, but the hinge and clasp are meant to be virtually seamless. They are great for a totally smooth appearance and are also extremely easy to insert. One may wish to test the clasp before inserting because they can be a little stubborn when it comes to removal. Hinged segment rings are also easy to source in many sizes and styles.
Captive Rings
Also known as captive bead rings, ball closure rings, and captive charm rings, they are all the same things. These are a fixed ring with an opening which is sealed with either a bead or a charm. These are a lovely choice because once in place, they are very secure and unlikely to fall out. However, they do require some tools (a ring opener and ring closing pliers) if you plan to do this yourself. Otherwise, it takes a trip to the piercer because if you try to do this with regular pliers, you run the risk of bending the ring out of shape.
Curved Barbell
The only ear piercing that can rock a curved barbell is a rook piercing. But they are easily available and range from very simple to quite ornate. If you’re looking for ideas but can’t find what you’re after, try searching for curved eyebrow rings!
Studs/Flat Backs
Straight ear jewelry usually comes in two forms. There is the stud, which is a small barbell with the back being a ball end. The other is a flat back, where the back is a small, flat disc. These come in endless styles and if you like to change your jewelry frequently, threadless is your best option. These have charm fronts that use a tiny wire to hold them in place in the post, as opposed to using threading to screw the charm into place. Threadless jewelry means you can change that charm without removing the post. Both are perfectly acceptable for your ears although a flat back is going to be nicer to sleep on.
Lobe Earrings
Regular ear lobe piercings deserve love too! Earrings generally come in a few different styles including studs (straight posts with friction backs) and fishhook styles (wire hooks, often with a friction back, often used for dangle-style earrings). Just remember to take your earrings out and let your ears breathe from time to time.
Plugs
These are for stretched piercings, most notably stretched lobe piercings. Plugs come in a few styles including straight (held in place with two o-rings), single flare (held in place by one end being larger than the post and a single o-ring on the other end), double flare (both ends are larger than the post, must have tissue that is relaxed enough to accommodate the flare to insert) and screw fit (one end is threaded to screw on and off). Styles include tunnels (which have a hole in the center) and things like ear weights (heavy charms that hang, these should be combined with tunnel plugs to protect the bottom of the lobe) and spiral tapers (These are strictly jewelry, please do not stretch your lobes with tapers. See our latest blog on dead stretching for information on how to stretch safely.)
A Word on Size
Your piercer should give you a paper or at least tell you the gauge and size of your piercing jewelry when you get it done. If you do not know the size you need, you can purchase a set of digital jewelry calipers, get a gauge card (which should also have length/diameter measurements on it) or simply go see your piercer and ask them to measure. There really are no “standard” sizes because there are no “standard” bodies. There are only common sizes. If you are buying jewelry, it’s important to know what size you need so there aren’t any unpleasant surprises.
Ears offer a veritable plethora of piercing options. And nearly all those piercings come with an array of jewelry choices. Now that you understand the options available to you, you’re ready for the fun part. It’s time to go shopping! Happy piercing and happy jewelry shopping!
