Ear piercings?

[Berren]

Tomorrow I'm (hopefully) getting one of my ears done (and a haircut!) and I was just looking for some suggestions on how to keep it masculine looking? I'm only getting one ear done, my left (apparently the right is "the gay ear" lol) and I'm hoping to get a small gauge. I'm not entirely sure how you do this other than gradually tapering the hole out... So I'm assuming you get a stud first and then stretch it over a few years? Anyone who actually has these kinds of piercings, I'd appreciate your help lol.

[Rock_chick]

I had my right ear stretched to 5mm at the shop, but that was long term healed though. Get a scaffold insetad, everyone has guages but hardly anyone has scaffolds.

[Berren]

So they can stretch it up to 5mm in one go? And I'm not to keen on scaffolds! I was going to get snakebites tomorrow but my dad would throw a fit, and he's already under the impression that I'm a weirdo/freak. :I He hates all piercings. And tattoos.

[cynthialee]

I fail to understand why so many FTM get snake bites? I have seen so many of you dudes with them that the other day when I was in town I saw a guy with them and my first unbiden thought was 'I wonder if he is FTM.'
Seriously. LOL

Yeah my dad told me the right ear was for gay guys.
As for gagueing....You start small and every few weeks you go up to the next size and carefully make it go in. As time goes by the tight fit becomes a good fit and you can move up to the next gauge.
I only know because I watched Sevan gauge hir ears last year. Hir gauges are rather small as ze didn't want to get them overly large because ze needs to keep a job in this hick town.

[lilacwoman]

like cynthia I connect snake bites with FtMs.
point of piercings is they are decoration to draw attention?
if a person wants to pass as a member of the opposite sex they need to blend in not stand out.
spend the money on guy clothes and footwear.

[Berren]

I find them really appealing (wanted them for about a year and a half) and they might even make your face more masculine. I'm not entirely sure, but I do love them. I'll definitely get them at some point.
Thanks for the advice Cynthia, Helena's "I had my right ear stretched to 5mm at the shop" threw me off a bit. How large are Sevan's gauges?

Lilac, I don't really think one ear piercing will "draw attention to me", and the place I'm going to is pretty reasonable (£8 per piercing), so it's not like I'm spending a lot. And I find that the general public aren't really aware of LGBT as much as we are, so I doubt they would make that connection if I had snakebites. I've also seen loads of guys with snakebites, (my cousin even has them) so I don't really find it unusual or something that would make you "stand out". I realise that I'll probably have to wait a few years until I can get them, and by then I'll know if I definitely want them or not, etc.
I appreciate your concerns though! But I'm already passing very well and I have enough clothing to last me a while.

[lilacwoman]

no the ear piercing with a little sleeper or stud won't but the snake bites will.
but it's your face that the public sees.

[James42]

I've had snake bites since girl mode, had a monroe too, but that's too fem so its closed up now. My ears have been pierced since I was 2 weeks old, I have 8's in my ears now, but its not hard to start the stretching, you can even get small, but good size hoops in thickness, and shove the actual earring through the hole

[Nathan.]

Stretching is easy but if you do it the right way it's a long process. Stretch 1mm every 4-6 weeks. It's depends on your lobes, some lobes will need longer.

Read this stretching guide. - http://www.bodyjewelleryshop.com/forum/showthread.php/8332-Stretching-Guide-and-All-Questions-Regarding-It

[Berren]

Thanks for the guide Nathan, I've bookmarked it.
James, my auntie is actually going to get a monroe tomorrow (I think she is anyway), but the first time I got my ears pierced was when I was 10, I let them close up within a few months because I was squeamish about taking them out and such.
Lilac, I honestly don't think people will read me as FtM just because I have snakebites, it's a pretty common thing. :0

[Shang]

You'll have to take pictures! 

I can't give advice to stretching outside of make sure you clean it!  Or it'll stink to high heaven.

I plan on getting a lip piercing at some point in time and about 5 more tattoos.  Will they draw attention to me?  Probably, but it won't out me as FtM.   Body decorations are seen all over the world and it's something (most) people just seem to have the urge to do, whether it's from make-up to full on body modifications.   

[Berren]

I will once I get it done! I'm so excited now haha.

Yess, as far as I know you should clean any piercing you get about twice a day.

How many tattoos do you have at the moment? And what are they of? Honestly, I've liked tattoos for a really long time, and I'm planning on getting a big decorative sleeve done (for my left arm) when I'm older, a long with actually getting a tattoo apprenticeship.
I think you pretty much summed up what I was trying to say earlier though haha. :>

[Ryan]

I consider myself quite knowledgeable about piercings and the stretching process if you have any questions.
You really need to take it slowly and care for your ears. Stretching may feel a slightly uncomfortable with the pressure but it should NEVER hurt.

Snakebites are quite feminine in my opinion. They seem to have gone out of fashion since 2007ish, but it was mainly more androgynous type men who got them. I think they would hinder passing.
Don't get rings or circular barbels in your ear piercing. I'd recommend a labret stud until you can start stretching. (At least 3 months from initial piercing is recommended)

[James42]

I don't think my snake bites hinder my passing. I pass pretty much 100% of the time. But the only reason I still have them is becaue they're just like part of me now, I've had them for years. I don't think i'd get them now tho if I didn't already have them

[M.Grimm]

Just to be sure, it needs to be a needle-done piercing rather than a stud-gun piercing. The latter tears and shatters the skin and should just never be used on anyone, and it won't stretch properly later.

I stretched my own lobe piercings (once they were very well healed, of course) by gently using metal knitting needles in progressively larger gauges, lubed up with ointment.

I used to have quite a few piercings but I've taken them all out, now, to help me look more masculine. Someday when my face isn't so fem I'll probably put a few back in.

[kyril]

I consider myself quite knowledgeable about piercings and the stretching process if you have any questions.
You really need to take it slowly and care for your ears. Stretching may feel a slightly uncomfortable with the pressure but it should NEVER hurt.

Snakebites are quite feminine in my opinion. They seem to have gone out of fashion since 2007ish, but it was mainly more androgynous type men who got them. I think they would hinder passing.
Don't get rings or circular barbels in your ear piercing. I'd recommend a labret stud until you can start stretching. (At least 3 months from initial piercing is recommended)

why no rings? I was thinking of reopening one of my ear piercings, but if I do I think it'll be a ring because studs are so feminine (and hurt when i sleep on them.

[Nathan.]

why no rings? I was thinking of reopening one of my ear piercings, but if I do I think it'll be a ring because studs are so feminine (and hurt when i sleep on them.

rings in new piercings prolong healing, they move around more then studs and breaks the healing skin and drags dirt into the wound which may cause an infection. It is recomended that you wear a stud till they are healed.

[kyril]

Oh, I see. (sort of counter to my experience, my piercings got dramatically less irritated when I switched to rings before - studs trapped dirt/gunk against the hole, and also pulled/pushed on it a lot at night)

[jet3]

Honestly man, I always say do what makes you comfortable. If you're comfortable and would feel confident with snake bites in the future...then go for it! It's you body bro! Everyone says having diamond earrings in both ears hinders your passing, but I have wore my diamonds in both ears for about 2 years and i have never had problems being recognized as male in public. Obviously now I dont because I've been on T for a year, but even pre-t I passed at least 80-85% of the time maybe even a little more, and the other 15-20% of the time people just weren't sure, but I rarely ever got read as female.  As far as gauging goes, I had my ears gauged to a 4. I increased them by 1 size about every 2 weeks until I got them to where i wanted them. I know they can use a bigger gauge when they first pierce your ear, but I'm not sure how big they will go. Just ask.

[Sharky]

When I was about 15 I got my ears pierced. I got both lobes done, I rarely see guys with just one side done. Anyway I stretched them to a 0.

I also got a tattoo when I was a teen, my mom took me, she had just gotten one herself. I don't really like it anymore. I wouldn't say I regret it, I'm just bored with it. It will probably get it lasered or at least a cover up in the future. Even though I don't really like it anymore It was still a really awesome experience. I felt euphoria after.

I think subconsciously a part of me did this stuff to feel like I had control over my body.