Susan's Place Transgender Resources

My ears are not pierced.  But I have considered buying clip on or magnetic earrings.  Has anyone tried either type?  Are they painful to wear or do you get used to them?

I found both to be fairly painful after more than an hour or so.  Much worse than an actual piercing.  Is there some reason you can't get them pierced?  I had two lobe piercings in each ear and a couple of helixes in one and an industrial in the other and the last in person visit I had at our main office no one at worked assumed that they meant ANYTHING.

Clip on earrings get painfull for me after about 8 hours. I found that in my case they must be designed for people with skinny ears. A little delicate adjustment with a pair of needle nose pliers or two will help a lot.

So far the best have been screw back type. Adjusting the pressure is an easy task. The downside is you may make it too lose and you loose  >:(  But I've also lost clip ons

  Most clip ons are painful after an hour or two.  I do have some light weight clip ons that I can wear al day without pain.

They can be painful. I bought some polished stone ones dirt cheap at a church sale. If you go to a craft store (or Walmart) they sell the clip part by the bagfull, you can get really busy adjusting them just for you. Hugs, Devlyn

Stacey, if there's any way you could get your ears pierced, it is very much worth it.  There is far less pain and hassles.  It also is less limiting as there are more regualr ear rings than clip ons in most stores. 

...just pierce them.

You can wear a tiny see through plastic through the holes if you aren't ready to come out.
Even though having your ears pierced as a male wouldn't make anyone suspicious, but eh.
Your choice.


Oh, and never pierce them somewhere like Claire's, please.
The chances of them healing correctly and fast are bad, my ears always got inflammed and the 'cleanser' they give you is even bigger bull LOL.
Go somewhere professional, and listen to their instructions on how to clean them.

I found 'clip on' earrings to be rather painful after awhile  :P  I've had my piercings for a few years now and love them

Definitely go to a good reputable salon with well trained people to get your piercings done

I've found that clip-ons hurt after a few hours, as others here have said. As for the magnetic ones, they don't work on me. My lobes are too thick for the weak magnets on most of them and the ones that are powerful enough to work hurt as much as clip-ons.

Actually, I prefer a nice earcuff anyway.

Same here clips hurt and the magnets were too weak. I have double piercings in each lobe and no one said anything

Clip-ons can be painful especially after all day. However, if you wear them a lot you eventually get used to it. They are also a bit easier to lose as you can knock them off while playing with your hair.

I used them for years having a fear of getting my ears pierced, but when I eventually plucked up the courage it was fine!

If you can't get them bot done at once it is possible to do them one at a time, many men wear a single earring. When one ear is healed do the other one. I had a friend that used that tactic and nobody noticed when her stud moved from one ear to the other!

Caroline

Why not just have ears pierced and move on?

There are endless options for pierced ears... just my take.

Axélle

I do remember being terrified of getting my ears pierced. People would stare at me, I would be outing myself. All the usual crap. No one cares, no one has made an issue of it. I'm wearing one inch silver hoops in one set and a drop set with a jewel in front of them. Looks as masculine as a tutu.

Who cares? I don't. And no one has said anything, even if I cared enough to listen.

Be yourself. Be true to yourself.

It is you, no one else, whose opinion is important.

I read an article on the weekend on what are your biggest regrets. Number one was not being true to yourself.

Cindy

Just get them pierced (unless you have a metal allergy).
It hurts no more then a pinch and with a good salt water mixture (3/4 warm water, 1/4 rock salt) they heal very fast.
I've had 8 piercings and they've all been fine.

And if you're worried, just get some plain silver studs/rings while they're healing. Guys with earrings are as common as chips these days. Don't put anything flashy in and no one will even notice. (unless you want to of course! :D)

Quote from: V M on May 20, 2012, 09:39:09 PM
I found 'clip on' earrings to be rather painful after awhile  :P  I've had my piercings for a few years now and love them

Definitely go to a good reputable salon with well trained people to get your piercings done

There are potential downsides to ear piercings.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fgreatpiercingshop.com%2Fgallery%2Fear%2F007.jpg&hash=90ea4d832b66c4a0e4c696d17c100b3c5a7e0825)

There are potential down sides to every thing.

My glass is half full or half empty?

Quote from: Cindy James on May 21, 2012, 05:31:42 AM
There are potential down sides to every thing.

My glass is half full or half empty?

If it held a Coonawara Cabernet Sauvignon, I assume it is completely empty!
(Mine too)

Quote from: Jamie D on May 21, 2012, 05:40:14 AM
If it held a Coonawara Cabernet Sauvignon, I assume it is completely empty!
(Mine too)

Poor dear I have three dozen 1999 in the cellar/rack. Beautiful. Come around and we will share on with some Camembert. Oh dear I may crack one anyway. Naughty JamieD

Damn  >:(

Some of us can't, or won't get their ears pierced. I have a dreadful fear of needles or any medical procedures. Telling someone to "just do it" doesn't get them past that. Just two cents worth from someone three cents short of a dollar! Hugs, Devlyn

I know what you mean Sis,

I felt a little odd posting my info. I have no problems with needles. And I have to admit when I had my ears done there was no sign of a needle. I selected my ear rings(studs) and they just put them in. I didn't see anything beyond something that looked like a stapler, then a click, then I had ear rings. Bingo. Or Ear ringO

I have worked myself into a panic and skipped doctors visits worrying about a blood draw. I faint after a blood draw. We don't all face the same challenges. Hugs, Devlyn

You will hate this. I can bleed myself. In fact I teach people how to do phlebotomy on me, and I usually end up having to push the needle in. On the night shifts I use to take my own blood as the 'normal' control.

Everyone has limits.

I still hate Opera and Ballet, give blood any time :laugh:

Quote from: Jamie D on May 21, 2012, 05:29:41 AM
There are potential downsides to ear piercings.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fgreatpiercingshop.com%2Fgallery%2Fear%2F007.jpg&hash=90ea4d832b66c4a0e4c696d17c100b3c5a7e0825)

Is that a piercing complication or is it a blown lobe when they were gauging?



As far as needle fear, I'm not sure what to say.  I found non-pierced earrings to be very uncomfortable, but if the needles are worse then hopefully you can get used to the others.

As far as outing you goes, it doesn't,  People just don't care anymore.

Quote from: Jamie D on May 21, 2012, 05:29:41 AM
There are potential downsides to ear piercings.
[clipped]

Hum, I will save us any more of this blood and gore pic.

Now I guess those 'needle-fear' folks have -hopefully NEVER- looked at the stages of SRS proceedings... or?
Just for a tad of REAL perspective on two little pricks in the ears, hey? :)

Not to change the subject, I pierced my own 3 times each side (over time)... using a sharp meat-fork.
That -  is not by any means a needle... so maybe you want to try that?  :-\

Just a suggestion for an alternative  >:-)
Axélle

Quote from: Axélle on May 21, 2012, 09:25:32 AM
Hum, I will save us any more of this blood and gore pic.

Now I guess those 'needle-fear' folks have -hopefully NEVER- looked at the stages of SRS proceedings... or?
Just for a tad of REAL perspective on two little pricks in the ears, hey? :)

Not to change the subject, I pierced my own 3 times each side (over time)... using a sharp meat-fork.
That -  is not by any means a needle... so maybe you want to try that?  :-\

Just a suggestion for an alternative  >:-)
Axélle

getting your ears pierced is a walk in the park compared to 3 hour long electroylises sessions

Quote from: mementomori on May 21, 2012, 09:53:32 AM
getting your ears pierced is a walk in the park compared to 3 hour long electroylises sessions

I would NEVER, I think, be able to handle -3 hours- electrolysis.
So yes, I fully agree.

Axélle

I would recommend the piercing.. I tried clip-ons and they hurt after while.

Getting your ears pierced is not painfull at all. I have two holes in each lobe and my navel is pierced.

The wide selection of earing is big...

What is holding me back from getting my ears pierced is stories of infections and all that. My mother didn't have pierced ears, and neither do/did any of her sisters except for the youngest (my Aunt) who had it done much later. She told me it became infected, very unpleasant and recommended magnetic earrings.

The process itself doesn't scare me. On occasion I have to inject myself intramuscular, I have had electrolysis and laser. I think I ought to be able to handle the piercing itself. It is what comes after that gives me second thoughts.

Being afraid of needles doesn't mean being afraid of pain. Too many people are making assumptions. Being afraid of heights doesn't mean you think it hurts. Being afraid of the dark doesn't mean you think it hurts. When we don't understand someones phobia, we should just say so. Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Plain Jane on May 21, 2012, 05:27:06 PM
except for the youngest (my Aunt) who had it done much later. She told me it became infected, very unpleasant and recommended magnetic earrings.

No offense to your aunt, but i'm going to take a shot in the dark and say she didn't look after them. It's actually really hard to get a piercing that infected these days. You have to not clean it or use any disinfectant products, then you have to sleep on it, pull at it and also be highly susceptible to infection. All within the first 2 weeks.
Quick clean with a cotton bud and salt water mixture twice a day, plus a light turn every few hours to stop it from closing up too much and you should be good.

The only bad case I've ever heard of is when the girl was allergic to one of the metals (nickle or copper or something) and had an allergic reaction to it.


And if you're scared of needles. Go the gun option. It looks like a giant stapler and CLICK+PINCH you have earrings (like Cindy said)

Quote from: Jeneva on May 21, 2012, 08:24:53 AM
Is that a piercing complication or is it a blown lobe when they were gauging?



As far as needle fear, I'm not sure what to say.  I found non-pierced earrings to be very uncomfortable, but if the needles are worse then hopefully you can get used to the others.

As far as outing you goes, it doesn't,  People just don't care anymore.

J - that was just my warped sense of humor run amok.  I think that is a picture of a real large gauge piercing being stretched.

Quote from: Axélle on May 21, 2012, 09:25:32 AM

Not to change the subject, I pierced my own 3 times each side (over time)... using a sharp meat-fork.

Axelle!  You're making me squirm at the thought.

Yikes!

Quote from: Plain Jane on May 21, 2012, 05:27:06 PM
What is holding me back from getting my ears pierced is stories of infections and all that. My mother didn't have pierced ears, and neither do/did any of her sisters except for the youngest (my Aunt) who had it done much later. She told me it became infected, very unpleasant and recommended magnetic earrings.

The process itself doesn't scare me. On occasion I have to inject myself intramuscular, I have had electrolysis and laser. I think I ought to be able to handle the piercing itself. It is what comes after that gives me second thoughts.

ive never had an infection from my lobe piercings , navel piercing yes but not earlobes i think earlobes are the easiest to heal

Quote from: Jamie D on May 21, 2012, 07:01:41 PM
Axelle!  You're making me squirm at the thought.

Yikes!

Squirm maybe... but never faint, as all is in YOUR control.

I've seen my ex faint at a jeweller's shop more from her imagination that from anything you might call pain...

She gave birth after all - and did not faint - also mostly under HER control, see :)

Axélle

Quote from: Kyyn on May 21, 2012, 06:50:05 PM
It's actually really hard to get a piercing that infected these days. You have to not clean it or use any disinfectant products, then you have to sleep on it, pull at it and also be highly susceptible to infection.

Perhaps a stupid question, but how do you avoid sleeping on it? Or am I misunderstanding?

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on May 21, 2012, 06:01:51 PM
Being afraid of needles doesn't mean being afraid of pain. Too many people are making assumptions. Being afraid of heights doesn't mean you think it hurts. Being afraid of the dark doesn't mean you think it hurts. When we don't understand someones phobia, we should just say so. Hugs, Devlyn

Very true and I didn't mean my post to be any way unfeeling of phobias. I am scared of heights and it doesn't matter how I try to rationalise it, I'm still scared of heights. The gun method my be a way to go, there are no needles at all, I had mine done that way. Basically you chose your ear rings, they put the front piece in one side of the device and the washer back thingy in the other side and just clip your ear lobe. There are no visual cues at all.

Hugs Sis

C

Quote from: Plain Jane on May 22, 2012, 02:17:28 AM
Perhaps a stupid question, but how do you avoid sleeping on it? Or am I misunderstanding?

No, not stupid at all  :)  I put my arm on my pillow and placed my head so my ear didn't touch, basically cradling my ear in the inside of my elbow area

I wasn't warned of that, just don't touch and use the disinfectant twice a day. Then again VM has the ears that an elephant would be jealous of.

Ooops did I say that >:-)

Jamie D

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.americanmeadows.com%2Fmedia%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct%2Fcache%2F1%2Fimage%2F9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95%2Fp%2Fr%2Fprod_elephantearupright.jpg&hash=970acde8ea51b244a46894cbb4b132f76902018c)

Elephant ears!

Just get pierced with a piercing gun...honestly you barely feel it.

Yeah, I hardly felt anything either  :)   It's the after care that is important

I have had my ear lobes done with both a needle and a gun..

My first set of holes were done with a gun.. as said in this thread .. load .. small pinch.. and you have pierced ears.

My second set of holes I had done with a needle.. A body piercer told me.. it more of rush been pierced with a needle... It is a bit more painful than the gun.. but not sore.. you feel the needle and the earing going in afterwards.. I had my navel done at the same time.

I would like to get my nipples done and another set of holes in my ears done.

Quote from: Jeneva on May 20, 2012, 06:07:55 PM
I found both to be fairly painful after more than an hour or so.  Much worse than an actual piercing.  Is there some reason you can't get them pierced?  I had two lobe piercings in each ear and a couple of helixes in one and an industrial in the other and the last in person visit I had at our main office no one at worked assumed that they meant ANYTHING.

My spouse isn't comfortable with me getting ears pierced yet.  Suprisingly she agreed to getting my eyebrows done (as long as I keep them somewhat gender neutral).  So i'm working on clip ons.