Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So I just made an appointment for a few weeks from now to get my ears pierced.  I'm just getting the classic one earring in each lobe.  I'm not interested in getting anymore than that.  I haven't seen what earrings the person offers (I'm going to a tattoo shop that offers ear piercing and talking to them they use a needle to put the earring in), however I'll be looking for a feminine looking pair.  Just from what I've seen on other people, I've found like the barbell ones just look masculine, whereas the diamond or rosebud ones look feminine to me.

For those who have had their ears pierced, what was your first earring that you had put in?  Did it help to feminize your features?  Did it help people to see you more as a woman?

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on November 01, 2024, 04:05:35 PMFor those who have had their ears pierced, what was your first earring that you had put in?  Did it help to feminize your features?  Did it help people to see you more as a woman?

My first was a simple diamond (cubic zirconia) stud. After it healed up, I continued to wear studs of various shapes and colors, from a simple silver ball to gold stars, and roses, and recently my bestie gave me a pearl stud. I prefer to wear hoops and wear various sizes and textures/colors.

I would start with simple studs. There are so many fun styles. Here, I go to Claire's and they have a huge selection of little girls' studs that are so adorable. After your ears heal, you can branch out to hoops and dangles. Start small and work up to the larger ones. It takes time for your ears to get used to the weight and you can end up with sore ear lobes at the end of the day. I still do.

Shopping for earrings is such a fun adventure. Have fun with it!

Getting my ears pierced was one of the first things I did.  Just wearing a pair of simple silver ball studs, my everyday at-home wear, did a huge amount to reduce my dysphoria.

I initially got them pierced at a hair salon, where they used a piercing gun.  I don't recommend that.  The holes closed up.  I eventually got them re-done at a tattoo shop.  The guy looked scary, but he was scrupulous about cleanliness, even changing gloves between the left and right ears, and he did a good job.

Wherever you get them done, they will give you a set of piercing studs that you have to keep in 24/7 for 6 weeks while the holes heal.  After that, you can change them to whatever suits your fancy.

At home, I wear the simple studs, even when I am out in the workshop hammering and sawing.  It is amazing what a difference they make in the mirror!  Going out, I like to wear dangly, sparkly earrings.  However, masking during covid restrictions made me appreciate studs more.  I have a whole box full of different earrings, including some rainbow and trans-flag earrings for when I feel like being un-stealth.

This post hit home and is thought provoking.  I  have observed that every lady has, what can seem as trivial things.  Our wants to have something that helps us feel beautiful in and out are as important as our health.  A golf pro told me one time that it was important to have clubs that I liked and i thought looked good because data says I would play a better game and definitely enjoy it. It is on my list for piercings in the near future and I am excited.

MsLeigh

Most definitely!  For years I had a single (left), yet when I had the right done the same year as HRT, the affirmation is indescribable. 

Now that my hair is longer, whatever the style mood chosen, the sparkly wonders peaking out make such a difference in my look and my attitude.  Never regreted!

Some days 1/4 carat diamond studs my wife gave me, other days gold balls or small hoops, and for special events, my blue and white diamond tear drops.  Not really finding larger hoops comfortable.  I like my black pearls with diamonds too!

I have never got my ears pierced, but I occasionally wear bicycle (big) earrings. I am not quite sure whether they help to pass.

https://youtube.com/shorts/tkts401WL_o

Cheers,

barbie~~

Got both pierced when I was 19. I wore gold hoops. Had a  jewellery  shop do them. I lived in Fleetwood  then and many fishermen  had pierced  ears.  These days at 67 I  usually wear small  silver  studs. 

Earrings are a nice finishing touch.
They are not as necessary as a purse though, at least to me. 

Of course a purse is not always necessary but it seems to be much more useful to me than totally ornamental earrings.

Let me say they are both nice but the purse seems more needed than earrings.  We do not just have want we need, we sometimes like to have some of those things we want!

Chrissy

Earrings were one of the first things I did, but I don't recall they changed things much at all in regards to passing. Either way they were one of the things I wanted to make sure I did early. Hugs
Mariah

I just got my ears pierced an hour ago.  This will be my only piercing, so both ears were done.  The piercer only had two options for earrings.  One was a dark barbell and the other was a sparkly one.  I went for the sparkly one.  And I find that they do feminize my face more.

Congratulations!

Once they heal up, you can begin the adventure of shopping for other styles. It's fun!

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on November 15, 2024, 12:09:32 PMI just got my ears pierced an hour ago.  This will be my only piercing, so both ears were done.  The piercer only had two options for earrings.  One was a dark barbell and the other was a sparkly one.  I went for the sparkly one.  And I find that they do feminize my face more.

That sounds nice.  Good for you! 

Chrissy

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on November 15, 2024, 08:12:52 PMThat sounds nice.  Good for you! 

Chrissy

I'm going to have to remember that if I'm playing with my hair, or running my fingers through it, to watch where my nails are.  I slightly caught my left earring with my nail and it hurt a little bit.

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on November 15, 2024, 10:06:25 PMI'm going to have to remember that if I'm playing with my hair, or running my fingers through it, to watch where my nails are.  I slightly caught my left earring with my nail and it hurt a little bit.

I wear hoops, sometimes large hoops and if I'm not careful, I will snag one while brushing my hair. Ouch.  ;D

Quote from: Lori Dee on November 15, 2024, 10:12:01 PMI wear hoops, sometimes large hoops and if I'm not careful, I will snag one while brushing my hair. Ouch.  ;D

However I think it hurt more because it was less than 12 hours after I had the piercing done, whereas as it's in longer and heals it won't be as tender.  So these sparkly studs are going to be in until Christmas, if I'm doing the 6 to 8 week math right.

  Getting my ears pierced was one of the first thing I did. I went to the mall where they had one of those kiosk shops out in the middle do it. I was so nervous that someone would know I was trans, not being out yet. The only options were small studs of varying shades which they shot in with the gun.  A few weeks latter one of my customers says, what's up with the ear rings and longer hair? I nearly choked, and muttered just going for a different look. After I finally came out I told him weeks latter, and was greeted with "it not like its 1980, good for you."
  Now I have many, from hoops to dangly ones which I love using to accessorize my clothes. Studs don't work well with long hair as they are barely noticeable. But I do wear them occasionally for work. I think they are a sign of femineity as guys don't wear pretty dangly ones.

Quote from: Gina P on November 16, 2024, 08:20:01 AMGetting my ears pierced was one of the first thing I did. I went to the mall where they had one of those kiosk shops out in the middle do it. I was so nervous that someone would know I was trans, not being out yet. The only options were small studs of varying shades which they shot in with the gun.  A few weeks latter one of my customers says, what's up with the ear rings and longer hair? I nearly choked, and muttered just going for a different look. After I finally came out I told him weeks latter, and was greeted with "it not like its 1980, good for you."
  Now I have many, from hoops to dangly ones which I love using to accessorize my clothes. Studs don't work well with long hair as they are barely noticeable. But I do wear them occasionally for work. I think they are a sign of femineity as guys don't wear pretty dangly ones.

I didn't have the gun insertion method.  My piercer used a needle.  It hurt a little bit. 

Sometimes with earrings there can be a lot of HOOPla.

All well I guess that was not funny or punny.

My favs are my fake diamond studs, with differing stone sizes for the situation.


Chrissy

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on November 16, 2024, 08:00:43 PMSometimes with earrings there can be a lot of HOOPla.

All well I guess that was not funny or punny.

My favs are my fake diamond studs, with differing stone sizes for the situation.


Chrissy

When I'm able to remove my studs, I'm going to have to figure out how to unscrew the back, since the ones my piercer put in were 3 pieces.  There was the post part that went through the lobe and then the backing and finally she snapped on the sparkle end once the other two were in place.

Be careful. Earrings are like rabbits.  First you have one pair then 6 pairs, then a dozen...... :icon_yes:
 Have fun.

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on November 17, 2024, 01:56:27 PMWhen I'm able to remove my studs, I'm going to have to figure out how to unscrew the back, since the ones my piercer put in were 3 pieces.  There was the post part that went through the lobe and then the backing and finally she snapped on the sparkle end once the other two were in place.

Well I have a reason to look for another pair for when I take my piercing set out, since yesterday I went to move my hair out of the way, and the sparkly glass part fell off my right one and into the sink.  Luckily it didn't go down the drain, so I have it wrapped in a Kleenex so that I can glue it back on when I have the earring out.  However while I glue it (would Gorilla glue work?) I'll need another one in there!

So it's been a couple of interesting weeks.  I got a few more studs.  Ones a pink gold set—-I didn't think I'd get them until sometime in the New Year, since they were shipped from China by China Post.  So with the Canada Post strike, I figured that they would be put in some customs wearhouse until Canada Post ended its strike and could deliver all the backed up orders.  I also got a box of cubic zirconia silver earrings in the same order as some Tall Saavy Straight Leg pants (they are so comfortable and they don't make me overheat—-they were sent by Purolator, so I didn't have to worry). 

Although, a few times over the last few weeks, I've had to use hydrogen peroxide on them, because somehow my piercings got infected (I'm more of a side sleeper, so I've woken up a lot of times with some pain in one ear since I'll have turned onto my side, and even though I have my hair and satin bonnet covering my ears to protect them, I still get pressure on them).

However I have had a few interesting looks at work, since when I have my hair up in a high ponytail and scrunchie, I do have a very feminine looking face.

Hydrogen peroxide, like alcohol, dries out the skin and can cause inflammation leading to infection. It sounds counter-intuitive but true.

I got mine pierced at Claire's and their cleansing liquid doesn't dry out the skin. If you use a witch hazel skin toner, that will work too.

Quote from: Lori Dee on December 07, 2024, 04:19:14 PMHydrogen peroxide, like alcohol, dries out the skin and can cause inflammation leading to infection. It sounds counter-intuitive but true.

I got mine pierced at Claire's and their cleansing liquid doesn't dry out the skin. If you use a witch hazel skin toner, that will work too.

I've found the peroxide has helped the swelling to go down, since the bottom of the lobe was starting to bend outwards from the swelling. 

Got mine done at Spencer's in the mid 90's. She used a piercing gun. Worn earrings 24/7 since. I had studs that locked which I had to keep in for a period of time and some cleaning solution. The post type you buy in a store I kept loosing so I wear Huggie type and when I go to the city I switch up to dangliy ones. I really want a pair like Linda Ronstadt used to wear. I wear necklaces daily too. So, yeah it will help.

So this morning I experienced a new thing with my earrings.  When I woke up some of my hair had gotten twisted around the earring in my right ear.  I took my time untangling the hair, although I did twist the earring a few times so today it is a tiny bit sore from the twisting.  Also I'm wondering if my hair managed to unscrew the stud a little bit. 

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on December 14, 2024, 10:01:15 AMSo this morning I experienced a new thing with my earrings.  When I woke up some of my hair had gotten twisted around the earring in my right ear.  I took my time untangling the hair, although I did twist the earring a few times so today it is a tiny bit sore from the twisting.  Also I'm wondering if my hair managed to unscrew the stud a little bit. 

Your earrings are probably okay.  I have not had this issue but I can sympathize with you.
Do have a mice weekend!

Chrissy

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on December 14, 2024, 12:55:34 PMYour earrings are probably okay.  I have not had this issue but I can sympathize with you.
Do have a mice weekend!

Chrissy

I'll be seeing my piercer on Tuesday, since last night I was using a hand mirror to see behind my ear (and reflect it in a wall mirror) and it looks like my back has fallen off and the back of my piercing has already closed up.  And I sent a few messages, but my piercer doesn't think there's any concern over the next few days.  There's a scab, but it's nowhere near the size of what I would assume one would be over a flat back (it looks like the size of a large needle), and I don't feel any hardness like the back had embedded into my skin.  I still have the front of the piercing in the hole so that it doesn't close up further.  So I think on Tuesday my piercer may have to reopen the back hole and put a new piercing in.  Otherwise it's surprising how well my stud is staying in with no back.

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on December 15, 2024, 12:36:19 PMI'll be seeing my piercer on Tuesday, since last night I was using a hand mirror to see behind my ear (and reflect it in a wall mirror) and it looks like my back has fallen off and the back of my piercing has already closed up.  And I sent a few messages, but my piercer doesn't think there's any concern over the next few days.  There's a scab, but it's nowhere near the size of what I would assume one would be over a flat back (it looks like the size of a large needle), and I don't feel any hardness like the back had embedded into my skin.  I still have the front of the piercing in the hole so that it doesn't close up further.  So I think on Tuesday my piercer may have to reopen the back hole and put a new piercing in.  Otherwise it's surprising how well my stud is staying in with no back.

I am glad you are checking this out.  Earrings can certainly help make for a more complete pretty look for your face.  Of course if your face and hair are gorgeous, that helps too!  Some women have it all, and an attractive, soothing voice too.  Lucky them!

Chrissy

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on December 15, 2024, 12:55:21 PMI am glad you are checking this out.  Earrings can certainly help make for a more complete pretty look for your face.  Of course if your face and hair are gorgeous, that helps too!  Some women have it all, and an attractive, soothing voice too.  Lucky them!

Chrissy

I also want to have an earring in both ears for Christmas.  And I've been finding that when I put my hair up in a high ponytail, I really have the teenage feminine face (like I'm 14/15), even though I'm in my forties.

 However when I feel the back of my ear lobe, just the way it is reminds me of how I had a big pimple on that lobe a few years ago.  It has that feel to it that the pimple had.  I'm just hoping that my piercer doesn't say that I have to wait a month or two before they can reopen it, because they want me to let it heal.

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on December 15, 2024, 05:12:46 PMI also want to have an earring in both ears for Christmas.  And I've been finding that when I put my hair up in a high ponytail, I really have the teenage feminine face (like I'm 14/15), even though I'm in my forties.

Enjoy your youthful look.  It's is funny, when one is young they often wish to look older! 

It does not matter how much I do up my face with pinks and such, I cannot look like an undergrad woman in college.  But so be it.  I am older now and enjoying the days.

Chrissy

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on December 15, 2024, 05:12:46 PM. . .

 However when I feel the back of my ear lobe, just the way it is reminds me of how I had a big pimple on that lobe a few years ago.  It has that feel to it that the pimple had.  I'm just hoping that my piercer doesn't say that I have to wait a month or two before they can reopen it, because they want me to let it heal.

Well safety and health is primary.  You do not want infections.


Chrissy

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on December 15, 2024, 05:12:46 PMI also want to have an earring in both ears for Christmas.  And I've been finding that when I put my hair up in a high ponytail. . .

High ponytails can be so attractive.  Love watching them sway as joggers go by...

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on December 15, 2024, 05:28:26 PMEnjoy your youthful look.  It's is funny, when one is young they often wish to look older! 

It does not matter how much I do up my face with pinks and such, I cannot look like an undergrad woman in college.  But so be it.  I am older now and enjoying the days.

Chrissy

Even before I was on estrogen, I naturally had that youthful look. When I was 35 people were thinking that I was only 21 or 22.  The doctors think it's from my intersex condition, and the youthful appearance is from my female side (as well as never having had any kids! LOL!  I hear they can age you horribly!). And now the estrogen is just making me look even younger (I never did want to look old—-I always planned to look young!) and when I put my hair up it gives me that youthful appearance.  If I just have a half-up/half-down, I do look young, but not as young as when I do a high ponytail in a scrunchie!

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on December 15, 2024, 05:43:04 PMEven before I was on estrogen, I naturally had that youthful look. When I was 35 people were thinking that I was only 21 or 22.  The doctors think it's from my intersex condition, and the youthful appearance is from my female side (as well as never having had any kids! LOL!  I hear they can age you horribly!). And now the estrogen is just making me look even younger (I never did want to look old—-I always planned to look young!) and when I put my hair up it gives me that youthful appearance.  If I just have a half-up/half-down, I do look young, but not as young as when I do a high ponytail in a scrunchie!

Do enjoy your appearance.  Fortunately as young looks do diminish over time, one can shine and enjoy life in many other ways.

Chrissy

  When I was young, Peroxide was the go to for healing and cleaning a cut. Now doctors say it kills bacteria but also kills young growing tissue. That said I've heard it good to wash out a cut but not use afterward. Stick with the cleaning solution for piercings (probably just salt water?).
   When I got my ears pierced, I was content to wear small studs. My hair was short then. As my hair grew so did my earring rings, small hoops to big hoops, to some dangly ones 4" long. Have fun with it. Soon you will need a bigger case to keep them in!

Quote from: Gina P on December 16, 2024, 07:23:21 AMWhen I was young, Peroxide was the go to for healing and cleaning a cut. Now doctors say it kills bacteria but also kills young growing tissue. That said I've heard it good to wash out a cut but not use afterward. Stick with the cleaning solution for piercings (probably just salt water?).
   When I got my ears pierced, I was content to wear small studs. My hair was short then. As my hair grew so did my earring rings, small hoops to big hoops, to some dangly ones 4" long. Have fun with it. Soon you will need a bigger case to keep them in!

To be quite frank, the saline solution I've found hasn't really done a lot on my skin.  It cleaned it but I never found it dealt with the infection as well as the Peroxide.  However if it kills new skin cells and the back of my piercing has closed in a few days, then I don't see how it damaged any skin cells.

Of course even with creams, I'm allergic to polysporin and it's derivatives (I use Ozonol) so my skin reacts to different things differently.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on December 15, 2024, 05:29:38 PMWell safety and health is primary.  You do not want infections.


Chrissy

So my piercer found out that the back of my stud was still in my ear, but it had embedded itself to where she could not get it out (and she told me that it was embedded by just a little bit more than her tools could get it pulled backwards).  So I had to go to the hospital.  Instead of cutting the excess skin, the doctor just pushed it out!  So, aside from the back of my lobe being a little larger than normal, I think the doctor made the hole out the front the size of the stud back (maybe more), and destroyed the new lining of my ear piercing by pushing (so it was bleeding for a little bit).  Then he's like "I think your bleeding is from the infection in your ear!" 

I think it was a bad idea to seek a doctor's help in getting my one ear stud removed (he wanted to take my other ear stud out, because to him it looked like there was a tiny bit of infection—-I still get some crustiness but the ear is fine, I don't need it removed by a bulldozer!) and I said no because it felt like he was trying to pop a pill from a blister pack.

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on December 17, 2024, 06:37:52 PMSo my piercer found out that the back of my stud was still in my ear, but it had embedded itself to where she could not get it out (and she told me that it was embedded by just a little bit more than her tools could get it pulled backwards).  So I had to go to the hospital.  Instead of cutting the excess skin, the doctor just pushed it out!  So, aside from the back of my lobe being a little larger than normal, I think the doctor made the hole out the front the size of the stud back (maybe more), and destroyed the new lining of my ear piercing by pushing (so it was bleeding for a little bit).  Then he's like "I think your bleeding is from the infection in your ear!" 

I think it was a bad idea to seek a doctor's help in getting my one ear stud removed (he wanted to take my other ear stud out, because to him it looked like there was a tiny bit of infection—-I still get some crustiness but the ear is fine, I don't need it removed by a bulldozer!) and I said no because it felt like he was trying to pop a pill from a blister pack.

Ouch!

Yikes!

Quite the experience with the infection.  I do hope this works out well for you!  Remember, there are piercings that never will heal.  Some folks are just that way.

My sister's doctor used a hole punch of sorts to push the stud through!  Ouch.  The wound had to heal over then piercing replaced in six months.

Quote from: D'Amalie on December 19, 2024, 12:00:06 PMMy sister's doctor used a hole punch of sorts to push the stud through!  Ouch.  The wound had to heal over then piercing replaced in six months.

Ouch! I prefer the Milwaukee power drill method.  :icon_yikes:

Yeah I'll wait for a month or two before getting it repunched.  However my other ear I'm going to switch out the stud for a different one for Christmas.

Quote from: Lori Dee on December 19, 2024, 12:08:06 PMOuch! I prefer the Milwaukee power drill method.  :icon_yikes:

I would skip that method for ear piercing.

My Grandmother  on Dad's  side pierced  ears since  she was a teenager. She used a cork, ice cube, darning needle and book!  Having seen her do it I went to a shop for mine.  

Quote from: big kim on December 20, 2024, 06:10:20 AMMy Grandmother  on Dad's  side pierced  ears since  she was a teenager. She used a cork, ice cube, darning needle and book!  Having seen her do it I went to a shop for mine. 

I would skip this home grown solution also.

So I got my ear repierced two weeks ago.  Surprisingly, while it was more painful to punch through the scar tissue, I'm finding the scar tissue seems to be acting as a defence barrier and is working to counteract any pain I might be having.  My ear hasn't been swelling like it was two months ago. 

This morning I kind of had a scare because my CPAP mask strap had caused my stud to push through a little bit, so I woke up with some pain, however I was able to push my stud back through the hole in the back (and it's hard to explain since I both felt and not-really-heard-but-did-hear the "pop" as it went back through the hole.  But the pain (which did get worse as I was popping it back in) disappeared within two minutes of popping it back in.

So I now have matching earrings in my ears.  I had another scare this morning because my stud had pushed through and had started to get embedded.  So about 5 minutes ago I took out my stud for a large diamond shaped cubic zirconia earring that I put in and had a bullet earring back.  Between slipping through the other day and me pushing it back through this morning plus the doctor back in December "popping" the other stud through, I think my hole was too big for stud and i would have woken up tomorrow with the stud embedded again, whereas the bullet back and zirconia both cover like 50% more of my ear (plus they might act like a compression earring to help take down the swelling) so I don't think I'll have worry about my earring being absorbed overnight, or trying to pop it out in the morning.  Although I might've irritated my ear a little bit getting the zirconia in, since I did feel my earring's post poking the side as I was trying to find the back hole, which did not close up in the minute it took me to put the old one down, put hydrogen peroxide on my ear and put the new one in.

But that's it for me with flat backs.  I'll just deal with silicon or bullet backs, plus those starter flat backs were tiny and I had a hard time gripping both to pull.  So I'll be using bigger ear studs and earrings.  In the summer I might try some dangly ones.

I had a similar issue with small round studs. They never pushed through but the weight of my fat head lying on them while sleeping made my ear sore. Now they don't bother me, but if I forget to take out my cube-shaped crystal studs, they will hurt in the morning due to the square angles poking the ear lobe. Sometimes, if the stem is too long, like on my starter studs, they poked my neck too. I took some wire cutters and shortened them, then filed the ends smooth.

Glad yours are healing up so you can enjoy shopping for more styles.

Quote from: Lori Dee on February 03, 2025, 09:50:14 PMI had a similar issue with small round studs. They never pushed through but the weight of my fat head lying on them while sleeping made my ear sore. Now they don't bother me, but if I forget to take out my cube-shaped crystal studs, they will hurt in the morning due to the square angles poking the ear lobe. Sometimes, if the stem is too long, like on my starter studs, they poked my neck too. I took some wire cutters and shortened them, then filed the ends smooth.

Glad yours are healing up so you can enjoy shopping for more styles.

The other day one of the women at work noticed that I had pierced my ears, and when I told her that I just got my right ear repierced and slept with the zirconia in my left, she was surprised that the back didn't bother me.  I find that where my back is, there's a space between two bones,so I guess it rests there and my skin has some flexibility there.

Earrings can be a nice way to complete your appearance.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on February 04, 2025, 06:32:08 AMEarrings can be a nice way to complete your appearance.

I have some (I hope) nice heart shaped earrings coming in the mail later this week that I saw online.  I won't be able to see how good they are until they're here, but they looked nice online.  I also ordered a bunch of extra bullet backs, just so that I have spares and one set I've picked up has the butterfly back and even before putting them on I found the back just felt tiny in my fingers and I didn't think that I'd be able to grip them behind my ear to get them on.  So I'm going to replace the butterfly back.

Yesterday I noticed that my bullet backs did act like compression earrings, since I didn't even feel it pop, but I went into the bathroom at one point and there was a short line of blood down the side of my face from behind my ear, and my ear wasn't as swollen as it was yesterday morning (and the swelling has gone down more this morning).  So I think my ear is going to be alright with the earring.

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on February 04, 2025, 01:01:04 PMI have some (I hope) nice heart shaped earrings coming in the mail later this week that I saw online.  I won't be able to see how good they are until they're here, but they looked nice online.  I also ordered a bunch of extra bullet backs, just so that I have spares and one set I've picked up has the butterfly back and even before putting them on I found the back just felt tiny in my fingers and I didn't think that I'd be able to grip them behind my ear to get them on.  So I'm going to replace the butterfly back.

So I got the earrings a few weeks ago.  When I got them they looked a lot smaller than I thought, however I've put them in and the hearts look really nice and seem to be about medium size. 

Does anyone else find that for maybe a half hour after changing your earrings that your ears are red from the handling that you have to do
, or squeezing the back onto the post?  I try to change them after my shower when it's hot, but I find that for about 30 minutes afterwards my earlobes will be red.  Or since I've only had them pierced for a short time, I'm maybe irritating them.

The guidelines are to leave the piercing posts in for 6 weeks.  Longer if you can.  Changing them out too soon is asking for trouble.  You run the risk of delaying the healing.  Bacitracin morning and night.  Spin a few times a day.  Leave them in.  Only use GOLD, white, yellow or rose.

Plated or base metal is a no no.  Have some patience girl!  Depending on "what sport I'm pursuing" I'll change earrings out every week.  That said, I've had mine for four years in both, and before that 25 or more left only.
I never had troubles, redness or other discomfort.  On the other hand my 21 year old daughter has had all sorts of problems with the Helix.  It will generally take 6 - 9 months to heal, but she didn't have the patience  and started changing it out after 6 weeks.

YMMV

Earrings are nice, they can go nicely with necklaces!

Chrissy

Quote from: D'Amalie on February 24, 2025, 02:57:06 PMThe guidelines are to leave the piercing posts in for 6 weeks.  Longer if you can.  Changing them out too soon is asking for trouble.  You run the risk of delaying the healing.  Bacitracin morning and night.  Spin a few times a day.  Leave them in.  Only use GOLD, white, yellow or rose.

Plated or base metal is a no no.  Have some patience girl!  Depending on "what sport I'm pursuing" I'll change earrings out every week.  That said, I've had mine for four years in both, and before that 25 or more left only.
I never had troubles, redness or other discomfort.  On the other hand my 21 year old daughter has had all sorts of problems with the Helix.  It will generally take 6 - 9 months to heal, but she didn't have the patience  and started changing it out after 6 weeks.

YMMV

Bacitracin is Polysporin which I'm allergic too.  That's why I use Ozonol, and the Ozonol worked.  Plus it seems, at least with both my ears, my eczema was activated and it wasn't just regular swelling from the piercings that I was having.  I was swelling from an allergy to the starter post or needle and it didn't go down until I put some elocom (corticosteroid) on both my ears.  Since I did that, I have switched out my earrings for some cheap earrings and the allergy has not returned. I think any redness I get now is from when I'm changing them and just from hold my ear and finding the back hole (and pricking the inside of my hole trying to get the post through) my ear seems to get red but then it goes away on its own after about half-an-hour to an hour after I put the earrings in.

I wore my first pair of hoops today; 10kt gold.  They weren't huggers, but they also weren't large hoops, maybe an inch in diameter, and they were "G" type hoops (I'm not sure if "G" is the right name, but the style reminds me of the letter "G" because it's go the straight post, and curves into a 3/4 circle that looks like "G"). I'll be taking them off and putting studs in when I go to bed, since I don't want to run the risk of the hoops getting caught on my pillow and ripping out of my ears.  They were the smallest out of the 3 I got last week, and I found that on me, that size of hoop looked rather androgynous/masculine.  I think tomorrow I might try one of the larger hoops.  I didn't find that I had much discomfort---a few times I found the one in my right ear gave me a little pain when I tilted my head and it swung.  Of course my right ear is the one I had to get re-pierced back in January.

Otherwise, at work I had some of the women there (and I'm not out at work yet, although they know that I am intersex and my medical issues of the past few years seems to have reactivated my puberty---but this time it's my female puberty only, not my mixed puberty from decades ago), tell me that I put them to shame today with my hoops and I also had my hair done up with clips, as well as makeup and lipstick.  I thought that was a pretty good compliment, especially since I had been having issues with my hair this morning!   

Impressive progress! Hair, make up and earrings.  Giant steps!