Earrings are a common and popular form of jewelry that are usually worn by piercing a hole through the ear lobe and inserting the earring through it. There are many reasons why you might not want to have your ears pierced, but if you still want to enjoy the benefits of wearing earrings, alternatives to piercing do exist.
Magnetic Earrings
Magnetic earrings are designed to resemble piercing studs, straight earrings or the gauged plugs used in gauged or stretched piercing holes. There are two parts to a magnetic earring. The front piece resembles the front of a conventional earring and contains a small magnet. The back piece is a magnet of opposite polarity that attracts the front piece. When the two pieces are held on either side of the ear lobe, they are attracted and held in place by magnetic force. Some people with thick ear lobes may find that the two sides of a magnetic earring do not close enough to exert sufficient magnetic force to stay in place.
Ear Cuffs
Ear cuffs are small bars or strips of metal that are rounded into a crescent or “C” shape. They are designed primarily to be worn on the upper parts of the ear, which are mostly cartilage. Ear cuffs are also sometimes used as accents for real piercings and can be worn attached by a loose chain to a piercing or another style of fake earring. Ear cuffs do not connect securely to the ear and may fall off during physical activity. Ear cuffs with chains may become entangled in hair, clothing or other jewelry.
Clip-On Earrings
Clip-on earrings emulate the look of hoop earrings and dangling earrings and are among the oldest alternatives to pierced ears. A hinged spring or clip on the back side of the clip-on earring holds it in place and is obscured from view by the ear lobe, resulting in the appearance of a traditional piercing when viewed from the front. If clip-on earrings are too tight, or if the person’s ears are especially sensitive, they may become uncomfortable and restrict circulation when worn too long. If a clip-on earring begins to feel tight or uncomfortable, it should be taken off until the discomfort abates.
