Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Stephanie Anders. Stephanie Anders is the Owner and Head Piercer at Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing, a tattoo and piercing studio located in Los Angeles, California. Stephanie has over 10 years of piercing experience and her client list includes such stars as Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sharon Osbourne.
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Putting earrings in is easy and painless once you get the hang of it. Be sure to disinfect the jewelry before you put it into your body. Then, slide each earring into an earlobe, twisting slightly. Clasp the backs of the earrings onto the back of your ear. Make sure that the rings match!
Steps
Smudge a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol. It's very important to sanitize an piece of jewelry before you put it into your body. Even if you think that the earring is clean, there is still a chance that it might have picked up bacteria. Better to spend a minute cleaning the earrings than to risk a painful infection![1]- If you don't have a cotton ball, you can use a tissue, toilet paper, or any clean piece of cotton. The cleaning fabric should be able to absorb the rubbing alcohol.
- If you don't have rubbing alcohol, use hydrogen peroxide or any other skin-safe disinfectant.
- Clean the earrings. Wipe down the front and back pieces of each earring, and slide them into the alcohol-doused rubbing alcohol. Let the earring soak in the disinfectant for about 30 seconds. Then, remove the earring and wipe it dry with a clean cloth or tissue.[2]
- Make sure to clean the earrings before any time that you put them into your ears. You never know when a piece of jewelry will pick up harmful bacteria!
Advertisement - Consider lubing up the earrings. Put some Vaseline or other petroleum jelly on the sharp end of each earring to make it slippery. This way, you may be able to more easily slide it into the ear.[3]
Pierce your ears! Make sure that your ears are pierced before you try to put in an earring. If possible, visit a professional piercer at the mall or at a tattoo parlor. The earring will go in much more easily if you've already pierced the ear in question.[4]- Make sure that the gauge of your piercing matches the gauge of the ring.
- If you are feeling especially bold, try piercing your ears at home. Be careful to sterilize all of your equipment. Consider asking a more experienced friend for help.
- Put the earring into your earlobe. Slide the end into your ear, point-first, and slowly twist the earring as it goes in. You need to wiggle it around a bit to get it in and find the hole. Sometimes it's at an awkward angle! Push until the front of the earring is flush against your ear – or until the earring is as far in as you want it to go.[5]
- The earlobe is a common location for first earrings. It is a thick part but do not contain cartilage, it is ideal for dangling pieces, and it is one of the least painful places to put an earring through.
- Tug your earlobe if you have trouble getting the earring in. This will make the hole a bit wider, momentarily, so that the jewelry fits more easily. As you wear your earrings, the hole should gradually widen around the gauge.
- Clasp the earring. Once the front half of the earring is all the way in, slide the back portion onto the metal hook. Slowly and gently bring the back half to the middle of the earring to seal it in place. Your earring should be ready to wear around![6]
- Some earrings may not have a "back half." If the earring is just a metal hook, then make sure that the hook is securely slid through your ear.
- If you are putting in a hoop earring, then the clasp—if any—is probably located on the hoop itself. Slide the hoop into your ear so that a smooth, unbroken portion makes contact with your ear. Then, close the ring and arrange it so that the clasp sits behind your ear.
Make sure that each earring is all the way in. Wiggle it back and forth to ensure that it is comfortable. Look in the mirror to check that the earrings look exactly how you want them to look.- Make sure that the earrings are facing the right way. If you've put in a pair of big, decorative earrings, there may be a distinct "front" and "back" side. Check that the earrings match.
- Remove earrings. Look in the mirror if it's your first time. Unclasp the back of the earring from the back of your ear, and pull it gently away from the front. Then, pull the earring from the front of your ear, twisting slightly. Let the hook slide smoothly out of your skin.[7]
- Consider disinfecting earrings after you wear them as well as before you put them in.
- If you leave the earrings out for too long, the piercing holes will close up. Put your earrings back in regularly to put off the need for another piercing session!
- Wear earrings with sensitive skin. You may find that the metal in some inexpensive earrings irritates your skin. Try putting a thin layer of clear nail polish onto the backs of the earrings to protect your skin. You may need to reapply after some use.
- Ask the manufacturer what type of metal was used in the earrings. Many people are allergic to nickel, and you may be more likely to find nickel in cheaper earrings.
Community Q&A
- QuestionHow long does it usually take for an earring hole to heal completely?
Community AnswerEar lobes typically take 6-8 weeks to heal, while cartilage piercings usually take 8-12 weeks to heal. It depends on the person, but these are general timeframes. - QuestionI was told to twist my earrings, but I'm scared. Will it hurt or something?
Community AnswerThere is nothing at all to be scared of. It doesn't hurt. - QuestionHow do I ease my fears of putting earrings back in for the first time?
Community AnswerJust know there will be a little poke, and it may only hurt for a moment, certainly not as much as it did when you first got them pierced.
Reader Videos
Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!
Video
Tips
- Pull your earlobe a little bit when you try to put new earrings inside. It will make the hole a little bit bigger and easier for the earring to get through it.Thanks
- If you can't get the earring in, take it out and try it at a different angle.Thanks
- It hurts less to take it off if the back is in the middle.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Cotton balls
- Rubbing alcohol
- Earrings
- Earring backings
References
- ↑ Stephanie Anders. Piercing Specialist. Expert Interview. 4 December 2019.
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-bottle-of-rubbing-alcohol
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-expect-when-getting-your-ears-pierced
- ↑ https://youtu.be/XaXuWZgKVFc?t=37
- ↑ https://youtu.be/XaXuWZgKVFc?t=57
- ↑ https://finance.yahoo.com/news/remove-every-type-ear-piercing-171800671.html
About This Article
To put your earrings in, start by splashing some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or a piece of tissue or toilet paper. Then, rub down the front and back pieces of each earring to disinfect it, which will help lessen your chances of getting an infection. Once the earrings are prepped, slide the end into your ear, point-first, and slowly twist the earring as it goes in. When the front half of the earring is all the way in, slide the back portion onto the metal hook. If your earrings don't have a back half, like French hooks, then make sure that you securely slide the hook through your ear. For hoops, slide the earring into your ear, close the ring, and adjust the clasp so it sits behind your ear. To learn how to remove earrings when you’re done wearing them, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
"This article helped me. I used to be scared of changing my earrings, but now I know how to insert an earring properly. Thank you so much, and God bless you!"..." more
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