Pierced ears

[Kimmy55]

I have been thinking quite some time now on getting my ears pierced.I remember way back that you had to leave them in at all times until the holes healed open.Is this still true? I would love to have it done but not sure family and/or coworkers would approve.If I was younger it wouldnt be a problem but at the age of 54 I think some people would think it strange.Any advice would be welcome.Thanks,Kimmy55:battingeyelashes:

[Sarah...]

Leave 'em in for six weeks. Then the original ones can come out but you need to keep earrings of any kind in at all times for another six months.

So Claire's Accessories tells me anyway.

Sarah...

[Kimmy55]

Thanks Sarah:battingeyelashes:

[Dana Lane]

I have both ears pierced (my left one has two). When I first got my left ear pierced I was in the Navy and they didn't allow that kind of thing. So I had it pierced and when heading back to the ship I used a smooth plastic brissel (sp) from a brush I found. I covered it with anti-biotic ointment (after sanitizing of course) and used that. It was nearly invisible. It does cause irritation a bit and takes longer to heal but we do what we need to do!

[Kimmy55]

Nice comment for a come back.I'll remember that:battingeyelashes:

[Intertwined]

You could always do what I did....

Take a 3/4 inch drill, drill holes in your ears, and use a stainless steel nut and bolt
http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=927&pictureid=13923

OK, im kidding about the 3/4 inch drill, but that is a real 1/2 inch head nut and bolt

[Kimmy55]

Looks good on you Intertwined.Not sure the look would work for me.:)

[dee4127]

i did mine wore for about 10 days then took them out to go to work and then right back in after work no problems

[Kimmy55]

Thanks Dee:battingeyelashes:

[Miss Rachel]

I have also considered having my right ear pierced and a 2nd in my left. One option (I haven't looked yet to be certain) but you can find tongue studs and belly button studs with all kinds of designs on them. You might be able to find a stud with a close to flesh tone color over the ball, or pick one with a flat disc surface and cover it with a bit of foundation or concealer.
This was something I was planning on checking into over the next week or so. I'll let you know if I find anything promising.
Take into account that the make-up may cause some irritation so it would be wise to test a small sample on a open ear hole just to be sure. :battingeyelashes::heehee:

xoxoxo
Miss Rachel
!!!Update!!!
Found this moments after posting to this thread. (Tips to hide all types of body jewelry.
http://www.bmezine.com/news/edit/A60817/arthowto.html

[Kimmy55]

Thanks Rachel.If everything goes according to plan I'm going to look into it a little further this weekend.I'll keep you posted:battingeyelashes:

[Alice B]

I had mine pierced at about the same age. Never was a problem and now I have a wonderful collection of ear rings for both drab and as Alice. Go for it, you only get one chance in life.

[Teresa Ann]

Had mine done in the early 90s first one than the other the only remarks I got was when I would wear large Diamond studs people would :osay that I was making too much money and that was about it.

[Joni Marie Cruz]

Hi Kimmy-

How's the weather in San Antonio? Say hi to my dad if you run across him.

FWIW, I got mine done when I was about your age, too. My work environment was definitely not someplace where guys got stuff like that done, in fact I think I may have been the first, and for all I know the only male (well, nominally male), to run around sporting earrings. It drew a few comments mostly have to do with my cojones in having it done. Right now I have two in my left and one in my right and am going to get another one in my right ear. That left ear thing has something to do with if you're gay or not, I think. I could never keep track of that whole what color bandana and which pocket either. Anyway, being bi, I guess I can have both ears match.

Here's a trick I heard of but haven't tried personally. It's a little bit of effort, but supposedly works really well. Take a piece of clear nylon fishing line, fairly heavy guage, at least as thick as the posts on the studs they used to pierce your ears. Maybe about the diameter of the "B" string on a classical guitar. Take a common table knife and heat it and use it to flatten one end of the piece of nylon, be careful not to char or scorch it, you want it to be clear, it doesn't need to be very big around. Then estimate how much you will need to get through your ear lobe and add a tiny bit. Hold the line with a pair of tweezers and gently heat the end you didn't flatten until it forms a tiny ball. The idea behind the ball and flattened ends is to keep it from falling out of your ear. Then clean it well with alcohol and peroxide and slide it in in place of the stud with the ball end to the back. Just follow directions as far as keeping it clean and so on.

The tgirl who told me about this said she did it while she was in the military and no one caught on. Of course once it's healed you can leave it out as long as you wear something at least part-time to keep the holes open.

Have fun with your new earrings.

Hugs...Joni Mari

[Joni Marie Cruz]

You could always do what I did....

Take a 3/4 inch drill, drill holes in your ears, and use a stainless steel nut and bolt
http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=927&pictureid=13923

OK, im kidding about the 3/4 inch drill, but that is a real 1/2 inch head nut and bolt

Hey Inter-

That is so cool. Uhh, couldn't you just tap your earlobe and do away with the nut and save some weight?<g>

Hugs...Joni Mari

[Chari]

Today, most people don't notice or comment with a guy wearing earrings and if it doesn't interfere with your job, IMO - do it! You are over 21 & it is YOUR choice! Just follow the instructions, keeping the piercing area clean, turn the studs often, and whatever the bad comments - it's their problem, NOT yours!

[Julogden]

Never tried it myself, but I've been told that you can keep the piercings open during the healing time by putting a short piece of heavyweight monofilament fishing line in the hole. Let it stick out a bit in back of the earlobe, keep the other end flush where it shows on the exposed part of the earlobe.

Additionally, (I've done this to see if it works, and it does) you can "spackle" over the holes with a little blob of Chapstick, which will help conceal the hole, and even apply a little loose powder over the Chapstick to conceal things even more.

Carol

[jnorton47]

I would love to have it done but not sure family and/or coworkers would approve.If I was younger it wouldnt be a problem but at the age of 54 I think some people would think it strange.Any advice would be welcome.Thanks,Kimmy55:battingeyelashes:

Hi Kimmy55

I have the same problem. I want to get my ears priced but not sure of the reaction. Like you, I see my age (62) as part of the problem. I am still thinking about it. I just need a little push. LOL
jnorton

[Annie D]

Kimmy, I was about your age when I got mine done and I just told people that I lost a bet. Let's see.....you're from S.A. so you could tell everyone that you bet that the Spurs would not pull off a blockbuster trade before the NBA draft and you lost, so as a result you have to get your ears pierced like every other NBA player...LOL!

I teach school and coach and I am in the public eye so to speak and got my second set of piercings right before spring break this year and wore them for 6 weeks like you are suppossed to. I got mine done at a tattoo parlor and am much more pleased with these than the first ones, done at an earring store. This time there was no swelling, no infection, everything went well.

[Joni Marie Cruz]

Additionally, (I've done this to see if it works, and it does) you can "spackle" over the holes with a little blob of Chapstick, which will help conceal the hole, and even apply a little loose powder over the Chapstick to conceal things even more.

Hi Carol, that sounds like a cool trick once they're healed up, but I'd be leery of trying it when they're still fresh. I'd really worry about possible infection. Just my thoughts.

Hugs...Joni Mari

[Starr]

I am 56 and thinking of doing mine, however I will do one at at time... maybe in time get two in one ear and one in the other.

[NathalieX66]

Why do men have to be so particular about how to get pierced ears these days? Why does generation have to be such a deciding discrepancy?

It's disheartening to see those older than generation-Xer's have such a difficult time with ear piercing. We Gen-X'ers had movies lke the Breakfast Club and Lost Boys put male ear peircing into the mainstream American society. The reality, in the US is that when men wearing earrings, I feel, is more a of a representation of socio-economic class rather than gender/sexual expression. A guy that works in a bank or a law firm is too afraid to be seen as someone that works at Blockbuster video. it makes them look like a low class retard. I'm in a creative field, and I fit the stereotype of an artsy type, so therefore people automatically assume that I would wear earrings.

On the other hand, everytime I'm in Florida, I see plenty of male retirees ( 70 year olds) with earrings. It's like the difference between Frank Sinatra and the Beatles & U2.

For such a seemingly insignificant aspect to one's wardrobe, I've never seen such tepidness from other men. Personally, I have never felt quite liberated as I do having both ears pierced. I feel like I'm cutting down the stereotype even without crossdressing. I feel like I have been admitted to an exclusive club., and yet it still feels like a typical normal thing for a guy to do.

The stigma of which ear to pierce still exists...for no reason at all. It's really starting to bug me.

[Jilmac]

Kimmy, I had my ears pierced about a year and a half ago and I have absolutely no regrets. It's true that the studs should remain in for about four to six weeks, however the 3mm studs are hardly noticable. You didn't mention your work environment but I think most employers (and co workers) wouldn't give you too much negative feedback for fear of a harassment suit. Just to be safe, take a look around your work place and see if there are any men with piercings. Also remind people that in many cultures pierced ears are a status symbol.

All said, I think you should go for it. Once you do it will give you many more options for earrings than you can find with clip ons. :thumbsup: Good luck and keep us posted.

PS I wear my rhinestone studs daily, (except when I wear earrings with an outfit), and have never gotten a comment or a sideways glance. :2c:

[AllieSummers]

Ok...I didn't have enough time to go through all the posts so I hope this doesn't duplicate anything.

I got my left ear pearced when I was 33. Actually got it done with my daughter. She was afraid it would hurt. I told her it didn't. She told me to get it done then...so I did. :)

When I started dresssing regularly, about 6 or 8 months ago, I wanted to get the other one done so I could wear two earrings. Unfortunately, my work now doesn't allow me to wear my earrings. I was able to talk my wife into it. I just told her that one earring was out of style and now two are in style.

Anyway, I still had to find a way to get away with doing it without being seen at work. So I got them pierced on a Friday. That gave them all weekend to heal. They said not to take them out for 6 weeks. That is BS.

What I did is I went to a place called "HOT TOPIC" in the mall. It is one of those grunge/goth clothes places. They have clear plastic or skin colored studs that go into your ear...they are a little bigger in the front and straight studs and they have little grommets that go over the back to hold them in. I wore those at work for about 3 weeks or so then just wore earrings in the evenings.

That will work and no one will ever notice.

Just be sure to clean your ears regularly with alchohol.

HERE IS A LITTLE PUSH FOR ALL OF YOU THAT HAVEN'T DONE IT. GO!!! GO!!! GO!!! GO!!! GO!!! GO!!! GO GET IT DONE NOW!!!! YOU'LL NEVER REGRET IT!!!

Kisses,

Allie

[amandag]

I know this is difficult decision for you. Several years ago I did my own on a long weekend alone. I took my earrings out before my wife come home, then, during the next 5-6 weeks I put posts in a few times a day whenever I could. One lobe did get infected, but my wife never suspected what I was doing. I now have piercings and keep them open by sleeping once or twice a week with rings. I wake up about 2:30 am and remove them. This seems to be enough time for the holes to demish enough not to be noticed by my wife.

It is a pleasure to know that when I dress I can wear any earrings in my extensive collection.

[trannie T]

Just do it!
You worry too much.
Don't sweat over what a co-worker may say.
Tell your family what you're doing beforehand.
I had mine done at 55, after I retired from a job which did not allow men to wear ear rings.
Use the antiseptic, keep them clean as they heal, enjoy.

[CD Susan]

Kimmy, like everyone else here is saying just go and get it done! I got both of my ears pierced 9 months ago at the age of 60 and only a couple of people have noticed. I now have over 100 pairs of earrings and change them several times a day. I just love the flexibility I have now with my earring selection and will never regret getting my ears pierced. I only wish I had done it years ago. Go for it!

[Annie D]

Kimmy, first set done when I was 52, second set 3 months ago at age 62. None of the other coaches nor teachers said a single word about my new ones.

[Intertwined]

I've been told that you can keep the piercings open during the healing time by putting a short piece of heavyweight monofilament fishing line in the hole. Let it stick out a bit in back of the earlobe, keep the other end flush where it shows on the exposed part of the earlobe.

Carol

That is what I did back in my early teens when I did mine. Took it one step further, after cutting the length of fishing line, warmed a butter knife, and pressed one end of the line against the knife, to give it a flat head (makes it look a bit like a real small nail), this does 2 things, one, keeps it from pushing all the way through the ear, and tends to hide the piercing better.

[christinek]

I work in a highly professional environment and have both my ears pierced and wear earrings in both ears daily. I am a professional and I conduct myself professionally and not once has anyone said a thing about my earrings except to agree on the color of stone agreed with my shirt.

A few girls have commented on the clear nail polish but not the earrings.

[SusanCACD]

Two weeks ago, but I was getting so much harassment about it at work I took them out.

Susan

[ChloeB]

I've always wanted to have mine done, but haven't plucked up the courage

[Sherry-Stephanie]

I did mine back in early March....left them in for the 6 weeks and it was a piece of cake....no regets at all....might get a second piercing down the road....

[Sally24]

If I was younger it wouldnt be a problem but at the age of 54 I think some people would think it strange.

I wouldn't know, got mine pierced when I was 53.:heehee:

Actually, I've gotten good natured ribbing at work but nothing bad. Lots of pirate jokes and the like.

I left mine in for 6 weeks and have only left them empty for a day or two recently. Do it, you'll really love it in both modes!

[Bobbi Lynn]

Both of mine have been pierced for more than 20 years.