Too old to get ears pierced?

[Rhonda Darling]

I’m 68 and hope to soon retire. Every time I mention to my wife that I’d like to get my ears pierced, she says I’m too old to get it done because: 1) men my age don’t have pierced ears; 2) family members and friends would question why, and criticize my having done it; 3) that there are enough clip on options that I don’t need to go to pierced ears; 4) even though I frequently wear some women’s clothing when out in male mode, pierced ears would draw too much attention.

So, if your eaes are pierced, at what age did you do it, and what style do you wear when out in male mode?

If your ears are not pierced but you wish they were, what is holding you back?

Any other thoughts about ear piercings?

[Jodie_Lynn]

Got mine done when I was 55, and I may get a second set of piercings.

For work, I usually just wear BB's in silver, sometimes gold. Other than work, anything goes, although I do prefer chandeliers or dangles.

[Dawn P]

Got mine done at 60.

[Macey]

Can't speak to 68, but my brother (not a CDer) is in his mid fifties and has had his ears pierced since he was a teenager.

[Micki_Finn]

I first had mine done when I was 18 so no help on that front. I can tell you: 1) there are plenty of men your age with pierced ears 2) you can take your earrings out in front of family and friends (after the initial healing period). You’ll still have holes, but they aren’t that noticeable. 3) clip-ons suck. They’re uncomfortable and they can slip. 4) My earrings don’t get hardly any attention unless I’m purposely wearing something flashy to get attention.

I’ll add a 5) even though I’ve debunked your wife’s arguments, I would not recommend getting them done as long as she says no. All these excuses could just be her covering up the fact that she’s uncomfortable with the idea for whatever reason.

[Marie-Jo]

I thought it was about time when I passed 70. My wife was not informed until it was done. She doesn't like it but that is not a decision area for her. I have bought five different pieces to use. Daily use of smaller buttons with stones. Yes, people notice but very few ask about it. My answer is that I like it and that it was about time to do it before it is too late. Very few of the worries that your wife is listing will become a problem.

[BettyMorgan]

I had mine done at 54. Most people don't blink.
It's your body, your choice. Period.
Besides, at 68 you'll look like every other person with pierced ears. BUT, once you hit 70, you'll be classed as a "Badass".

[vplshowoff]

I had my ears pierced at 60 yo when I was retired. Only a few people have commented about my earrings. I explained to a couple people that I had worked for 34 years in a corporation and never was free to pierce my ears so now I did. I wear studs and hoops and get zero comments.

You're old enough to say that you are a repressed hippie and now have the opportunity to do whatever you want.

Go ahead. You'll like it.

[Tracii G]

I was about 60.
Its not a big deal there are millions of older men with pierced ears.
My eldest daughter asked why and I said because I wanted to, so the same reason you got yours done.
She said well OK then.
I never got anyone asking why other than her but I would have given the same answer because I wanted to.
The whole gay connotation was forgotten 20 years ago so no need to worry.

[Peggie Lee]

There’s no age limit, I was 64 when I did it. It’s a bother for the first couple of months to wear them 24/7 and cleaning twice a day but I’m glad I did it.

[Melissa_Me]

I don't think there is anything wrong with getting them done at 10, 18, 30 or 68. If you want them done, do it.
But...... I agree with Micki, 5) if your wife is putting up that many argument points, she doesn't like the idea. You've always got to remember that she has a say in this, she is your wife.
Xx

[Jean 103]

WOW

it was my first thought.

Your life is really controlled by others.

No one cares and if they do I don't need them in my life. It is that simple, life is just to short and at 63 I don't have that much left.

Just smile and say " have a nice day"

[Majella St Gerard]

This theme never dies. Just do it for crying out loud.

[Teresa]

Rhonda,
I've never seen it as a need to prove anything , so many men nowdays have their ears pierced so it's not to make a point about being a Cder or TG . I'm happy with clippons and I wear them most days .

[Aunt Kelly]

The first time? Late twenties, I guess. Last time - 59, I think. That was three years ago, so "men your age" definitely get their ears pierced. I have had exactly one coworker ask why, (I still present as male at work), and a couple of compliments on the plain studs or small gold hoops I wear every day. People might be curious (though even that is rare), but in general, they just don't care.

Other thoughts... The selection of clip-ons sucks

Get them pierced, Rhonda. :)

[GracieRose]

If your ears are not pierced but you wish they were, what is holding you back?
Mine aren't pierced because my wife agrees with your wife on reasons 2 and 3 (and Micki's reason number 5).
I get grief if there is any sign of an indent (real or imagined) in my earlobe after taking off clip ons. She is convinced that everyone will notice and the world will end.

[Robertacd]

Just got my ears pierced yesterday at age 54, you are never too old.

[Meghan4now]

52.

But you are clearly too old. After 65, men bleed to death if they get their ears pierced! Don't do it, it's a trap!

[luuv2dress]

Never to late, go get them done

[Eemz]

I got mine pierced at 54. I wear earrings 24/7 ever since, sometimes studs but usually small hoops or sleepers (because I like them better). I don't wear dangly ones or large hoops except with hair & makeup.

My 2c on points 1-4 is that they're specious nonsense at this point in our lives. At 68, everybody you know has already had far more important things happen in their lives than whether someone has holes in their ears or not. I tell people my age and older - I wanted to, so I did; I figured I'm not going to live forever, so I might as well enjoy it. Anyone with any life experience totally relates to that line of thought, even if not the specifics. Worst case, they mentally categorize me as being "a bit odd", but that's fair enough; I probably am :)

Your wife probably knows these are weak arguments too, if she's given it any real thought. So I agree with Micki that there are likely other fears at play here, probably unspoken.

But still. I'm in the "go for it" camp.

[Jenny22]

Aunt Kelly's comment: The selection of clip-ons sucks is spot on. I've developed the knack of converting studs to clip-ons or magnetic, and current types of ear fastenings, and they are wonderful... wearing same for hours as I type, and no lobe soreness.

[Jodie_Lynn]

52.

But you are clearly too old. After 65, men bleed to death if they get their ears pierced! Don't do it, it's a trap!


You forgot to mention the excruciating pain! Pain that lasts for weeks!!

:devil::D

[Gwen M]

I got mine done last November at 69 ( been in the closet since early childhood) My wife was supportive but I was determined to have them done no matter what. I have had more positive comments than negative, primarily from younger people. “ love your earrings” . The best thing about getting them done and the lack of negative feedback is that i have become much more open in my dress and jewelry. It was like opening a door and letting the sun shine in. I have never been happier with my life . As everyone says just do it you won’t be disappointed.

[mattea]

I got mine done not too long ago around 44. I got a titanium stud and wore them for about 10 days, then went to clear plastic spacers. I know that is not the recommended time and can cause complications, it was very difficult to get the plastic in and I thought I may have screwed up, but I could not wear them at work. I went then for the next six weeks using the plastic and keeping everything cleaned. No one ever really noticed the plastic spacers, nor did they say anything about them and I can tell you that it was worth it. Here in a few weeks I intend to get a second set and most likely do the same thing as before but a bit more careful and I have about a 15 day break from work to let them heal up before I change them. Again I don't suggest everyone do what I did, and if you do it, really make sure that you keep them clean and treat them daily until they are fully healed.

I can honestly say that getting them done and having the freedom to wear any earring was worth the time and frustration! For me it was an exhilarating experience to wear my first set of dangley earrings and swing them around.

As for your wife's worries. I agree with Micki and the others that you need to find a way to garner your wife's consensus.

Good luck!

[Diane Smith]

I've known several men who have had their ears pierced at age 65+. A (GG) friend of my mom's had hers done just before she turned 80. I don't think it's that unusual nowadays on men of any age. The only rule is that you won't be able to enjoy them until you do it, so don't waste too much time thinking about it or refuting other people's arguments against it.

(On the other extreme ... I had mine done at age nine, in 1966.)

- Diane

[Jodie_Lynn]

@ Diane Smith

At age 9???? I'm really curious, if you don't mind sharing. :)

[Kaylin]

Got mine done when I was 14. And I'm 40 now. Haven't taken mine out in soo many years. When I was in my early 20's, i started to follow the Gauge your ears out trend. But i thankfully stopped at a 4 gauge. And let them close up a lil bit. I've had 10 gauge rings in for about 15 years. I throw in large white or pink hoops in when I CD. I say Pierce them!! Your never too old sweety :)

[Kiwi Primrose]

I was 50 and at last free of the corporate world. At last I could do the things I could only do in private previously, and since then I have many good comments and absolutely no nasties.

[robbieatbest]

I got my left ear pierced at my 40th birthday - delayed until then because i thought my Mum would disapprove - she didn't notice - I had to tell her. I got my other ear pierced about ten years later. Now at 69 I wear earrings in both ears all (most) the time. I have collected a lot of odd earrings because of my wife losing one of hers and giving me the remaining one.
Wear whatever suits the occasion and enjoy.
Cheers
Robbie

[Wendy me]

I have 8 holes in my ears and 61 years old only difference is .... there is none

[susan54]

I am mid 60s and occasionally get fed up of losing an earring or the difficulty of finding clip-ons to buy as I will not buy anything online ever to protect local shops. The reason I will not be getting my ears pierced is not because I am afraid of looking feminine but simply because my male 'look' is incompatible with earrings. I have had my clothing personality done as both male and female and the verdict on the male one was "no jewellery except a very good watch". I agree with this - I like being a man and looking good as a man as well as wearing womenswear and I don't see a need to mess one up for the other. I have shaved legs and armpits and that is enough - and no one sees these when I am in male clothes.

[SaraLin]

Mine have been pierced since somewhere in my 40's (about 20 years ago).

I current wear small yin/yang posts in both ears, and they're in 24/7. I don't remember the last time I had them out (I know, I know - I should take them out, clean them, etc...)

the only comments I've had on over 10 years is "Where did you find those earrings? I'd love to get some!"

If you want piercings, why not? Unless it'll cause problems at home, that is.

Reason 1? not true.
Reason 2? You'll have to judge for yourself... I don't know them.
Reason 3? There's a MUCH wider selection of pierced earrings - and precious few (if any) "OK-In-Male-Mode" ones.
Reason 4? Unless you're over the top in your choices, who's going to notice such a small thing - or care?

It sounds like your problem isn't getting your ears pierced, but your wife's worries and fears about it. I'd suggest the two of you talk it over, and work it out.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Rhonda :hugs:, It took me 72 years to pierce my ears, I did double studs in each ears on PI Day 3/14/15
then a couple months later I did a third stud in each ear,

My wife was against it but helped me do it, I usually wear triple Diamond studs and sometimes I will wear a
small 1/4" to 3/4"small hoops in the bottom or bottom and middle holes.

When I had them pierced and someone said anything I would just look them in the eye and ask,

"Is this going to be a problem for you" and that just takes the wind out of their sails. >Orchid .oO:daydreaming:Oo.

[Elizabeth G]

Hi Rhonda,

I have not yet had mine done and pretty much for the same reasons as you. I am 54 and would get then done in a heartbeat but at this time I'm working with my wife on other crossdressing issues sho pierced ears haven't made it to the top of my list yet. At 68, if my wife were on board I wouldn't hesitate.

Elizabeth

[Lana Mae]

I had mine pierced at 65! I wear my pearl earrings the most and in male presentation! Only ever got compliments on my pearls and a pair of heart shaped studs with rhinestones!
Discuss this with your wife and try to allay her fears! Best wishes! Hugs Lana Mae
As a side note: My wife encouraged me to get mine pierced and I did not want them pierced then!

[Meghan4now]

You forgot to mention the excruciating pain! Pain that lasts for weeks!!

:devil::D

Jodi, actually the pain was short lived, but it was an exquisite experience. Not that I'm into SM (well once in a while), but this was truly a pleasure. All psychological.

Mmmmmh

[Teresa]

Talking about pain and discomfort , I've been put off slightly having my ears pierced because both my daughter and wife developed severe infections , my daughter had to give up on earrings altogether and my wife had to let hers heal before having fresh piercings done .

I don't find clippons painful , all you have to do is adjust the tension on the spring clip , I can wear them all day without a problem , in fact I often forget to take them off until I put my head on the pillow at night .

[Ceera]

I was 58, and already retired and widowed, when I got mine pierced. I had tried clip-ons for two years prior to that, while going out socially en-femme - and they pinched, hurt, and sometimes fell off at awkward moments, like on the dance floor. My adult daughter lives with me, and has been supportive of my feminine self-exploration since it began, several months after her mom passed away. (I had remained deeply in the closet while married, and only barely even thought about feminine urges during the last few years of our marriage.)

Getting them pierced hurt far less than wearing a set of clip-on earrings. Not at all the kind of pain or duration others expressed. I got it done at a Claire’s earring shop in the mall, while en-femme, and no one there even commented on my age. My starter pair of earrings were a single 3 mm or so cubic zirconia in a gold setting, which I wore non-stop for several months while the piercings healed properly. The daily cleaning process - wiping around the studs with a solution-dipped q-tip - was a bit of a chore, but also soothing. Until I hit six months, I wore simple post earrings every day, defaulting to my original set or to a pair of 3 mm gold ball studs when I was not going out. After that I could wear the ‘fish hook’ style dangly earrings when wanting to be feminine. No one ever commented on them or thought it odd that a man my age had pierced ears. The biggest advantages? Pierced earrings do not hurt to wear them, and the selection of styles is much better.

The first person to comment at all was my little sister... She had not seen me since Christmas, and right after that holiday visit was when I got them pierced and also got acrylic nails done. She came to our new home four months later, to visit and to help my daughter and I unpack, and I had not mentioned anything yet to her about me cross dressing. She noticed the French cut, clear polished nails first, noting almost in passing that they looked rather feminine, but did not follow up on that. At lunch, she also commented, “I see you got your ears pierced. And you’re growing your hair longer.” Not a negative, just sort of questioning that I had done so. I used to wear a 12” long ponytail, even as a balding guy, so that was no big deal. But even with all those things combined, plus that I was now shaving the hair off my arms, which she did not notice or comment on, she still did not really question my motives. I almost came out to her then and there, but did not want to do it in a restaurant. And she ended up leaving before the conversation drifted that way again.

When in male mode, at first I kept it to simple, small studs. No one seemed to notice at all, or to think it odd. I tried more obvious but still unisex designs, like a quarter inch silver and black yin/yang symbol. Still no comments or odd looks. A year or so later, before I began living full time female, but as I became more comfortable with being openly gender fluid, I started wearing studs that were small orange foxes, or other cute designs. And still, even in male mode at a home improvement store, the only comments were positive ones.

Right after my 61st birthday, I started living full time as a woman, and began medical transition. So it is no longer an issue at all for me.

[Cheryl T]

Not at all too old.
Just do it and enjoy the styles and freedom of pierced ears.
I did mine at 55 and wish I had done it when I was 20.

[abbiedrake]

Harrison Ford anyone?

Personally I got my left ear done 30 years ago at 17. Then at 27 I added another 2 to that ear and one to the right. Practice wife didn't like that so I let em heal up (though the holes may have lasted longer than the wife lol).
Wifeling opines she wouldn't have liked that. She said this long before I started CDing so that's just where she's at with me and my ears generally. She has said' they're your ears, do what you want' but honestly it's never mattered enough to me to want to steamroller her feelings that way. Clip-on aren't perfect but they're good enough.
I couldn't ever imagine not having the left though. I feel naked on the insanely infrequent times I don't have a ring in.

[RachelB.]

Not sure why but getting my ears pierced is where my wife draws the line. We go out in public and she has no qualms. But bring up getting the ears done and she gets all up in arms. I'll live with it. She makes jewelry and will make or convert pierced styles to clip ones for me.

[Tina June]

Quite a few of us seem to have pierced our ears at 50 or above - add another to that list - 59 for me!

[alwayshave]

Rhonda, my plan is to get it done when I retire at 72.

[Stephanie Michelle]

I got my left one done at 50. Wife was not pleased, but ok with it. Right one done at 55. After divorce with then GF, encouraged me to get it, she thought it was sexy to have both ears pierced. (she did know of my crossdressing and was very OK with it)

[RachelPortugal]

Go for it, whatever your age.

Got both ears pierced at 53. My wife suggested it and actually pierced them for me. Everything was soaked in ethyl alcohol, she put a cork behind the lobe and pushed a stud through, exactly as had been done for her as a teenager at a market in Malta. No pain, no problems and I now wear jewelled studs (various coloured gems) everyday and larger dangly styles for girls nights out.

[KayC]

Huh? Too "old" to get pierced? What's age got to do with it? If you get pierced at 30 and you turn 80 you don't stop wearing earrings. Go for it, age shouldn't matter!