new thread
Hey guys. I am planning on getting my ears pierced for the first time, but don't want to wear them at work. I've been told I have to leave them in for two weeks (or wear the clear spacers) by some people, and others have said taking them out for a eight hours a day won't close the holes. Any comments or suggestions? Also, are the clear spacers conspicous at all?
Thanks in advance fellow longhairs!
Hi friction,
why don't you just get the piercings at the beginning of a two-week vacation. After that, colorless spacers may be your best options for the work day. For many people, it takes months (occasionally years) until you can take your rings out and without risking the holes closing up, which is usually due to bits of oozed-out dried serum. In any case, good hygiene (eg disinfection with 70% isopropyl "rubbing" alcohol several times daily; available at any drug store) is essential.
I do think that earrings and long hair go together perfectly well on most men, by the way.
Good luck!
Hans-Uwe
Wow, I hadn't heard that! I've heard cartiledge and tongue piercings can take a long time to form. And yeah, I certainly would take great care of them as I don't want to lose part of an ear...I've seen it happen!
Thanks for the reply!
If you go to Clair's or any ear piercing place in the mall they have little clear spacers that you can wear in place of the ear rings that are almost invisible. I used to wear them on drill weekends. Just tell them what you are looking for and they should be able to help you.
Thanks, I was curious just how invisible those spacers can be. There is no regulation against earrings at work, but I am in management and with the newly long mane, I want to maintain some form of professional appearance and not push my luck too, too much :D
Again, thank you!
The answer depends on what part of your ear you wish to have pierced. The lobe is membranous and takes much less time to heal (i.e. 2 weeks). The other portions are cartilagenous (helix, tragus, etc) and take a minimum of 2 MONTHS to one YEAR to heal.
I suggest the clear spacers for awhile for two reasons. First is that removing the spacers and placing the earring twice a day will hurt (sometimes it's REALLY difficult to get the item back in after it's been removed). Second, it will really increase your chance of infection.
Speaking of which, proper care includes washing twice daily with an antibacterial soap and nothing else. Products such as peroxide, alcohol, neosporin, etc. actually add to the healing time by increasing the body's inflammatory response. You CAN use sea salt soaks for soothing and comfort.
Sorry for the long reply, but hope it helps.
ToddB (physician with a piercing...)
Wow, thanks for the advice. As long as these spacers are not obvious, I'll go that route then...also, I'm a big fan of peroxide, so it is good to know the ill effects of using anything but the soap.
btw, I am just getting my lobes done. Part of my early midlife crisis (I'm 32). :D
you're really supposed to keep in the training studs for 6 weeks total...but you can get by by wearing a bit of straw in the holes too. but you have to wear the training studs for AT LEAST 1 week and remember to keep turning them. i wear earrings every once in a while. i just kept in my training studs most of the time but every once in a while i wore straw or a toothpick instead. and you have to keep your hands, and ears (and the studs) clean so that you dont get an infection.
Would the clear plastic spacers work as a training stud??
btw, thanks for the reply.
i'm not sure. i didn't wear those, but i wouldn't recommend putting plastic in your ear as it's supposed to be really sensitive when you clean it...try wearing the stud backwards and/or getting really small bud that blends in well with your skin tone. it'll be harder to notice that way.
oh and dont rub alcohol on your ears...that only irritates it. there's a special lotion called MediSept (after piercing lotion) that you can use when you twist the earrings. that way your ear wont get a rash.
If you REALLY want pierced ears and desire all to work-out best, you will have to leave them in and wear them to work in the beginning so that all will heal correctly. This is really the only way to avoid all kinds of possible problems. Really, it is a piece of cake to follow the directions.
You've been misinformed. First, you do not want this done with a piercing gun. Go to a licensed piercer who will use a needle, from a sterile, sealed bag.
Second, the licensed piercer will tell you 6 weeks minimum, and will insist on the stainless steel earring that he/she provices for the piercing (you may have a small range of choices).
Third, if you follow his/her directions, washing with a soap (not alcohol--too strong for newly wounded skin), you won't have any problems.
I have never had an infection, oozing, etc. I did all of the above and have been problem free. The quickest way to an infection is moving different items in and out of the piercing in those first 6 weeks.
Look for a 6 week window where you could keep the same earring in. Is it forbidden at work, or just that you don't want to be seen with it there?
Robert
i got a similar question....is the 6 weekperiod the same for all piercings?
In a nut, No. I've had piercings heal up in days/weeks, I've had some that took months. The worst was my ampalang. That was roughly nine months to heal.
-m
Well that's funny because I had exactly the same problem: I decided to pierce my ears and wearing the earrings to work (v. my post and debate below) was just unthinkable. Basically you have two options:
(1) Have them pierced just before a holiday; I did mine before a three-week break, and took the studs out after that period. As a precaution, I then put the studs back on as soon as I left the office (can be amusing to do it in the washroom on the way out, and see if anyone "catches" you just as you're exiting the workplace, this happened a couple of times and I was given an astonished stare). Leave them in overnight and take them out just before you clock in the next day. Wear them all weekend. After one and a half months of this regimen, you should be OK.
(2) If you can’t do the above, my guess is you could get away with just two weeks of permanent studs plus cleaning/turning and not taking them out. The plastic ones should be fine, you can find them at Claire’s.
Finally, bear in mind that one of the few advantages of being a longhair in a socially/professionally conservative environment is that once you hair is long enough, it will cover you ears and earrings will be less noticeable.
Hope this helps.
I'd frankly just wear them at work, they legally cannot prevent it unless it's for security reason or for the post you work at precisely (that is, they can't force you not to have ears pierced unless it's for a good reason, dress code isn't).
I have had mine pierced for nearly 4 months now, they've completely healed and I replaced the studs with gold rings. I could hide them if I wanted (with my hair), though I prefer not to.
I had it done with a gun and have had no sign of infection whatsoever, they were those stainless-steel piercing studs that are non-infectious and only need soap.
Well, you might say it's easier because I'm a girl, but frankly I don't see what the big deal is.
Sara Melissande Zeal
i guess its the same with the longhair thing. Both are acceptable for females but not always males