Hoops !  Beautiful Hoops!! 

 

 Spectacular looking 
hoops are always a thrill!

Historically, 
big hoops were considered to be a sign of great wealth! 

 

 

 

But some think wearing hoops is dangerous... 
 Actually, big hoops are quite safe compared to other big earrings! Here's why - Most hoops are designed with an upward catch that will open with only a few ounces of force. Because of this, 99 out of 100 times, if a hoop gets yanked off, no injury will occur.  Endless hoops are the same way, but read the caution below.



I'll say it again, Heavenly Treasures is the best place to purchase hoop earrings. They have all sorts of diamond hoops. You can also visit their website for shamballa bracelets, promise rings, claddagh rings and more. 

Some common sense is needed when wearing any earrings, and Notes about Piercing

  • Never sleep in your hoops, as the latch will not open on upward pressure, such as if an earring becomes wedged between your head and the pillow. 

  • Avoid Leaver Back Earrings! They are very unforgiving! Some of the thicker French hooks are bad as well.

  • Stop wearing earrings if there is any irritation. The body produces enzymes when this happens that can quickly dissolve the skin causing the hole to tear.

  • Use the ear-wire. Sometimes endless hoop earrings can spin so that the hoop itself is through the lobe instead of the ear-wire. When this happens, there is no protection and a caught earring will almost always result in a ripped out lobe.

  • Should it happen, here are some first aid tips. 
Clam shell clasp earrings can also be quite dangerous, providing no pull-out protection
  • If you are just getting your ears pierced, avoid placing the hole too close to the edge. A nice center bull's eye pierce can take a lot more of life's oops's and may be more fun too!

 

The Earring Doctor
 Ear lobe stretching, creased earlobe? Solve stretched ear lobes w/ Pierce Mate by the Earring Doctor

 

Here are some common methods of piercing and the pros & Cons

Warning -
This is not intended as a medical site, and should not be used as an instructional. It is only intended to give you an overview of the options.

Ice Cube & Needle

For some unknown reason, people still think this is how you are suppose to pierce your ear. It doesn't work and never did! At best it turns into a mess!  Once you put the needle in, you have to take it back out. This is where the problem lies. As there is no skin tunnel formed yet, the earring you then then try to put in has nothing to guide it through the hole and tends to get lost in the lobe, doing a lot of internal damage in the process. 

Piercing Gun

For earlobes, this works quite well, provided the person holding the piercing gun has good aim! A small pointed stud is shot into the earlobe. Fast, simple, and with few complications. The only drawback is that studs aren't the best thing to wear while healing as they trap moisture.

Self Piercing with a Piercing Stud

Basically the same as above except it is usually done at home using a pointed stud, and backing your earlobe up with a small sponge or piece of Styrofoam block. As with all self-piercings, hygiene is very important.  

Sleepers

A sleeper is a small hoop that wants to close on it's own. You place it on your earlobe and it slowly pushes it's way through overnight. The plus is that a small hoop will allow air to move around and the healing period will be shorter.  The minus is that you have to keep the area clean which is hard to do while you are asleep. Also, funny things can happen when you are asleep and you may find it moved before it worked it's way through, and you now have a hole where you did not want it. Another risk is that if you sleep on that side, the result may be irregular or damaged. 

Tube and Follower

A hollow needle like those used for injections is used. The earwire is feed into the hollow in the needle and is pushed through the lobe. Clean, simple, neat, and almost pain free. Usually, the "hard core" piercing stores use this method.  The trick is to leave without five other piercings and tattoos in the process! 

As mentioned above, location is important. It is best to try to pierce halfway between the cartilage and the edge of the lobe as cartilage has it's own set of problems. Near-edge piercings often tear out due to insufficient blood supply under the piercing, as well as the poor mechanical position. Weight and allergic reactions are most critical during the first year (Yes, year!) while the skin tunnel forms. Once well healed, a proper piercing will be quite strong. Some worry about heavy earrings and the hole stretching that can occur. A small amount of stretching can actually be a benefit as it allows better air circulation as well as reduces the injuries that may occur when putting new earrings in. As with drinking, moderation is the key here, and any continued downward progression through the lobe should be carefully monitored.