After having my ears pierced for 35 years and testing all types of jewelry out there, let me tell you not all earring backings are created equal. I switched to all flat back earrings a while ago, and I recommend it to anyone with pierced ears and who likes to wear studs. I first was recommended them at a piercing studio (Zebra Tattoo & Piercing in Berkeley, CA) for my tricky and easily irritated cartilage ear piercing. Getting a titanium stud flat back earring fitted and installed at the piercing shop was an immediate comfort upgrade. I now wear some type of flat back earring across any of the 9 total piercings in my ears daily.
Earring backings irritating you while you sleep? Backings flying off in the salon or when you blow dry your hair at home? Earring backings stabbing your skin underneath your bicycle or motorcycle helmet? How about while wearing headphones? Backings getting built up with gross dead skin? We’ve all been there. Side sleepers may even have additional daily discomfort from traditional earrings. Flat back style earrings can be the answer to most of these everyday issues.
What Are Flat Back Earrings
Flat back earrings are exactly what they sound like. A piece of jewelry with a flat backing, which rests flush against your skin. There are no jagged or rounded parts that easily get caught on clothing or everyday items.
How Do Flat Back Earrings Work?
First, there are two main types of flat back earrings. I would recommend trying both to see which you like best. There is a push pin style and the other is a screw back style.
With the push pin style, the backing side actually enters your ear first. Then you affix the front of the stud earring inside the “tube” of the backing. The end of the stud earring will have a slight bend in it, which will pop into place and create tension and a locked in fit. These are a little tricky to put on at first, so consider having someone help you place the earring in. You can also go to a piercing studio where you can purchase jewelry there and have them trim the length of the stud so it’s a perfect fit for your piercing. With proper installation, these almost never come undone on their own.
As for the screw back style, this style works like a traditional stud earring and backing, but the stud is threaded and you quite literally screw the earring on. Beginners will likely have an easier time with this style of flat back earring. The tighter you screw these on, the longer they’ll stay secure. I rarely have these come undone.
Where To Wear Flat Back Earrings?
You can use flat back earrings on essentially every ear piercing type, not just the ear lobes or upper ear cartilage area. Flat backed earrings are probably preferred in some possible pierced areas, like the tragus, helix, forward helix, or conch. In fact, these style earring backings may be better for those with sensitive ears or new healing piercings.
How Much Do Flat Back Earrings Cost?
Like anything in the fashion and jewelry world, you can find earrings with flat backs at wide range of price points. My local piercing studio sells push pin style flat back stud earrings in diamond, solid gold, 925 sterling silver, and titanium options. So the price can vary a lot.
Amazon also sells affordable styles of flat back stud earrings, most commonly found int he screw back style. You can find many cubic zirconia and14k gold plated options that are both trendy and classic. I wear the silver cz set linked at the top of this post. And if you need more Amazon fashion jewelry recommendations, I have quite a few!
If you like your earrings to fit comfortably and stay on a long time, I can’t recommend flat back earrings enough. They also have significantly less dead skin build-up than butterfly style backings do, so they’re more hygienic.
Like this post? Be sure to read through some of my other jewelry and accessories posts before you go.
Leave a Reply