getting them pierced

Jessie · Post by **Jessie** » Sat May 26, 2007 9:23 am

I have been having an interesting problem lately. My mom has asked me a couple times now if and when I would be getting my ears pierced. She says this as she has so many earings she would like to give as their are also so many nice earings I would like to get as well I just get this odd feeling that at work it would not be the most comfortable situation as I would have to explain why I got them pierced and then their is still the whole gay factor that I am tired of trying be classed in.

What do you all think? I could use some advice from friends here at the forum.

Jessie

Carla L · Post by **Carla L** » Sat May 26, 2007 9:45 am

I work in an 'extremely' conservative environment with many older men. I was afraid of the same thing and got razzed several times. but can count them on my fingers. I just looked at them crazy, like 'What the ??ck are you talking about?!' when I got the question regarding gay. That killed the issue right away each time.

I can't wait to put in my many new earings. I pulled the starters too soon and had to have them put back in, so now I'm really hesitant to take them out again, but I will soon.

Would I do it again. Definitely.

Kimberly Kael · Post by **Kimberly Kael** » Sat May 26, 2007 10:01 am

Jessie - I had originally planned to get mine pierced at the beginning of a two-week break and then take them out during the day at work to avoid the issues you raised. Instead, I got them pierced and have been wearing studs or earrings pretty much 24x7 ever since and I'm VERY glad I went this route.

Why? The reaction at work has been next to nothing. I think a total of two or three people have commented, and not a single person has asked why. If they had? "It seemed like fun," or "my wife wanted to have three studs in bed" sound like perfectly fine answers. You don't owe anyone an explanation and to be honest they probably don't care. I did find it helpful to spend a few days out and about in restaurants and so forth to get used to being around other people. I felt a little self-conscious at first but it vanished quickly.

I'm also very glad I didn't take the studs out early. As it is, I waited more than the suggested six weeks and I still found that sometimes I'd get some very slight bleeding when I removed a pair. Keep the piercing studs in as long as you can and do all the recommended saline washes and regular turning and you'll be fine.

As for the gay thing? I guess I don't understand the concern. Earrings certainly won't change your orientation, and they're unlikely to have any significant effect on most people's opinions. Anyone who assumes a guy is gay because he's wearing earrings is someone whose opinion I just don't care about. If my piercings give me a built-in bozo detector then that's a plus as far as I'm concerned.

Most important of all, I love having pierced ears. My earring collection has grown by leaps and bounds. They're painless to wear and their gentle weight brings a smile to my face even when I can't see them. Catching a glimpse of my pretty earrings in a mirror? Priceless.

Carla L · Post by **Carla L** » Sat May 26, 2007 11:38 am

Just be careful to check yourself on the way out of the house. When I first removed them (5 weeks instead of 6) I put a femme pair in and my daughter told me I had them in. I forgot, they were big red ones. I almost left the house with them in.

KathyB · Post by **KathyB** » Sat May 26, 2007 2:56 pm

Isn't it great, feeling a dangle there?

I had my left ear pierced in the late 1980s, and people at work were all confused and frustrated. My boss even asked me not to wear it while on business assignments out of the office. A tiny little gold stud, and everyone was flipping out. In the early 90's, I went ahead and had the right ear pierced. Whenever anyone asked, I said "because I want to wear a matched pair of earrings".

Heck, it's the 21st century, and plenty of men have been wearing earrings for years now: musicians, athletes, actors, anyone who feels like it. For anyone who asks these days, I just ask why they're interested. That usually stops the purely nosy people dead in their tracks.

Jessie · Post by **Jessie** » Tue May 29, 2007 11:02 am

Just a fallow up question. What are starter studs? And I do not mean those who are starting out in the TG world. Are they fashionable or can you get fashionable studs? Just some questions I thought I would asks.

Jessie

Post by **DonnaT** » Tue May 29, 2007 11:34 am

Starters are what usually what gets inserted when first pierced.

That is, the gun used to pierce the ears is loaded with starters.

There are a variety of starters available, depending on where you go.

SilverLady(SO) · Post by **SilverLady(SO)** » Tue May 29, 2007 3:10 pm

Hi, Jessie -

If you were to go to a store like Icing by Claire's, or Claire's, or another jewelry store where they do the ear piercings (or even a Sally's Beauty Supply), they usually have a great selection of starter stud earrings (the post is 2x the normal size) for your 'first earrings'. The best way to have your ears pierced is with the piercing gun - not only is it faster and less painful than with the needle method, there's less chance of infection.

Even though my ears have been pierced for about 30 years (and no age-related comments from anyone in the peanut gallery, either!

), I routinely wear starter studs to keep the holes open. I've found great selections are the stores named above, and they're about $5.00/pair.

Just make sure to keep those starter earrings in your ears for the 6-8 weeks as instructed!! Some members (yes, I know who you are!) have tried to switch to other earrings at 4-6 weeks - despite the warnings and recommendations from myself and other GG's! They all had their healing times extended, and they also increased their risk for infection.

If you follow the instructions, you should have no problems with your pierced ears (barring allergic reaction to the metal). If you're not sure if you're allergic to certain metals, then be certain that your starter earrings are of the "hypo-allergenic" variety.

So, Jessie - - when are you going to get your ears pierced, sweetheart?!?!

Love ya!

- SL

Melyssa Anne · Post by **Melyssa Anne** » Tue May 29, 2007 3:56 pm

Update on my pierced ears --

As noted in earlier posts, I got mine both done in mid January.

Almost 6 months later--They are GREAT!! I love being able to wear all the different kinds...no surprise---danglers are still my favorite!

I chose to leave one in continusly -- but the right one got left in for the first 17 days, then spent a bunch of time with it out during the day, and in when the work day was over. I was always careful to use the ear piercing stuff and avoided any infections. But the price paid was it took about 5 months for it to heal as compared to about 2 months for the other one. Now if either are out for a day or two, they do not tend to start closing (i know that varies person to person), but they are good, and so much fun.

I still catch some grief from acquantances and family. Some of those I thought would react the most didn't say a thing...and others that I thought wouldn't care or notices were the most vocal.

Bottom line....I wish I had done this a lot sooner!

Connie · Post by **Connie** » Tue May 29, 2007 8:14 pm

SilverLady(SO) wrote:Even though my ears have been pierced for about 30 years (and no age-related comments from anyone in the peanut gallery, either!)

I see. You had your ears pierced at birth?

Connie

what's with all these peanut shells?

SilverLady(SO) · Post by **SilverLady(SO)** » Tue May 29, 2007 8:49 pm

Connie wrote:I see. You had your ears pierced at birth?

Oh, how did you guess?!?

Connie wrote:what's with all these peanut shells?

The forum's maid hasn't come by in a long while . . . anyone who has a maid's outfit is more than welcome to start sweeping up the floor!! Starting salary is just $0.00/hour!!

- SL

DeniseL · Post by **DeniseL** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:43 am

congratulations on having your ears pierced.

I too would love to have mine done, but living and working in a very conservative narrow minded are, it is difficult for me to do.
Hopefully I will be re-locating within a couple of year, and the first thing I am going to treat myself to, will be to have my ears pierced.

I as my sister did, love the smaller petite earrings, There are so many out there that are beautiful, and I would love to be able to wear them. I do like the the longer dangly ear rings as well, but i keep them for a night out

while being in a conservative part of the country, I do often see guys with both ears pierced, wearing nice small studs, etc, I would love to complement them as to how nice they look, but so far have kept my thoughts to my self

Denise

DeeDee · Post by **DeeDee** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:16 pm

Sigh, well add me to the list of pierced ear gals. I have to say I resisted it a lot, but GGs can be very persuasive (its a gene thing, I think). So went to the local, huge mall, and had them done at a Pagoda kiosk. Can't wait for Monday at work, but what the heck. I love the idea, always wanted to...now its a done deal. I'll keep you all advised of any reactions (shudder). Tonight is my Triess meeting, then out after so I can relax a bit. Can't believe I did it, but.........what the heck, you only go around once.
hugs
DeeDee

Tekla · Post by **Tekla** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:50 pm

ear rings rock! I love being able to wear them.

Jennifer M · Post by **Jennifer M** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:09 pm

Having my ears peirced was the best thing I have done for myself. Its been 3 years now and I have only had a few negative comments. Most of those come from work but I ignore them. Not giving them any sign that they have upset me stops the comments almost immediatley. Its been well over a year since anyone has said anything.