What's the Deal With Piercing Earrings?

What's the difference between needle piercing earrings and device piercing earrings?

Dec 22, 2024 By The Rowan Nurse Leadership Team

Know before you go! Here’s everything you need to know about piercing earrings prior to getting your ears pierced.

What makes an earring a “piercing” earring?

The earrings you put into your piercing are just as important as the piercing itself. Knowing this, we use only premium hypoallergenic metals in our piercing (and non-piercing!) earrings.

Both our needle and device earrings use the following metals exclusively: 14K Yellow Gold, 14K White Gold, 24K Gold Plating, Stainless Steel, and Titanium.

What is the difference between needle piercing jewelry and device piercing jewelry?

Needle Piercing Earrings

If you choose our needle piercing method, we pierce with Flat Back Earrings. Using this method, a needle is used to pierce the ear, and the flat back earring is placed in the fresh piercing using a taper.

Our flat back earrings feature an 18 gauge long titanium post used for piercing. The initial length is long to safely accommodate anticipated swelling.

When the initial swelling settles, a downsize appointment may be appropriate. During this appointment, a Rowan nurse will switch your long post to a shorter post that fits the ear properly. We offer a variety to accommodate all ears.

Device Piercing Earrings

If you choose our device piercing method - which utilizes a hand pressurized device in the complete control of the nurses’s hands - we pierce with Butterfly Back or Bell Back Earrings. Using this method, the earrings themselves are used to pierce the ear. The earrings used to pierce are 20 gauge.

Some of our device piercing earrings have a “Bell Back” - a closed back which ensures the earring post does not poke. The Bell Back also eliminates the possibility of wearing the earring too tightly around the fresh piercing.

While others use a “Butterfly Back” - likely what you think of when you think of a traditional earring back. They will stay on the earring tightly to keep the earring secure in the new piercing. For Butterfly Back earrings, it’s important to make sure you do not move the earring back up close to the back of the ear, particularly right after you’ve been pierced. Rather, allow the back to click into place at the notch on the end of the earring post to promise proper airflow and healing. It’s important to leave a space between the ear and the earring back.

Why can’t I get pierced with an endless hoop?

At Rowan, safety is our number one priority. We’ll be the first to tell you that when you get a needle piercing, you shouldn’t touch, twist, or rotate your earring - but, due to their seamless design, that’s exactly what endless hoops do!

Let the tissue heal without added irritation to the site and your ear (and your piercer!) will thank you. Once the piercing has healed, an endless hoop is our go-to recommendation. They’re dainty, chic, and pair well with everyone’s stack.

For more information about why, when, and how to place hoop earrings, head to this blog post.

Can I wear piercing jewelry in healed piercings?

Yes! Piercing jewelry can be worn in any healed piercings.

If you’re unfamiliar with how to put in and take out Flat Back earrings, here’s everything you need to know to style your stack with Flat Backs. If you need help changing your jewelry - whether it’s for yourself or your child - please visit one of our studios. Our nurses are happy to help!