Although the extremes of body modification have been made more popular in our culture, it has been done for hundreds of years, and ear piercing is one of its oldest kinds. It has been worn by both men and women as documented by unearthed coins that show them wearing earrings. The oldest earring excavated was found in the noble Graves of Ur of Iraq, which dates back to 2,500 B.C.

Types of Earrings

Earrings are attached to the ears by two means, the use of posts and the use of wires. From there, a variety of earrings was created to suit each individual.

The most common type of earrings is the stud earring. It is attached to the ear through the post, which makes it seem to float on the earlobe. Stud earrings are held in place by the friction back to keep it in place without fear of it falling off.

Hoop earrings are those circular earrings that are attached to the ear by wires to make a complete ring. Posts can also be used to secure it to the ear, but it is not a complete circle.

Dangle earrings, so far, is the favorite among women as it is commonly seen anywhere. They measure from a centimeter to even just barely touching the shoulders. Wires and posts are also used for ear attachments, but most frequently, wires are used shaped into a small hook.

Huggy earrings are so called because they seem to hug the earlobe. Many earring crafters take advantage of huggy earrings to show off their expertise in this field and tend to make elaborate and varied designs.

The move Star Trek made Bajoran or slave earrings popular. It is a stud earring that has a thin chain attached to an ear cuff, and the ear cuff is then attached higher up on the ear.

Ear threads are those that are made of delicate chains slim enough to pass through the ear hole. It comes back out and dangles. To add some style to ear threads, people usually place beads and other materials on the chain.

No-Pierce Earrings

Not all ears have to be pierced to wear earrings. People have come up with a variety of no-pierce earrings like the clip-on earrings for those who do not wish to have their ears pierced, and the clip-on earring is the oldest form of no-pierce earrings.

Another type is the ear cuff. It attaches to the ear by pinching the ear or the helix. Although it is also widely used, it causes the ear to redden from the pinching.

Stick-on earrings use adhesive-backed materials as a means of attachment. People who use this seem to use stud earrings, but one setback though is an allergic reaction to the adhesive material used.

Magnetic earrings also simulate stud earrings. With the use of a magnetic back, it attaches to the ear due to magnetic force.

Ear hook earrings utilize a large hook that is hooked over the entire ear and left to dangle.

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