If you’re looking for earrings that are both stylish and comfy, look no further. Flatback earrings are here to cover all your needs. What’s a flatback earring, you ask? Well let’s take a moment to discuss them.
What Are Flatback Earrings?
Flatbacks resemble a labret stud in that they have an end that’s removable and an end that is a flat disc. That’s what makes them different from standard earrings with butterfly backs or a barbell with a ball end back. This particular style is used for all kinds of piercings, including nostril, conch, lip, philtrum, and tragus. The main difference is that for earrings, you need a smaller gauge like 18, as opposed to most cartilage piercings which are 16 gauge. Thanks to its versatility and availability, this style of jewelry is popular with piercers and jewelry lovers alike.
How Are They Different
Because the back of the earring is a flat disc that sits flush with the skin, it’s far more comfortable than earrings with butterfly backs which, not only tend to poke, but are also very difficult to keep clean if you leave them in long-term. Wearing flatbacks in your earlobes is a new trend but one that’s growing in popularity.
Types
There’s only thee types of flatbacks:
- Internally threaded - the removable end has a threaded post on it to screw into the base
- Externally threaded - the base has a threaded post sticking out and the end has a hole in it that screws onto the post
- Threadless - there is no threading and the end has a small wire that holds in place in the hollow post
Benefits
This is the perfect jewelry for people who like to sleep with their earrings in. No worries about getting poked by the earring post! They are less prone to losing the end, unlike butterfly backs which often slide off. This makes them great for active lifestyles. They are less likely to snag on things like hair or combs than a standard earring. They come in a wide array of styles and finishes and if you get ASTM F-136 titanium, you’re less likely to have issues with metal reactions. And if you have a size match, you can even rock them in other piercings like nostril or ear cartilage when you’re not using them as earrings.
Things To Remember
When you’re buying a flatback (or a pair) to wear in your earlobes, keep in mind certain things. ASTM F-136 titanium is the “gold standard” of piercing jewelry metals and it can be anodized any color you’d like except black. The ends come in a mind-boggling array of styles from simple ball or charm ends to ornate ends with genuine gemstones. Remember to get something you’re not going to tire of quickly. You also want to keep in mind that the threading style needs to be compatible with any new ends you may purchase, or you’ll have to buy another set of posts. The easiest way to navigate this and make sure that you have compatible parts is to go with threadless jewelry. The really cool thing about threadless jewelry is that the ends can work in jewelry across a range of gauges, whereas with an 18 gauge internally threaded end, you can only use it in 18 gauge internally threaded jewelry. Since you can use the posts in other piercings besides your earlobes, you’ll also want to be sure that (if you plan on doing so) it’s the right size for those piercings and not just your lobes.
That sums up everything you might need to know about flatback earrings. If you’re ready to ditch pokey backs and upgrade your piercing game, shop our flatback earring collection and feel the difference. Happy piercing!
