What are the Benefits of an Earring with Flat-Back Studs?

Those of us with ear piercings have all been there. Earring backings stabbing your skin underneath while you sleep. Backings getting snagged on clothing when you change. Backings developing a disgusting layer of dead skin. How about your earring backings flying off in the salon or when you blow dry your hair at home?

If you’ve ever worn studs, chances are, you’ve experienced at least one of the abovementioned scenarios. This is where flat-back earrings come in.

What are Flat-Back Earrings?

Flat-back earrings are exactly what the name suggests. A kind of earring with a flat back that sits flush against the back of the ear lobe. This is opposed to the traditional butterfly back, where the post sticks out from the back of the ear lobe.

Usually recommended for advanced cartilage piercings (though they can be worn in piercings all around the ear), flat-back earrings are a major comfort upgrade from the traditional butterfly back. There are no jagged edges that can get caught on clothing or other items. Furthermore, they don’t poke the skin underneath the ears when they’re pressed against the side of the head (like when you’re wearing headphones). This makes them comfortable enough for daily wear. As a result, they’re a great option for people who don’t want the hassle of switching out their earrings every day. Flat-back earrings are also more hygienic since they have significantly less dead skin build-up than butterfly-style backings do.

Types of Flat-Back Earrings

You can find two styles of flat-back earrings at piercing studios and jewelry stores. We suggest trying both to see which one you like the most.

Screw-Back Flat-Back Earrings

The screw-back style functions like a standard stud earring and backing. The difference is that the stud is threaded and you quite literally screw the earring on. Screw-back earrings are beginner-friendly and rarely come undone since you can tighten the screw as much as you want.

Push Pin Flat-Back Earrings

With the push pin style, you stick the side with the backing into your piercing first. With the post peeping through the front of your piercing, you then take the stud and insert it into the hollow tube of the backing. The stud will have a slight bend in it, which creates tension and locks the earring into place. These studs can be a little finicky to put on at first, so you may need an extra pair of hands to help you. You can also go to a piercing studio and have them insert the earrings for you. This style also comes with posts of varying lengths that you can have trimmed to get the perfect fit for your piercing. When properly inserted, these studs almost never come undone.

Where Can You Wear Flat-Back Earrings?

Although flat-back earrings are more common for cartilage piercings, like the tragus, helix, daith, or conch, you can wear them for every ear piercing type. Flat-back earrings are also recommended for people with sensitive ears and new piercings that are still healing.

How Much Do Flat-Back Earrings Cost?

As with any kind of jewelry, you can find flat-back earrings at a range of price points. Some sellers offer flat-back earrings in 925 sterling silver, gold, and titanium, which are some of the more expensive options out there. Other sellers offer 14k gold-plated options, which are great if you’re on a budget. However, if you have sensitive ears or metal allergies, then it may be worth your while to purchase earrings made from one of the precious metals. Especially if you don’t plan on regularly switching out your earrings.

Closing Thoughts

Flat-back earrings are ideal for people with cartilage piercings and any other kind of ear piercing. This is due to their comfortable design that allows the back of the earring to rest flush against the ear lobe, meaning no bumpy edges poking into the skin underneath! Flat-back earrings also come in a range of designs and materials, so the options are endless.