The Secret to Removing Piercing Earrings

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You’re here because your piercing earrings are stuck huh?

Did you get pierced at Piercing Pagoda or Claires? KEEP ON READING!

The places above use the same vendors when it comes to piercing earrings, which means you either have a rounded back or a large butterfly back. Am I right or am I right?

From someone who pierced with these piercing earrings for over five years, I’m going to be sharing with you guys my tips on how to remove both types of piercing earrings and what to do if they’re stuck. I’ll also include full videos for both so you can see how it’s done.

Rounded Back aka Safety Backs

If your backings are rounded so the point of the piercing earring isn’t exposed, these are actually called Safety Backs.

Before you take off piercing earrings remember to:

  • Wash your hands

  • Wait until the healing period is over to remove (6 weeks for earlobe, 12 weeks cartilage)

  • Replace with a new earring right away

Here is how I remove piercing earrings:

  1. Grab the front of the post with one hand.

  2. Grab the earring backing with the other hand.

  3. Pull in opposite directions.

Few notes: It’s important to also grab the front because if you only pull the back, you can pull the earring through the ear which is going to hurt.

Removing piercing earrings should NOT hurt. If you find that it’s painful, have someone help you or see a professional piercer to help you remove them.


Butterfly Back Piercing Earrings

When it comes to piercing earrings, the earring itself is sharper and usually has a “notch” at the end of the post which is where the backing is supposed to lock, and ultimately makes it harder for them to get off.

Harder, not impossible, is important to remember because at some point they have to come off.

How to take piercing earrings w/ a butterfly back off? It’s same same idea as safety backs. Hold the front of the earring, whether it be the ball or the cz and hold the backing of the earring, pulling in opposite directions.

This won’t work with screw backs earrings and only work with piercing earrings with a safety back and piercing butterfly backing. 

Stuck Butterfly Backs

Sometimes with these type of butterfly backings.. the post slips through the middle of the post and ends up crooked. This could happen from something as simple as sleeping on your earring or it getting hit. When the backing is crooked, most likely it’s not going to come off with pulling at it. The trick I personally have found is taking apart the “butterfly”..using clean, needle nose pliers or tweezers to open the backing and then the backing slides right off without hurting the person at all. 

These are all tips I have used working at a piercing place using these specific piercing earrings. If you were pierced at a tattoo shop, you were mostly pierced with different earrings. 

Removing piercing earrings should NOT hurt. If you need help, have someone help you or see a professional piercer help you remove them.

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Christina Sciblo