What Are Glass Ear Plugs?

Ear plugs are not only worn in the ears for protection, but in earlobes as a fashion accessory. Ear plugs have been part of many cultures worldwide for years.

History

Ear plugs, piercings in the ear that are gradually stretched with plugs of increasing size, have been used in regions such as Northern India, Burma and Africa for centuries and have now become popular in America.

Types

Ear plugs were traditionally carved of bone, ivory or wood, but they are also available in materials such as acrylic, plastic, rubber and glass.

Sizes

Glass ear plugs come in different sizes, called "gauges," which start small and gradually increase depending on the desired stretch of the earlobe.

Benefits

Glass ear plugs can be commissioned from a local glass artist to be personalized, and they tend to look more dainty and feminine compared to other styles.

Considerations

Gauging or stretching your earlobes may not be reversible, and plastic surgery may be needed to return the lobe to normal. Glass ear plugs may be exotic and beautiful, but their permanent effects, for some, may not be worth the fashion statement.

References

• The Art of Body Piercing
• Reversing Ear Piercing