How to Find Earrings for Sensitive Ears
If you have pierced ears and sensitive skin, you may have a hard time finding jewelry that doesn't irritate your earlobes. If you find that your ears become red, irritated and itchy when wearing inexpensive or costume jewelry, you may have a sensitivity to nickel. Fortunately, as body piercings grow in popularity and acceptability, it's become easier than ever to find hypoallergenic jewelry with a low risk of skin irritation. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Visit a tattoo and piercing shop in your area and ask to see the selection of surgical-stainless-steel jewelry. Stainless steel is the default metal for body piercing because of its low risk of irritation. Try captive bead rings or circular barbells for a fresh new look.
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Ask the piercer at the tattoo shop if she has any titanium or niobium jewelry in stock. Piercers often keep a few titanium and niobium pieces available for the very rare client with a sensitivity to stainless steel. Titanium is often anodized into bright colors such as pink, blue and yellow; niobium is available in black.
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Buy gold jewelry from high-end jewelry stores rather than mall piercing shops. Not only is the jewelry usually made better, it's of a higher karat value than the gold-plated mall offerings. Look for earrings that are at least 18-karat yellow or white gold. Platinum, while quite expensive, is another hypoallergenic metal available at nicer jewelry stores.
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Search online auction sites for deals on platinum, gold, steel, titanium and niobium jewelry. Buy only jewelry that's never been worn. If it hasn't been sterilized in an autoclave, visit a piercing shop and ask them to do it for you; most shops are happy to do so for a small fee.
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Support independent metal artists by having your jewelry custom-made. The Internet has made it easier than ever to connect with artisans whose work is exactly your style.
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References
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