Earrings are one of the most popular pieces of jewellery, which a lot of women and even men wear every day. It’s safe to say that earrings will always be in style, and with the vast variety to choose from it’s easy for anyone to find something they like.
Earrings are made from all kinds of materials, from precious metals and gems to plastics, fabrics, and cheaper metals for more affordable pieces. There are many kinds of earrings too: stud, screw back, dangle, and drop earrings, as well as charm earrings made in unusual shapes and sizes (typically with small figurines). Appropriately chosen earrings will not only add to the outfit, but also put the natural beauty of the woman into focus.
The history of earrings
Originally earrings were not women’s accessory, but rather men’s one. They were first made over 7 thousand years ago in ancient Asia. For ancient Egyptians and Assyrians earrings served as a symbol of higher social class, while in ancient Rome and Greece it was the opposite and only slaves could wear earrings.
Some women did choose to wear the accessory, but then it was made with pearls and indicated a good income, hence higher social class. In ancient countries of the east, such as China and India, earrings made of gold and silver and encrusted with natural gems such as topazes, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires were popular.
Throughout the Middle Ages earrings on men were becoming less popular, especially in Europe, and were starting to become a female accessory. However, in the 13th century the Catholic Church started to forbid ear piercing. This was due to the fact that humans were not allowed to change the bodies created in “His image and in His likeness”.
So only thieves, pirates, and bedouins continued to wear earrings. These social groups all gave different meanings to the accessory. Thieves showed their disgust with the society and their belonging in the criminal world. Bedouins pierced an ear of the boy who was born after the death of another, or of the only child in the family. To pirates an earring meant a captured ship, and seamen wore an earring after sailing around the Cape of Good Hope or crossing the equator.
Piercing your ears
You can pierce your ears at any age, most people prefer to do it while young. It’s most common to get the ears pierced in a beauty salon with a special piercing gun. It is now possible to get disposable piercing guns and use them at home by yourself, however it is still better to consult a certified professional in a reliable beauty salon or better a professional piercing studio.
The process of getting the ears pierced is almost painless. At the moment of piercing one can only feel a slight prick. The healing usually takes from 6 to 8 weeks. After this time it’s safe to change your earrings, but don’t even think about removing them completely. Otherwise the pierced hole will close up, requiring you to re-pierce it if you want to wear earrings again. It’s recommended to wear earrings for 6 months straight. It’s also advised to start with golden earrings, as cheap jewellery might cause irritation at the piercing point or even infect the not completely healed areas.
How to choose the right earrings
Earrings can completely change your image. With their help it’s possible to favourably emphasise your outfit, skin tone, or face shape. They also make you more noticeable and expressive. Earrings can make a woman look sexy or extravagant. This is why it’s important to choose and buy earrings carefully, following some of the tips below:
❥ Long dangling earrings visually prolong the face and neck. This type of earrings should be worn by women with round faces and shorter necks.
❥ Angular earrings will make flat facial features look more pointed and noticeable. Sharp lines of earrings tend to make facial features sharper.
❥ A very angular face can be softened by the use of round or oval earrings.
❥ Small neat round earrings will look the best with oblong faces.
❥ Square-faced ladies are best off wearing subtle prolonged earrings.
❥ Overly large earrings will attract too much attention to the facial shape, so they can be worn by women with smaller facial features. Larger earrings will make a woman seem even more expressive and bold. That being said, it’s important to remember that there is no need to wear an additional large jewellery piece (necklace, ring, etc. in this case), or it will seem too much.
❥ Younger women can confidently wear any jewellery: dangling earrings in eastern style, or earrings made with bright plastics; while for mature women it’s more appropriate to choose earrings made from a precious metal with gemstones.
