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Original poster

To think that most women have pierced ears?

239 replies

Sweetiedarling7 · 14/01/2026 08:22

In my teenage years (70/80s) my father refused to let me have my ears pierced. He was a very judgemental unpleasant man and it was deemed “common”.

I never did end up getting mine done even after I left home because I went into nursing and the client group I worked with (people with extreme challenging behaviour) made wearing earrings inadvisable.

It seems to me that pretty much every woman has pierced ears now and many girls have them done at quite young ages.

Is there anybody left like me who doesn’t have pierced ears?

OP posts:
BluebelltheTulip · 14/01/2026 20:50

I don't have my ears pierced either. I Wasn't allowed until I turned 16 by which time I'd lost interest. I'm 57.

FellowSuffereroftheAbsurd · 14/01/2026 20:49

My mother convinced me to have it done at 10, I stopped wearing them at 15, they closed up, never worn or had a desire since (early 40s).

My adult DD has never shown me any interest.

I really don't know if most the women I know do or don't have them pierced.

Femalemachinest · 14/01/2026 20:38

I have 9 ear piercings and my nose. I want to add more this year when my last 2 have healed a bit more. Think I had done twice when I was younger, had to take them out and they healed. Think I got them redone as a teenager. Some early 20s. 3 last year at 33.

My grandparents think I'm weird for having them. But they are against piercings and tattoos

Julimia · 14/01/2026 20:33

I don't. Never really wanted them doing although I love earrings and all the lovely ones seem to be for pierced ears.

Newname71 · 14/01/2026 20:29

My sister doesn’t. I on the other hand have 5 in one ear and 3 and an industrial in the other.

pennepicanto · 14/01/2026 20:25

I don't, I'm 33. I watched my younger sister get hers done and it traumatised me haha. My 6yo has started asking for hers done so I've said that's upto DH, she can get them but I don't want to be there.

ThatFlakyGuide · 14/01/2026 20:16

Toastythesnowman · 14/01/2026 09:17

I do but don't think I've worn earrings in 15 years.

Do keep thinking about getting a helix piercing but think I'm too much of a coward now!

I had a helix piecing done about 28 years ago - Robbie williams had one and I loved it! It just like hell to sleep on for months and
months!! After all that I only ever wear a stud in it! I have pieced lobes too.

Mrstawnyowl · 14/01/2026 19:53

My mum had her ears accidentally pierced. It was most unconventional. She bought some earrings with magnets so that the back attached to the front via a magnet. She left them in for over a week and then took them out, only to find big holes in her lobes. She wore normal earrings from then onwards.

Pinkroom · 14/01/2026 19:45

I honestly cant think of a single female friend or family member or colleague that doesn't have pierced ears.. my mum doesnt really wear earings but she does have them pierced. My nan wears earrings everyday.

whistlesandbells · 14/01/2026 19:41

I don’t and would never consider clip ons. Personally dislike it for me.

TheChosenTwo · 14/01/2026 19:00

My mum had mine pierced when I was a little baby, i don’t wear earrings now, hate the feeling of wearing jewellery. I do own some very beautiful jewellery and will put it on for any special occasion just because it jazzes me up a bit and I have to force the hole in my ears sometimes! Never had any problems though with infection etc. probably wear them about 5 times a year.

UnctuousUnicorns · 14/01/2026 18:57

55, no piercings anywhere, never wanted them.

Newsenmum · 14/01/2026 18:56

My gran was like you then decided to get them done later in life. It’s never too late! I actually have a few friends without pierced ears but I do find it unusual for my age group.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 14/01/2026 18:54

DrCoconut · 14/01/2026 18:12

Similar here but I wear gold studs all the time (except when i have special occasion earrings in). It was just normal for us, all the women and girls in our family have had earrings for years, going right back to the Victorian era.

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Same. I have absolutely no issues with it myself but people who are anti seem to have quite strong views

Oneborneverydecade · 14/01/2026 18:44

tfu · 14/01/2026 08:33

I had mine pierced at 11 and one of the piercings got infected. I tried to wear earrings but it just hurt my ears every time with a horrible reaction so I let them close up. So I did have pierced ears for around six months or so. Now I’m 50 I’ve benn thinking about doing them again but clips on are fine for the odd occasion I want to wear earrings!

This is me except I had mine pierced again in April 25 aged 47. My DD was having hers done and thought why not

Kayla83 · 14/01/2026 18:42

I don't. My Mom told me if I wanted my ears pierced to wait until I was older. I lost interest and never had them done.

EdinaTheConfessor · 14/01/2026 18:35

I am an 80s child and everyone I know has their ears pierced. My mum had mine done when I was 4. I had a second and third pair pierced in my teens.

BertieWoostersChaps · 14/01/2026 18:32

I find it funny that some people's parents thought it was "common". The late Queen and all the royal family ladies have all seemed to have had pierced ears for decades now!

DrCoconut · 14/01/2026 18:12

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 14/01/2026 08:46

Mine were pierced at 3 and don't close up no matter how long I go without earrings. I used to wear them all the time but these days I often go without for months.

Similar here but I wear gold studs all the time (except when i have special occasion earrings in). It was just normal for us, all the women and girls in our family have had earrings for years, going right back to the Victorian era.

Bitzee · 14/01/2026 18:08

Sweetiedarling7 · 14/01/2026 17:44

I believe the late Queen wore clip on earrings and I read that Camilla doesn’t have pierced ears. Kate does though.

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She had them pierced age 25 before her coronation.

StarlightLady · 14/01/2026 17:52

Sweetiedarling7 · 14/01/2026 17:44

I believe the late Queen wore clip on earrings and I read that Camilla doesn’t have pierced ears. Kate does though.

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The late queen must have lost a lot of earrings in her time wearing clip ons.

Original poster
Sweetiedarling7 · 14/01/2026 17:44

AntiqueVases · 14/01/2026 14:48

Why were so many parents saying it’s “common”? Did they not notice that the queen had them?
multiple piercings is different.

I believe the late Queen wore clip on earrings and I read that Camilla doesn’t have pierced ears. Kate does though.

OP posts:
Sunshineandgrapefruit · 14/01/2026 17:34

My parents made me wait until I was 17 so I could make an I formed choice and wouldn't 'regret' it. I got my 3rd piercings age 47 and have had 2 for most of my adult life.

TheWonderhorse · 14/01/2026 17:17

I got mine done as a child but they got infected and I took them out, I've never done them again and it doesn't bother me. I'm 44.

Both my girls have had theirs done, but because they chose to and I made them wait to be sure (age 9/10), I never made it a weird rite of passage like some parents do. I did insist they were done at a proper piercing studio not a Claire's mind you. I figured if they were going to get it done, it's good that it's young enough that they had to accept my conditions and do it properly.

Tiredofwhataboutery · 14/01/2026 17:16

Mines are pierced but only because I took myself off to a local jeweller who did the equivalent of Claire’s piercing when I was 14. My mum was horrified ( she’s never had hers pierced) and was quite concerned I’d contract hepatitis. I’d think the majority of women have pierced ears but there will be a proportion who don’t or who have let them heal up.