Piercing ears - newbie over 40

[Desperado40]

Can someone please advise... I have been toying with the idea of piercing my ears. I am over 40 and not sure if this is a good idea? No women in my close family have pierced ears, so I have nobody to ask the newbie questions...ok, maybe girlfriends but these seem silly questions to ask!
Do you need to take your earrings off at night? Can you swim in them? Do you just wear them day and night until you feel like you need to change the style?
Had anyone pierced their ears midlife and regretted it (or not). Stories welcome!

I wear my earrings 24/7 though some people prefer not to sleep with them in.

You'll need to keep them in 24/7 for a good three months while they heal.

Yes, you can swim in them.

If you go ahead, make sure you go to a professional piercer who uses a needle! It's much safer and much more hygienic.

You can't take the earrings out until they have healed. I wear studs in my 2nd holes which I hardly ever change. I wear dangly ones in the bottom holes which I take out at bedtime/swimming.

Go somewhere that pierces with a needle not a gun.

My mum had hers pierced in middle age. I don’t think you’d regret it and you can always just take them out and the holes will close up. Go for it.

Yes yes to needles. Much more hygienic. Didn't realise anyone still used guns these days. In fact, you should go to a piercing parlour as they are always the best (they love piercings, after all). Don't be nervous, they are always very happy to help people and they're not going to try to pressure you into anything you don't want. They just love piercings so they'll make sure it all goes well.

I only wear large earrings so I don't sleep or swim in them, but you can if you wear studs. Yes, they need to stay in all the time at first while they heal.

Personally I love my pierced ears. I love wearing earrings and have a few very distinctive and quirky sets. They make a huge difference to outfits and overall look, and some are very flattering against my face.

Agree with having needle piercing rather than gun: far more accurate way of getting the hole in exactly the right position on the lobe. I had mine done at a jeweller's with gold sleepers (small hinged hoops) when I was 12 so not quite the same as you ;-) but have never regretted it.
After the healing period (I think it was six weeks, during which the ears had to be bathed and the hoops turned daily), you can wear whichever ones you like. I take them out at night and, yes, you can wear them while swimming or anything else, as long as the earring isn't likely to catch on anything.

I took my DD (9) to a piercing parlour for hers. Excellent experience, she didn't even flinch. We got her studs that have a flat back and a post that slides into the jewelled side. Hard to describe, but if you think of a teeny tiny paper towel tube going over a teeny tiny paper towel holder, that's kind of how her studs fit together. The nice bit is she can wear them 24/7, whereas butterfly back stud earrings would hurt to sleep with.

DD's aftercare advice was super simple. Wash hair and blow dry every day. She was back in the pool after about 4 weeks. You might be advised to use a saline solution, being older, but a good piercing shop will keep you right. The best piercing shops have repeat customers and good word of mouth.

Oh do it OP once healed you can wear them, not wear them, wear them swimming, swop them whenever you want. Treat yourself to a nice pair for when they are healed

Google your nearest association of professional piercers studio and they will look after you

www.ukapp.org.uk

I have around 20 ear piercings and the majority stay in permanently, the only ones I change are my first lobes. You need to keep them in permanently while healing though.

You won't be able to swim until they are healed. Keep them clean, keep them dry and leave them alone - no turning them!!

Thank you so much @coffeecupsandwaxmelts , @MillicentTrilbyHiggins , @ReneBumsWombats ,@TreesAtSea ,@quietnightmare ,@iCouldSleepForAYear ,@notmaryberry .
Sounds like I should take the plunge and go for it! Now off to do some research on the earrings I might like... 😆 Great advice about using the piercing parlour with a needle, thanks everyone. Links to jewellery stores with a good selection also welcome. Probably small and dainty to start with but I do like a bit of quirk in my life.