Alternative Body Jewelry Choices for Stretched Earlobes

In the world of body jewelry, you'll be surprised that you have many options outside of the typical metal and acrylic materials. Most body jewelry suppliers, such at Hot Topic or Spencer's, will only carry metal or acrylic jewelry for your stretched earlobes. Don't think that you are limited to just those two options. Browsing the internet, there are many alternative jewelry choices you can make for your stretched earlobes. There are many options in the material used to make jewelry for your stretched earlobes, but these pieces may cost a little bit more. All of the jewelry is available online at various sites, can be found if you visit a tattoo convention, or sometimes your piercer may be able to order them from you. So if you're tired of the metal or acrylic plugs you have in your stretched earlobes, check out these other alternatives.

Glass
Glass jewelry for stretched lobes has been gaining popularity recently and is becoming easier to find at your favorite body jewelry supplier. But with the popularity of glass jewelry rising, there are some risks. You have to make sure that the glass jewelry is under the name of Pyrex, Kimax, or borosilicate glass. These are the only types of glass that body jewelry can be made out of that are considered safe to the human body. If you come across the names of Millicane or Dichoric when looking at colored glass body jewelry, these are names that refer to the colors in the glass jewelry should always be covered with a layer of Pyrex. Glass is a great alternative for stretched earlobes. The jewelry can come in many colors or in designs that you would not be able to get with just acrylic jewelry. And glass jewelry is non-toxic, which means your stretched lobes will be very happy. The only downside is that glass is heavy. So if your stretched earlobes are on the smaller side, glass jewelry will be a great alternative. The bigger the jewelry, the more likely there will be involuntarily stretching of your earlobe which can cause problems with healing and infection. Glass jewelry should also only be used on stretched earlobes and piercings that have been completely healed. You can find great glass body jewelry at liquid-glass.com.

Wood
Wood jewelry for stretched lobes is a great alternative for earlobes stretched to a larger size. Wood is very light, which can make even the largest stretched lobe feel comfortable, and it can come in various colors. To buy wood body jewelry, you should go to an organic jewelry supplier. The organic jewelry supplier will be more knowledgeable about wood jewelry and can make sure that you are not getting anything dyed or plucked for nature that will cause you to have a reaction. The only issues with wood body jewelry is that it cannot be worn for long periods of time (it can start to smell weird), it cannot be sterilized like metal jewelry can be, and it should not be worn while bathing or swimming. Wood jewelry should also not be used for new piercings or newly stretched ears. Wood body jewelry does require a bit more care than the other types. To clean you'll need to wash it lightly with anti-bacterial soap and dry immediately. Once a week the jewelry will need to be treated with jojoba oil to prevent cracking along with tea tree oil to keep the piece looking nice. If you'd like to find wood jewelry, this site has a great collection: http://www.woodbodyjewelry.com/.

Semi-Precious Rock and Stone
Some of the most beautiful and stunning body jewelry comes from semi-precious rocks and stones. A whole piece of jewelry for your stretched lobes can be carved out of onyx, jade, or practically any stone you choose. Of course, the prices for these pieces are going to run higher than any of the other materials and the jewelry can't be made to very large sizes. This jewelry is very heavy and can slip out of your ear unexpectedly, so body jewelry made from rock or stone should only be worn for special occasions. Especially since it breaks easier than the rest of the organic material. Like wood, rock and stone jewelry cannot be sterilized, but can be washed in anti-bacterial soap and water. You can find a beautiful collection of stone and rock jewelry at metalmafia.com.

Don't feel limited by your metal and acrylic body jewelry! There are many other jewelry options for your stretched lobes. There is jewelry made out of bone, ivory, amber... if you name it you can probably find it. Remember to purchase your jewelry from a trustworthy shop so you don't take home a piece of body jewelry that is potentially harmful and take good care of the jewelry.

Sources:
http://tattoo.about.com/od/piercingsgeneralinfo/a/bjmaterials_2.htm

http://tattoo.about.com/od/piercingsgeneralinfo/a/bjmaterials_3.htm