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So over the weekend we saw “Knight and Day” and, while the movie was enjoyable, what really caught our attention were the earrings worn by Cameron Diaz in every scene: small, simple gold hoop earrings. They seemed to go with everything she wore (from the bikini to the bridesmaid's dress to the blazers-and-jeans ensembles) and were nice and simple.
These, we hope, are about the right size — they should hug your earlobe. These are $21 at Amazon.com. Hoop Earrings- 14kt Gold Polished Small Endless
(If you're looking for a higher-end pair, check out this lovely pair from Bloomingdale's: Small Polished Hoop Earrings with Diamond Rondelle, 25 mm)
JP
I saw the movies too and noted the same thing! I wear small gold or silver hoop earrings every day so I’m probably a little biased.
AIMS
I have a similar pair in white gold w/tiny diamond accents on each & I practically live in them.
I find them much more comfortable than studs — just as classic but you can sleep in them & talk on the phone without the back of the post poking you — its lovely!
Shayna
Agree a/b the comfort, and I find I lose far less hoops than studs (knock wood!).
Make sure you get 14K or higher if you have sensitive skin to avoid irritation!
Anonymous
Me too! I loved her earrings! Unfortunately, my holes are pretty high on my lobes, and small hoops rarely look good.
AN
I may be the only one thinking that these are exactly what I wore as a kid throughout the school years from the time my ears were first pierced. There is no way I would wear them to work now.
That said, wider hoops with tiny diamonds do work well for the office/elsewhere.
I’ve also found that hoops don’t suit me (pixie haircut) but look great on long haired women. Anyone else feel that way?
Lynette
I have a close cropped ‘fro and I find that hoops are very flattering–but I do have to wear them somewhat larger than the earrings that Kat has featured.
Ang
Agreed, Lynette. I also have a pixie cut and find that larger hoops are the most flattering. Personally, I think more statement-making accessories take a short haircut from “old lady” to chic and stylish. Unfortunately, it is sometimes a fine line!
AC
I have a couple questions regarding manicures and pedicures:
1.) Do you think that manicured nails look more professional? (I am trying to decide if regular manicures are worth the financial investment.)
2.) If you get regular manicures and/or pedicures, how often do you get them?
3.) What is an appropriate tip?
-Thanks!
Anon
What industry are you in?
AC
Law. Mid-sized firm. I have some in-person contact with clients, but not on a daily basis.
Legally Brunette
Great question. I am not a fan of manicures but I got one last week and already my nails are chipping. Ugh. I think manicured nails look very nice but I can’t deal with the maintenance. I can’t think of anyone at my BigLaw firm who gets regular manicures, at least not that I have noticed.
I get pedicures about once every 2 months. Most people I know get them way more often, but I find that my toe nail color lasts a long time. I usually tip 15%.
AN
I keep my fingernails short and ensure hands are moisturised, so I get manis once a mth.
My feet are the worst, so I NEED bi-monthly pedis. I usually get all this done at lunchtime!
AN
Oh also, I never use nail polish except on toe nails. I find that buffing is best for fingernails (no top coat as that chips soon and is visible).
mille
I do the exact same thing. They will buff the nails to a high shine that lasts for weeks.
AbbyA
Me too. My husband hates nail polish and even clear polish causes damage to my nails. Buffing is great. Your hands simply look clean and neat, rather than “done up”.
I don’t wear open-toes shoes at work, so I get about three pedicures during the summer so my feet look OK on the week-ends.
Nancy
Think it might depend on the top coat. Got a manicure done last week and Essie’s clear nail polish (not sure if it’s top coat or clear) lasts great and gives that sheen that basically just looks like my nails have been buffed really really well, so even if the polish chips, it’s definitely NOT obvious. I’m going to have to go back to that place and check out exactly what they used on my nails! (Oh, and it’s lasting great on my toes too).
AIMS
I think short, neat, nails look more professional, generally.
I think lighter colors are easier to maintain & do tend to be more “professional” looking, though certainly many women look great with & can get away with brighter & bolder colors.
If you keep your nails short, you can probably get away w.o manicures with relatively basic upkeep on your own: get a nice hand& nail cream (vaseline makes a nice one), keep your nails neat & trim, and paint a clear nail polish on for extra polish (sorry for the pun).
If you can splurge on the manicures, I think it’s a nice treat. I personally get manicures twice a month or so, I find that’s when my cuticles and such need upkeep. Many people go once a week, and that’s probably better but frankly I don’t have time.
Tip wise, it depends. I do about 15-20% typically, depending on the place. If a manicure is $10, I will give 2-3 tip. But usually, I go to this one salon that does a $26 mani/pedi, in which case I leave 5-6$ depending on how happy I am with the result.
MidLevel
Second all of this. Having neat nails is more important than full manicures.
I’m a big fan of those pens that have cuticle oil in them (the Body Shop makes a great one) for use in a pinch–it’s amazing how much a little cuticle oil helps.
Shayna
Agree re: neat, short nails being more important than polished… if you do polish them stick to red, pink, or beige – no green, yellow, blue, etc. or crazy designs (honestly, I eschew designs entirely, both b/c of the cost – $5/finger – and b/c I think they look juvenile/low class… that could just be my area though – I’m in an affluent area of NJ).
Love getting pedicures though – unlike manicures which last a few days, my toes look good for weeks, it’s just fun :-) Probably two or three times during the summer. I usually tip about 10-15% depending on how it was.
Generally I go w/ Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s rule on color: ballet slipper pink fingernails, and classic red toes. Classic = professional generally.
My mother has been doing acrylic nails for years, which entails going to get them filled/re-done every couple weeks which is far more maintenance than I’m interested in. Also expensive — a full set every three mos. is about $40 – $50 (I think) and a fill every two weeks is $20.
Shayna
Side note – having small nailbeds and playing the piano it’s possible that I’m pre-disposed to short nails already!
em
Same here!
anon - chi
I think manicured nails can look professional if they are short, but it’s certainly not necessary – you can keep your hands looking just fine on your own. I know a number of female attorneys who wear polish all the time and get manicures every week or two, but they are certainly the minority. I would also stick to classic colors if you are the only woman (or one of the only women) in your firm who wears polish.
I don’t take my own advice though – I find that I wear more “out there” colors when my hours get worse or I’m really not enjoying what I’m working on. It’s my own small act of rebellion. :-)
Makeup Junkie
Ha! I have gradient purple polishes on my nails right now, and I worked all through the weekend and 12 hours today, you’re probably right about it being rebellion.
I do my own manicure and polish, and I don’t really care if anyone thinks my nail designs are low class or juvenile, I like them.
I get a pedicure at least once a month, I tip 25%. I can’t imagine working with someone’s feet is a nice job, and if I didn’t want to pay for it, I’d just do it myself.
E
I pedicure once a month (sometimes more frequently when I’m stressed — it’s an hour in a massage chair with a gossip mag!). I don’t show my toes at work so I always pick a color to fit my mood (currently wearing dark grape because I feel the need to be a bad mammajamma in my job). I tip 20%, always go to the same place and get extra foot massage.
I don’t do a manicure unless it’s a special occaision — I use my hands a ton and chip a nail within the first 24 hours almost always — which I think looks a lot worse than unmannicured nails. Always stick to very light neutral colors if I do polish them, so that if it chips it’s not glaringly obvious
Ex-3L Sarah
I second everyone here who goes with the nice, short nails. I play the piano and the bass, so I just always have short nails. But I’ve also noticed that if my nails grow, my typing slows down immensely, which is annoying. Sooo short nails for me at least until the Bar is done! :-)
Although I do recommend getting one of those manicure buffing blocks they have at pharmacies. You can buff your nails to a pretty high shine so that it looks like you’re wearing nail polish, but you’re not. I read somewhere that a lot of fashion industry workers (tailors, seamstresses) do this to their nails so they look nice but there’s no polish to chip during fashion shows.
Lynnet
I’ve been getting manicures semi-regularly for the past year, ever since I discovered that they are the only thing that keep me from biting my nails. I don’t love the expense, but at $13-15 it’s usually cheaper than a night out with friends. My only problem is that I love bright red/oranges and I’m pretty sure I’ll have to abandon them once I (hopefully) get a job. Mine don’t start chipping for at least a week, and I can usually get by for two weeks if the chipping isn’t really obvious. I enjoy getting them, but if it wasn’t the only solution to my nailbiting problem I wouldn’t do it nearly so regularly.
nonA
I’m generally an extremely conservative dresser, but in spite of (and perhaps because of) that, I will pull off funky nail colors at work.
I don’t do sparkles, jewels, stickers, patterns, etc. But I will rock a mint green or a lavender or a turquoise on occasion. If I am wearing a color like that, I keep my nails short and make sure the manicure is perfectly maintained. I get a lot of compliments from people about my nails, actually. I’m sure it also raises a few eyebrows but … oh well.
M in CA
I don’t like manicures — all the cuticle trimming and cutting generally results in my fingers and nailbeds looking “shredded” within days. If I must have painted nails, I’ll get a “polish change” which generally includes a file/trim, cleanup, and my choice of polish. It costs around $10 and looks much better than if I had done it on my own.
I was getting a polish change once a week for a while, and then found that it made my fingernails very, very week. Now I stick to keeping my nails short, and using some good lotion at night and a clear nail polish/strengthener 3x/week, and the polish change when it’s absolutely necessary.
I love pedicures though. I’ll usually get an extra foot massage. I tip 20%.
legalicious07
OMG! I thought I was the only one who doesn’t do well with the cuticle trimming. Every time I get a manicure, it looks nice for a day or two (though always with an obligatory smudge that I inevitably manage to get from not perfectly dry nails before leaving most salons). But what I hate even more than the little imperfection is the fact that after a few days, my cuticles are absolutely destroyed. I have all kinds of hangnails and little pieces of skin around the nailbed that looks awful, and sometimes even hurts a bit. The same is true whether I get my nails done at a fly-by-night Asian storefront (no offense) or a luxury day resort and day spa. I really like the look of manicured nails, but I can’t stand the “recovery period” I go through after I get them.
Lynette
You can always tell your manicurist not to cut/trim your cuticles. You may have to get firm with them, but they have to obey your wishes.
Interrobang
“Obey your wishes”? My, aren’t we the little colonizer.
AbbyA
I don’t think Lynette was out of line. In my experience, the manicurist always asks whether you prefer to have your cuticles cut or pushed back. The latter is safer.
MelD
On a related front, anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to strengthen my nails? I’ve tried plenty of heavy moisturizing creams for hands/feet and nails and still end up ripping off at least one nail a week while doing such taxing things as opening/closing a sliding door and I often get tears fairly deep into the nail bed. I’ve tried strengtheners in the past, but they haven’t worked either. Manicures only seem to make my nails weaker.
Just this week I’ve ripped off 3 nails and none of them look that reputable. There’s only so much I can do when the rips are at the nail bed.
Lucy
1st, look into your diet. up the calcium, maybe take some of the special vitamins targeting hair & nails.
2nd. the only strengthener than ever worked for me is that opti-something they sell at drug stores. it’s a clear matte bottle, with blue & orange writing on it. It’s about 15-20 $ but it’s worth it.
3rd. try to consider your other activities — e.g., wash dishes in gloves, etc. Don’t use overly drying soaps, etc.
4th. don’t give up — it’s a slow process!
SJ
Are you getting enough calcium? I never have enough in my diet so I take a supplement along with my multi-vitamin, and whenever I stop my nails start splitting/breaking.
Eponine
I have heard that putting nail polish or any sort of coating on your nails weakens them. Anecdotally, I never wear polish and I have very strong nails.
Ex-3L Sarah
Also, clip your nails, don’t file them down to make them shorter.
MelD
Thanks all for the advice. I think my diet is fine. I try to get enough calcium, protein, and other vitamins in each day and my hair is very healthy.
I think my main issue is that I have dry skin, primarily because the water in my area is very hard/irritating. I’ve switched soaps several times to find one that is not as drying on my hands and that has helped a bit. Now they are just slightly dry as opposed to cracked in places. Even when they are very short they will still crack near the edges because they are so brittle/flaky. I haven’t put any polish/strengthener on my nails for a good 18 months now.
I will look for that opti-something. Is it usually in the nail care area or elsewhere?
Emily
My nails did that until I was diagnosed with a thyroid issue that also caused severe dry skin (and brittle, thin hair, low energy, weight gain, and all sort of other annoying but not life threatening symptoms). It might not be a bad idea to ask for a thyroid test next time you have a physical; thyroid issues often go untreated because they manifest themselves in such small ways as weak fingernails.
Lucy
I actually checked my med cabinet. The strengthener is actually called NailTek (don’t know where I got opti-something). . . It is turquise & orange though, and it’s usually in that odd nail section of the drugstore where they sell all the brands that don’t have accompanying larger sections. They have different formulas — I use the one for dry, brittle nails; they also have one for peeling that might be better if yours do that.
With hard water — when I lived in hard water areas, I used special soaps & shampoos formulated for hard water. There’s a company called Lush cosmetics, they make a bar called “hard water shampoo” — it looks like soap, but is for your hair. I used it for everything — hair, hands, feet, you name it. I found my hair and skin definitely benefitted from it (much less drying). Trader Joe’s also sells a great moisturizing soap, it’s called Castille Peppermint something, and it’s really nice but not at all drying (or greasy). Other castille soaps are fantastic, too (they use coconut oil instead of beef tallow as the main ingredient; beef or other animal tallow is usually the main ingredient in reg soap like dove or ivory), but they tend to be expensive, while trader joe’s version is a great bargain.
Def. try Nail Tek though — just be patient, it took me about a month to see results.
Good luck!
MelD
Thanks for the great advice! I will keep a look out for those items, especially the NailTek.
@Emily- I think my thyroid is fine. I have a family history of Graves’ disease and get checked at every physical. Thus far my levels have been fine.
Clerky
MelD, try GNC Hair, Skin and Nails vitamins. I’ve been taking them for a few years now to try and strenghten my hair. Unfortunately they aren’t helping my hair, but they are helping my nails. My nails are now much stronger than they used to be.
Ru
My sister went vegetarian for about 2 years and noticed that her hair was in awful condition. Vitamins didn’t help her at all. She just didn’t have enough protein or fat in her diet. Once she slowly reintroduced chicken into her diet, her hair looked completely rejuvenated. Maybe reevaluating your diet might help you.
sk
Rejuvacote. Its amazing! My nails are so strong and never break. I use it every few days and an oil pen (Avon makes one) as often as necessary– usually once a day. This makes my nails look so healthy, and I do not have to worry about nail polish chipping. I do my own pedicures. I used to do bright fun colors, but have since learned that a neutral color elongates the leg– and I need all the help I can get in that department. Mani/pedis are cheap where I live (Long Island) but since I’m a runner, I destroy my pedicures pretty quickly.
That being said, when I have a wedding, a beach vacation or an interview I always get a mani/pedi.
CJ
I have incredibly weak nails and I manage to chip them after 15 minutes so no manicures for me… until I found Axxium by OPI. It’s a gel polish that lasts for about two weeks and adds enough strength to my nails to prevent chipping but looks totally natural (I hate acrylics and think they always look fake). It costs about $25 (normal manis in my area are about $10-15). You need to have the salon take them off but mine does not have any additional charge to take the gel polish off.
Ms B
I have kept my nails professionally maintained since I got married about ten years ago. I talk with my hands and make it a point to wear good jewelry, so I think my hands get noticed and I try to keep them in good shape.
For my fingers, I do acrylics, but I keep them in squared ovals at a short, natural length (about 1/8 inch from my fingertip); most people do not even realize that I have acrylics. I get a fill once every two to three weeks ($16 per, plus extra for any major nail repairs) and a full set only about twice a year or so ($30). I find that with the acrylics the color lasts pretty much the whole time between appointments with proper color choice and maintenance. If I really love a color, I buy a bottle on sale at Ulta or similar for occasional touch-ups. I usually put a layer of clear topcoat on about 7-10 days in to brighten and smooth the finish. For me, keeping my nails nice means rubber gloves every time I do the dishes or clean and gardening gloves whenever I work outside all year around.
Manis with paler and light metallic colors last longer than dark colors and the growth takes longer to show. Right now, I am wearing a very pale pink that matches my skin tone, but I wear pale silvers and lilacs, pale to medium rose colors (I love OPI A-rose at Dawn, Broke by Noon), and a blued red in the winter (OPI Bogota Blackberry or China Glaze Heart of Africa). I think that colors only become problematic when they are too dark, too frosted, or too unconventional (black, blue, green, orange, etc.).
From about Easter until Halloween (sandal season where I am) I get pedis at the same time as my fills. During the winter, I get a pedi only every four to six weeks, unless I have a function to go to. I tend to go a little wild with the pedi colors because I rarely wear sandals or peep-toes in the office. Lately I have been wearing dark purple (OPI Lincoln Park After Midnight), which turns out to be surprisingly versatile. I also love doing bright metallics (silver, gold, bronze) or colors that work with my party shoes.
I tip between ten and twenty percent, depending upon the quality of the service I get provided. If my regular tech does my nails, I tip more. I also usually bring a cookie tray or something similar to my nail salon around the holidays, but I have been going to the same place for over ten years now and I consider the owner, her family, and some of the staff to be friends (and potential clients)!
And yes, I know that nail maintenance takes up a lot of time, but I view spending one to two hours every two to three weeks as a worthwhile investment in me. Nothing like a big cold drink, a good magazine (my nail salon has Elle, Vogue, Harper’s and Vanity Fair) and a nice pedi in the massaging chair to put me in a good mood!
Delta Sierra
I don’t get manicures because I do a really good job myself. Never nail polish, since I garden and do my own housework, it chips before nightfall and drives me nuts. Shortish square-ish ovals. Too long, and they’re tiresome for all day on the keyboard. I buff them, and love the shine.
A pedicure once in a while, with, again, my own maintenance in between. Keep the calluses down, cuticles pushed back. Wild colours for polish. Pedicures bother me a bit, this woman has to hunker down and clean up my feet? Doesn’t sit well.
Susie
I know what you mean, but, the person giving pedicures is making more money than the people who are in the fields picking our fruits and veggies. Just because we don’t see that hard, low-paid labor, doesn’t mean we all don’t benefit from it.
Eponine
Nail salons tend to be women and immigrant owned and run. It’s a profitable field for women who would otherwise probably make minimum wage. So from that perspective, you shouldn’t feel bad about paying someone to clean up your feet.
Sarah J.
I got the ped-egg (yes, it’s one of those “as seen on tv” things, I think) at CVS, and it is wonderful! I rarely get pedicures, but the ped-egg gets rid of calluses just as well as going to a professional– and I am saying this as someone who has major calluses and has tried everything including foot scrubs, pumice stones etc., with bad results. I swear I am not a ped-egg saleswoman, but really, it is great. It works best right out of the shower.
I also have really ticklish feet, so the ped-egg helps me replace a service that I find less than appealing (based on the tickling, not a moral qualm). Of course, it sounds like a lot of people get pedicures so they can have a pleasant relaxing time by themselves…
Eponine
I don’t have a ped-egg brand thing, but I have a regular metal file and I agree that you absolutely need a metal file in addition to a regular pumice to tackle the worst calluses. I got mine at CVS too for like $10. It’s the same as the ped-egg except oblong with a handle.
Lynette
I’ll get a professional mani/pedi about three times a year. I really prefer to do my own–besides my feet are horribly ticklish and I can barely make it through getting my feet buffed. I usually tip 20% because I’m sure it is a pain for my pedicurist to deal with my squirming and giggling while she’s working on my feet.
I keep my nails no longer than fingertip length. Since I am a polish nut, I change colors about twice a week–we won’t talk about my nail polish stash. I do a pedicure and a full mani ( soak, buff nails, push back cuticles and apply oil) about every two weeks. I am able to get away with blues, greys, olive greens. I just save the neon colors for my pedis.
Eponine
1. Manicures no, so long as you keep your nails looking generally neat. Pedicures yes if you wear shoes that show your toes or heels.
2. Pedicures every 4-6 weeks, because I get serious calluses – I’m pretty active and my feet take a lot of abuse from running, hiking, walking everywhere, etc. In the summer I usually get a polish change every 2-3 weeks in between pedicures.
3. I tip $5-10 for a $30 pedicure, depending on how bad a condition my feet were in and how good the technician was.
anon-ny
I also noted the earrings because I’m still mourning the loss of my favorite gold hoops. I dropped the pair in my apartment months ago and they instantly vanished. Then I moved and they never turned up. I like the Amazon ones linked here but what I loved about my former pair is that the way they fastened it became a continuous hoop so there wasn’t anything poking out. I could wear them for days and weeks at a time without irritation and they did go with everything.
jcb
A woman I know, mid-thirties, unmarried/no kids, senior associate, just gave notice at her very lucrative biglaw job and is planning on traveling the world and living abroad for a while.
Am so very jealous.
Juno
Brava to her, living the dream. I wish I had the courage and the money to do this. But my house, my husband, and my dogs keep me slaving away in Texas :)
Shayna
I’m a single woman, no kids, and I’m envious too — I wish I had the personality trait (guts? wanderlust?) to do that…
jcb
Same here!
Lynette
If you are single and you have the time and money to do it, just take a deep breath and go!! I’m always packing my bags to go on last minute, far flung trips.
Shayna
The thing about being single – for me – is that I’m the only one who is (most of my friends are either married or in long term relationships)… and having gone through Paris and London by myself, I have to say – it’s sort of depressing to get to somewhere amazing and want to turn to someone and say “Wow, I can’t believe I’m standing on top of the Eiffel Tower/in front of the Mona Lisa/etc.” and have no one with you to share the fun… So I keep asking, and hopefully someone will want to do a girls’ trip one of these days…
SRS
I know what you mean. I am a fairly self-contained person and for the most part am happy to have adventures on my own, but every so often I want to be able to share whatever amazing experiance I am having. Friend, romantic partner, whatever, there are times when being with someone makes the moment more real, more profound than experiencing the same event on my own.
That said, I’ve enjoyed every trip I’ve ever taken by myself and would rather go by myself than not go at all.
MelD
That’s a great attitude. I think traveling alone can be so rewarding and is a fun indulgence. It’s nice to be able to see what you want when you want. It can be so hard to find someone with the same travel style that sometimes I just don’t want to be bothered.
KelliJ
I give her so much credit for living her life on her terms. It’s so rare today. Good friends of ours just announced over the weekend that they’re going to live/work in Australia for 2 or 3 years. (Husband’s going to be working in the Sydney office of his company.) I cried, not because I’d miss them, but because I was SO jealous. It was always a dream of mine to do something like that. I wish I was brave enough to do great things when I had the chance, but it just wasn’t in my nature. Now I have new adventures as a wife and mom. I love my husband and daughter and wouldn’t trade them for anything in this world but sometimes I still dream about a different kind of adventure.
Eponine
You could consider some international pro bono work. The American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative has a lot of all-expenses-paid opportunities.
Erin
Sigh. This is the kind of opportunity that someone like me will never be able to do…thanks to 25% salary cuts, three years of freezes, and looming layoffs.
My loans won’t be paid off in triple the time I planned:(
former assistante
and this is why i am SO GLAD i took a year off after i graduated to teach english in france.
not only did it validate my french degree but it gave me time to explore and travel and do random things (like paraglide off the alps, chaperone 30 french kids on a trip to england, go to fabulous dinner parties, sleep on a park bench in nice, date germans, brits, frenchies, moroccans…) but also, if i never get to do another random thing in my life like that, at least i’ve done it once.
plus, working just 12 hours a week meant plenty of time to study for the lsat, too :)
if there are any younger readers out there, just finishing up undergrad, look into taking a year to teach somewhere. it is an AMAZING experience. also, knowing that i can operate a copy machine in 3 languages is empowering.
CJ
So funny you say that. I’m toying with selling my house, quitting my job and taking 6 months to hike the AT with my bf. Just need to grow a set to do it. Feeling like now (age 31) is the time to do it before I need to settle down. Have a great job, that I can’t stand and been second-guessing the profession since the day I graduated. Reading this confirms my thoughts that it’s time to put my life before my career.
Lawgirl
These look like the hoops you put on babies. So small, you hardly notice them. Not sure how they can be “cute” — imho, they’re just “THERE.”
AN
This.
Interrobang
“You” may put hoops on babies, but one should not.
Sharon
Ew to earrings on babies!
Shayna
Not sure what age range you call ‘baby’ but, my mom had both my ears and my sisters’ ears pierced at two… smart decision b/c she could make sure they were clean/no infections, and we weren’t old enough to pull the earrings out – so many of my friends had their ears pierced when we were between 10 and 13 and had the holes close up b/c they took the earrings out, or didn’t keep the piercings clean, leading to re-piercing, infections, etc…
Kaye
My ears were pierced at 5 months old. I’m so grateful to my mum for doing that – I never had to deal with getting the piercing later :)
CJ
Mine too! My mom had my pediatrician pierce my ears when I was about 5 months–wouldn’t have it any other way.
C
I disagree with having your small child’s (baby/toddler) ears pierced because they really have no say in the matter. Plus, there’s so few “innocent” things you can look forward to to feel “grown up” — wearing black (maybe that one is dated now), a bikini, high heels, pierced ears… why rob one? :)
Have your piercings stayed in a nice position on your earlobe? A few of my friends had theirs pierced very young, and while the hole was in the middle of their earlobe then, it’s off now and they wish their parents would have waited / made them wait.
10-13 is definitely the “normal” piercing range, but Shayna, I think your experience with friends’ infections and the like must be out of proportion… none of my friends had these issues (who would want their holes to close up after begging so long?). It was also the norm to be taken to your pediatrician, though, so that might cut down on the infection rate as opposed to a group trip to Claire’s.
MelD
I was the last in my peer group to get pierced (at 12) and I don’t remember any of my classmates having troubles with infections. I had a lot of problems with low quality posts, but I later realized I have a metal allergy and need 18k gold or higher in order not to experience irritation. The only earrings I was able to wear in recent past were like the ones featured here, but I was just too bored with them to be bothered after I lost one of the pair.
Shayna
Piercings are just fine. I got the second hole when I was 12 (no infection…. perhaps my friends failed to listen to their doctors? that was the big thing, by the way, going to the pediatrician, not the mall) – it was a big deal – and I LOVED having my ears pierced as a little girl – one of my first memories is my mom letting me wear a pair of her earrings and feeling so thrilled. There are lots of firsts as you said… and if I had remembered how much having my ears pierced hurt I never would have had the nerve to do the second hole. That’s the other reason why my mom did it – she had hers done at 12, so she had to seriously work up the nerve to get a second hole in each ear when she was in her 20s.
divaliscious11
Mine were pierced around age 6, my grandmother did it, and threaded a piece of string through the hole. saturated with alcohol and pulled through. I guess its cultural, if, in this regard, plain ‘ole black girl is a culture. Pierced my daughter’s at 6 months. Quite pleased with the decision. All the girl babies in our family get their ears pierced as infants. They even get gold bangles from the Caribbean… good thing they don’t have to be ‘professional’ – lol!
AN
It’s cultural so what may be “eww” to you is the norm for someone else & vice versa. (For instance, 13 yr olds going on dates = eww for me but normal for others!!)
I’m Indian and every little girl I know had pierced ears by the time they’re in playschool! Never ever heard any infection complaints etc(?)
AN
I think infections are more common if you use hoops/posts that aren’t pure gold.
Shayna
Also if you fail to keep the piercings clean (or just keep touching them w/ hands that have been everywhere)
Lynette
Diva, my experience as ” a plain ole black girl” is pretty similar to yours. My mom was a nurse and she asked my younger sister and I if we wanted to have our ears pierced. She brought home some surgical needles and thread the next night and “voila”, we had pierced ears. I was eight and my sis was four.
I remember a lot of her native African co-workers coming by with their young babies to have their ears pierced as well. So I think that babies and pierced ears are pretty much a cultural thing.
AIMS
I’m with you, Sharon — not a fan of jewelry on kiddies in general. Only thing worse than earrings is necklaces or bracelets (oh, how sad to see a chubby wrist strained by a tacky bracelet! and, of course, chains can actually choke, so that’s a more than just aesthetic concern!)
As an aside, my own ears were pierced at 10, with a pair of family gold earings (from great-grandmama — tiny, lovely hoops!) that I knew not to take out for 30 days. No infections and no need to re-pierce! Just need some common sense & a realistic parent.
stc
Got my ears pierced at 9. Was supposed to wait until 13, but was mistaken for a boy (short hair) one too many times & my parents caved…
Anon
I got mine pierced at 10. I don’t think I’d let my daughter get hers done any younger than that. Then again, I’m also anti-bikinis on toddlers, thongs for middle schoolers, mom-and-kindergardener pedicures. I was definitely a girly-girl (when I wasn’t being a tomboy) but I’m skeeved by all of the grown-up clothes/accessories for little kids.
anon
plain gold studs =/= thongs on a middle schooler.
delurking
That is a ridiculous and culturally offensive comparison.
Clerky
This.
Legally Brunette
It might be a cultural thing as well. I’m Indian and all babies (including boys, mind you) get their ears pierced around 1-2 years old. The boys’ holes are allowed to close, and girls keep their small stud gold earrings. I also notice that a lot of Latina girls get their ears pierced as babies/toddlers.
Personally, I love earrings on little kids and am very happy that my mom pierced mine when I was little.
KelliJ
I agree on the cultural thing. I married into an Italian family and everyone just expected me to get my little girl’s ears pierced. I got mine done at 13. I’ll probably get hers done around 10.
KZ
when I was little, I begged and begged my parents to let me get my ears pierced and they wouldn’t let me. By the time I was finally old enough (12 or 13, maybe?), I had chickened out (I’m a wuss when it comes to pain). I didn’t end up getting them pierced until my senior year of high school so I could wear earrings to prom. And it hurt as much as I thought it would. I was super paranoid about cleaning them/not taking them out because there was no way I was doing that again.
K
I don’t have my ears pierced, and neither do my mom or sister. It is much easier – one less thing to worry about when getting ready!!! :)
lawDJ
You must not know many/any Mexicans, Dominicans, Cubans, or many other Caribbeans (if not most of South Americans and Spain as well). I had my ears pierce before I left the hospital, and so did most girls. It’s a cultural thing, distinguishes the boys from the girls. My mom saved my very first set of gold earrings as well as everything else from the hospital (first outfit, hospital wrist band, etc.).
LLM in BsAs
I got my ears pierced when I was 13, after much insistence on my part. My daughter got hers pierced before leaving the hospital when she was born! It’s definitely a cultural thing… I live in Buenos Aires and it is pretty much the norm.
mille
I wasn’t pierced until I was 12. My sister bought an ear piercing gun and did it for me. It turned out fine– no infections. I got a second and third piercing, had a huge earring collection, and then just stopped wearing earrings after high school. All three of my holes in each ear are still open after 15 years of not wearing earrings, and I wish they would close up.
I also, for a long time, had a tongue piercing, which I had to take out when I got braces in law school. I miss that one, but no way in heck will I ever have the bravery or stupidity to do that again.
K
I begged my mom starting in Kindergarten but she made me wait until I was 7. I wasn’t the last of my friends to get their ears pierced but it was certainly par for the course by the time I did it. I started begging for a second hole when I hit middle school but had to wait for my 13th birthday. When I was in college my youngest sister (15) started begging for a cartilage piercing and my mom told her that if I took her and got mine done too, then she could get one. She wore me down ALL summer until I finally agreed. Went back to college and found out she took hers out two weeks later when field hockey started. Now I just wear earrings in the original ones but the other holes are still open if I really wanted to rebel at work.
Eponine
I’m not a fan of ear piercing on young girls or babies because it’s essentially gender norming – a lot of parents do it to make sure the girl won’t be mistaken for a boy. I think it’s better to wait until your daughter can decide for herself if she wants girly earrings or not. Some girls don’t want feminine, girly things. But I find it about as offensive as decorating the nursery in pink – not what I want for my kids, but not a huge deal either. If it’s the cultural norm to pierce a baby’s ears and it’s what the parents want, it’s none of my business.
I have a friend whose husband is from another country and, despite being a liberal feminist type who did not want to impose feminine norms on her daughter, gave in and got her ears pierced as an infant because his family insisted that the baby had a “man head” and needed earrings. Both her and I can’t understand why on earth anyone cares if people mistake a baby girl for a boy, but whatever. In her case it was easier not to fight with her mother in law on this one.
Elle
I like the idea of the small gold hoops, but I’d advice care and caution with diamond-embellished ones. The Bloomingdale’s ones look fine, but I once read somewhere that any diamond aside from an engagement ring should be reserved for evening. I know that’s SUPER conservative, but I wanted to throw it out there. There’s a line between lovely/tasteful and bling – just make sure to stay on the business side of it.
(I’m the 50ish partner, talking, btw.)
Lynette
Huh? I’ve never heard of such a rule banishing diamonds outside of an engagement ring. I’m not married and I regularly wear the diamond jewelry that I inherited from my mother and father. I always thought it would be silly to have the pieces sitting in a bank vault.
Legally Brunette
Never heard of that either. Super bling is not appropriate, but classy diamond jewelery is perfectly fine in the workplace.
divaliscious11
Oh dear…where did you get that one? I wear diamond studs daily, along with my engagement ring and my wedding band has diamonds in it as well. One of my watches has diamonds as well. I’ve never heard that one, and would ignore it if I did anyway….lol.
Lynette
Oh wait. I am in my home office and remembered that I have a copy of the book, “A Guide to Elegance” by Genevieve Dariaux. I pulled it out and found–” A diamond ring is the only form of diamond jewelry that can be correctly worn before lunchtime, since often the only ring a woman possesess are her diamond engagement ring….”
The first printing of this book was in 1963. Times have changed greatly since then.
LawyerChk
Hmm, diamond studs are the standard-issue earrings in my biglaw office. Don’t think they look inappropriate at all. I wouldn’t wear a tennis bracelet, mind you, but I think studs look nice.
Louise
I wear similarly-sized sterling silver hoops every day. I haven’t taken them out for almost 15 years, except to switch in bigger, fancier earring when I wear formal clothing for an evening (usually on a cruise ship).
I rode a motorcycle for years, and now ride a scooter. I always wear a helmet. I forgot I was wearing post earrings one time, early on in my riding career, and plopped the helmet on my head. A full-face helmet goes ON easily over earrings. But getting it OFF was an extremely painful and rather bloody process. Once was enough to convince me to switch to closed hoops.
Silver looks better with my coloring, so I never wear gold jewelry. My wedding band is white gold. The small silver hoops have become part of my look, and I’m quite happy with that. I use necklaces, pins and bracelets to change things up, but the hoops sit comfortably in place all day, every day.
myohmy
This is so bad. I’m trying to save money but Nordstrom put the dress that I have been in love with since February (seriously) and couldn’t bring myself to shell out the cash for on 1/2 off sale in ONLY my size. So I bought it. So bad.
Still. Hopefully it fits and it’s cute!
mille
I always take that to be “a sign”. Only in your size, the one you’ve wanted for months, half off. Chances are spending that money on that dress will make you happy.
A-n0n-lawyer
I concur. This has happened to me two times, and they’ve ended up being two of my favorite pieces.
Enjoy it!
surrounded by lawyers
I agree: it was definitely meant to be. The real regret would have been if you hadn’t bought it.
Lawgirl
Wow, absolutely NO idea that earrings on babies would cause a kerfuffle. As another plain “ol black girl from the South, I had my ears pierced as a baby with tiny hoops. Everyone I knew did. I now know that my world isn’t everyone’s world ;-)
Clerky
Got my ears pierced when I was a baby too and everyone else in my family did as well. :)
Anonymous
Wouldn’t be caught dead without a manicure (light pink, very short) and pedicure (red, and I do wear peep-toes in the office). Barielle nail strengthening cream is the bomb.
Have three daughters; would never pierce their ears without their permission (begging, to be exact – oldest one had ears pierced at 10) but I understand that there are cultural differences.
I am wearing fake diamond studs as we speak . . . . shhh, don’t tell!
Elle Woods
This is probably a culture thing, but as a Londoner I would associate gold hoops with someone slightly trailer trash-y. I haven’t seen said movie, I think I probably should to get the idea as I’m sure they can be super cute on the right person!
Joy
Those hoops mentioned above in Amazon.com are out of stock with an indication that they have no idea if they will get any more.