How to take out butterfly earrings for the first time

References

Writer Bio

Bailey Richert is a 2010 graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a dual bachelor's degree in environmental engineering and hydrogeology, as well as a master's degree in systems engineering. After several years in the environmental consulting industry, she is now attending MIT for graduate school. An accomplished traveler, she has visited 23 countries and published her first book about international travel in 2014.

Earrings have a pair of earring backs. These back pieces come in two different styles: clip and butterfly. Butterfly backs are the most common type; they’re used on most pierced ears.

Earring backs can be a vast topic of discussion, and they require vast knowledge to actually remove them. But we’ll get to that in a little bit. First, let’s go over the difference between the two types of backs.

Different Types Of Earring Backs

Butterfly Backs

Butterfly backs are designed with a tension bar that sits horizontally on your earlobe when inserted into your piercing. This design is intended to create a butterfly-shaped flap attached to the back that presses down onto your earlobe to create a seal.

The seal prevents the earring from falling out of your piercing. Butterfly backs are usually more comfortable than clip backs because they’re not digging into your skin.

Clip Backs

Clip backs are designed with two almost-straight arms that meet at an angle on your back piece. The design creates a spring effect when you insert it into your piercing. The arms snap together and “catch” onto your earlobe to create a seal against the back of your earring.

The clip style is less comfortable, but many people prefer them because they’re more secure.

There are almost as many different types of butterfly backs as there are ear piercings on the human ear. There are many different sizes, shapes, and styles. Some are round while others are square. Some have a gap down the middle while others don’t.

The size of your earring holes determines which butterfly backs will work for you. If your earlobes swell at all, you’ll need to use butterfly backs that can adjust to the size of your ear.

So you know what butterfly backs are, and you’ve got a few pairs in different sizes that might work for your piercing. How do you remove them?

How To Remove Butterfly Back Earrings?

Removing butterfly backs is more complicated than removing clip backs because there aren’t any straight lines or flat surfaces to help guide where the tension is applied to the earring.

Here are the easy to follow steps:

1. Using your index finger and thumb, hold the earring post.
2. Gently loosen the back by rotating it to the left side.
3. Remove the back of the post by unscrewing it.

Why Do Butterfly Back Earrings Get Stuck?

Butterfly back earrings get stuck because the metal used to make the post has a rough, porous finish. These areas can trap moisture and dirt which causes corrosion and rusting. When your butterfly backing gets rusty it sticks to your earlobe. 

How Do You Get A Rusty Earring Post Unstuck?

To get your earrings unstuck you will need to use a few household items. Grab rubbing alcohol and cotton balls. Dab some rubbing alcohol on the back of your earrings and let it soak for a minute or two. After allowing the alcohol to set on your earring for a few minutes, rub the post with a cotton ball.

Use Olive Oil

If your butterfly back earrings are still stuck take out the alcohol and grab some olive oil. Pour some olive oil on the post of your earrings and let it sit for several minutes. After allowing your earrings to soak in the oil try to remove them. The oil will act as a lubricant and loosen the earring backing.

Apply Some Vaseline

Other people also use vaseline or petroleum jelly to get their earring backs unstuck. Apply a small amount of the lubricant and try to twist off your earrings.

If none of these steps work you should visit your piercer and see if they can get the earrings out.

How To Wear Butterfly Back Earrings The Right Way

Butterfly back earrings provide a great way for you to wear your favorite studs and posts with ease. So, let’s look at how to wear butterfly back earrings the right way!

• Use cotton swabs dampened with rubbing alcohol to clean your earrings and the backs. You may also use petroleum jelly to lubricate the posts and back surfaces of the region that will come into contact with your earlobe.
• Slide the earring back into the post while gently pressing down on the front of the stud earring. Gently slide it all the way to the middle of the post until it appears to be sealed in.
• Once they’re in, clean your ears every day and don’t allow the earrings to rest in for too long.

Can A Stuck Butterfly Back Cause Infections?

While the convenience of wearing backs is great, it’s possible that your stuck butterfly earrings have caused you some discomfort or even given you an infection.

To prevent this from happening to you, keep these points in mind:

• Don’t sleep with them on.
• Make sure to clean your earlobes daily, especially if you are using them to support multiple piercings.
• If you are experiencing discomfort, redness or an infection take the earrings out immediately and see a doctor.

Do I Need My Piercer’s Help Removing A Stuck Earring?

If none of the steps above work or you are experiencing discomfort or an infection, you should visit your piercer for help.

They will be able to open the back, allowing you to take it out without causing further damage to your earlobe. Do not try to pry the earring off from its front or from the side. You never know what type of unseen damage that could cause and it would be best to leave it up to the professionals.

Final Thoughts

Butterfly back earrings are very simple and easy to wear. However, they can be a bit difficult to take off once you’ve put them on. But by using the tips shared in this blog post, you’ll be able to take off your earrings with butterfly backs in no time.

If possible, try to use an anti-tarnish piece of cloth or baggie when not using your earrings. This will ensure the longevity of the metal and will prevent it from tarnishing easily. Also try not to wear them very often if you know that the metal will be exposed to a lot of moisture (like when it’s raining).

If you take proper care of your earrings with butterfly backs, they should last for many years. And removing them won’t be as difficult.

Butterfly back earrings are by far the most common type of earring backs, especially for stud earrings.

While they work great, they tend to be challenging in some cases. If, for example, the earring back is pushed too far back, it can be challenging to remove it.

It can be equally challenging to remove the butterfly back if there is a build-up of old cells, dried-up blood, and dirt around the earring backs.

The earring back could also get stuck if it turned at the wrong angle.  In such cases, the butterfly back would be stuck, and you will struggle to remove them. But these challenges end here.

Reasons why butterfly earring backs get stuck:

• The backs are too right because you have a new pair of earrings on
• The body’s reaction to piercing and earrings, subsequent inflammation, tightening of the skin and swelling, all lead to the skin around the backing and the earring backings being held on too tightly. This should be addressed immediately to avoid further damage, especially because the back might rust.

In this article, we’ll share your tips on how to safely and effectively remove the butterfly back from the ear (earring post) after it’s stuck. So, let’s jump right into it!

How to remove butterfly back earrings

Understandably, you may have used a lot of energy to try to get the earring back out. But with none of that working and knowing that you wouldn’t want to inflict any additional damage to your ears, here are some of the things that you could do to remove your butterfly back earrings safely.

1. Patience, Friend

You need to understand that you cannot get the earring back out safely if you apply too much pressure. And you wouldn’t be able to pull it out unless you’ve pushed it in, very slightly.

You should not be rough or in a rush to remove the back or earrings because any kind of improper removal of the butterfly earring backs may cause harm to your ears.

Remember that your ears are very delicate, and they could be inflamed or even infected when the tissues are hurt. So, even with an annoying earring back stuck, you should not force it out.

There are things you could do to ensure that the earring back slides out safely and without causing any hurt to your earlobe.

Now that we’ve taken a breath wash your hands, preferably using anti-bacterial soap, then dry them using a clean hand towel.

2. Petroleum jelly or Vaseline

Good ol’ petroleum jelly could be exactly what you need to remove the butterfly back. First, you’d have to apply some petroleum jelly around the earring back, then try to give it a slight nudge. You could also try to rotate it just a bit, then let it sit or adjust to the new position. Then try to pull it out this time, and with a little more force, as long as you don’t feel pain.

If you feel pain or notice swelling around your piercing, it’s time for you to stop and let the piercing relax. You may have to put some ice on the ear and don’t disturb it for a few minutes.

If the pain or swelling doesn’t go down, or if you just can’t remove the back, seek professional help. Go to a professional piercer immediately because they will have the right set of tools and experience to help you out.

Bear in mind that as long as the earring back is not budging and you’re using as much force as you deem to be enough, then it means that the only thing left for you to do is to seek professional help.

3. Soften the hardened ‘cement.’

While the butterfly backs are naturally problematic, this design of earring backs is generally a terrible one, and many other people are struggling with what you’re also going through. But all hope is not lost.

• Since the butterfly’s back could be stuck because all the plasma discharged, blood and dead cells have solidified around the back, forming what appears like a natural cement around the clip; removing all the build-up gunk could be the remedy to get them back out. But you have to remove all that gunk carefully and without tools that may cause further damage. The only way to do that would be by softening the build-up first.
• Whether you do this at home or seek professional help, gunk removal will be possible through soaking up the solidified gunk, your ears, and earrings using some warm, salinated water.
• You need a quarter of a teaspoon of seas salt added to a cup of warm water. Mix this up, then soak each of the earrings in this warm salty water for about 5 minutes. You can use a cotton pad or the corner of a clean cloth to soak the earrings. And make sure the salinated water reaches between the earring post and back – in front and at the back.

4. Cotton Swab and clean water

You may not need the salinated water, just plain, clean water and cotton swabs/ balls. This is ideal when there isn’t too much dirt and gunk in there.

1. Dip the cotton swab in the clean water, then use it to wet and clean around the ear. You need to make sure that the back of the ear is moistened too. Keep checking for loose dirt as you gently wipe, repeating this step as necessary. When done, dry the ear using a new and clean cotton ball. You’d want to disinfect the piercing area. You will feel some itching or stinging. When done, on both sides, let the ear(s) dry.
2. Once it’s all clean and dry, try to take the earring off. To do this, hold onto the earring post, keeping it as straight and also stable as you can to ensure that the post doesn’t move about as you try to pull out the back gently. Using your other hand, trace the back’s longer surface, then grip it firmly and move it back and forth gently until it loosens. Your earring post has to be stable throughout.  Once the back starts to move, give it a gentle tug for it to slide off.
3. So as not to hurt your skin tissue or rip apart the piercing, you want to pinch both sides of the earring gently.
4. And if you feel any crust around the back, pause and clean the area using a cotton swab dipped in warm water.

Bear in mind that there could be blood and pus in the crust, and this will make things slippery and sticky – in other words, not the best place to be. And that’s not even the worst – there are cases where your skin grows over some part of the clasp. In such cases, you will experience a lot of pain and discomfort when trying to get the backs out. You should see a doctor in such cases.

How to wear butterfly back earrings safely

• First, disinfect your earring and the backs using cotton swabs soaked in rubbing alcohol. You could also apply Vaseline on the posts and the backs’ front surface of the area that will be in contact with your ear lobe.
• Put the earring on, then holding down the front of the stud earring, gently slide the earring back into the post. Slide it until it is halfway through the middle of the post, and it looks sealed in.
• Know that the back shouldn’t feel like a challenge when sliding it in
• Once in, clean your ears frequently, and don’t let the earrings sit in for too long.

Conclusion

Butterfly backs for earrings can be problematic. So, if you can avoid them, you should. But if this is not an option, you should follow the steps above to ensure the safe removal of the backs.

And if stuck, be gentle with your ears as you follow the simple steps above on how to remove your butterfly back earrings.

Read more useful tips here or here! 

Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.