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Picture this: You’re settling down for a good night’s sleep. You lay your head down, close your eyes…and then that fancy jewelry pokes you in the neck. If you've got an ear full of piercings, you’ve probably struggled with finding the right kind to sleep in. Removing your jewelry may not be an option, due to it being a fresh piercing, or simply because you don’t want your holes to shrink. But what’s most comfortable? What will stay in overnight?
Good old silicone is a great option because it is lightweight, soft, and flexible, making it super comfortable and easy to wear while sleeping. It comes in everything from small retainers, to plugs and eyelets for your stretched lobes. The thin walled skin eyelets can fold and fall out if you move a lot in your sleep, but the thicker walled silicone eyelets and solid front plugs are sturdy but still squishy enough to be comfortable.
If silicone is out of the question, our next suggestion would be a lightweight steel or titanium eyelet. Go with something sleek and simple, avoiding anything with a decorative design that might poke you or risk snagging on clothes or blankets while you sleep. A short wearable with a slightly larger flare is recommended, so that your jewelry can stay securely in your lobe, without jabbing you.
For your lobe and cartilage piercings, flat back labrets, short barbells, and clicker rings are also great options for sleeping.
But what if you can’t change or take your jewelry out, and your ears are sore from a fresh piercing? For that, we recommend a donut pillow with a hole in the center, or a neck pillow like the kind that you can use on airplanes. These will allow you to lay your head down with your ear in the hole, so as to not put pressure on your piercings and jewelry.
If you've ever woken up and realized one of your glass plugs has completely disappeared, you're definitely not alone. Many people with stretched ears have experienced the frustration of finding an empty lobe in the morning and then searching through the bedding for missing jewelry.
The good news is that there are usually a few simple reasons why your plugs keep falling out while you sleep. Once you figure out what's causing it, you can make a few adjustments to help keep your ear stretching jewelry secure overnight.
There isn't always one single cause. In most cases, it's a combination of how your jewelry fits, the condition of your O-rings, and how much you move while you sleep.
Let's take a look at the most common reasons your plugs may be slipping out.
As your stretched ears settle, your lobes may naturally become a little looser over time. When that happens, jewelry that once fit snugly can start moving around much more easily.
If your plugs have extra room to move, rolling over on your pillow can slowly work them out of your ears while you sleep.
If your ears have naturally loosened after being at the same size for a while, it may be time to evaluate whether your current jewelry is still the best fit.
If you're wearing single flare glass plugs, your O-rings play a huge role in keeping everything secure.
Over time, O-rings can stretch, wear out, or become loose. While you're sleeping, they can slide off the back of the plug without you noticing. Once the O-ring comes off, your jewelry can easily slip out.
Sometimes something as simple as replacing an old O-ring can solve the problem.
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If you wear double flare plugs, the flare itself keeps the jewelry in place instead of an O-ring.
Some double flare designs have larger flares than others. If your current pair seems to work its way out while you sleep, trying a style with slightly larger flares may help your jewelry stay put.
Just make sure the flares are still comfortable to insert and remove without forcing them through your ears.
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Even if your jewelry fits perfectly, your sleeping habits can still cause plugs to fall out.
If you toss and turn throughout the night, your pillow creates constant friction against your ears. Little by little, that movement can slowly push your plugs out.
Unfortunately, this is one of the most common reasons plugs disappear overnight, especially for side sleepers.
Even with properly fitting jewelry and brand-new O-rings, active sleepers may still occasionally wake up missing a plug.
Many people with fully healed stretched ears choose to remove their jewelry before going to sleep. This completely eliminates the chance of losing plugs overnight and can also give your lobes a break from wearing jewelry.
However, this is only recommended if your ears are fully healed and well-established at your current size. Fresh stretches or healing lobes should continue wearing appropriate jewelry unless advised otherwise by an experienced piercer.
If your plugs keep falling out while you sleep, don't worry—it's a very common experience for people with stretched ears. Most of the time, the problem comes down to loose-fitting jewelry, worn O-rings, or simply moving around while you sleep.
Checking the fit of your plugs, replacing old O-rings, and adjusting your nighttime routine can go a long way toward keeping your jewelry where it belongs. With a few small changes, you'll spend less time searching through your blankets and more time enjoying your stretched ears.
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