Piercings come in all shapes and sizes. It’s always a smart move to inform yourself before getting one, even when you already have one. In this blog we will continue from the ‘All information about piercings’ blog and give you all the information you need about ear tunnels and ear plugs.
Everyone is familiar with the standard earring. The last few years, however, a new earlobe piercing has risen. Stretching the earlobe in order to place a tunnel or plug. But what is the difference between a tunnel and a plug and which types are there?
We will explain the most important differences below:
- The tunnel vs the plug
- No flare
- Single flare
- Double flared
- Screw fit
The difference between the tunnel and plug
The term ear plug and tunnel is often randomly used and might give you the impression that they are more or less the same. Although they do have similarities they are two very different pieces of jewelry.
The biggest difference is the look of the jewel. An ear tunnel, as its literal meaning, is hollow on the inside. One should be able to look through the jewel which emphasises the inside of the ear. A plug, on the other hand, is solid and fills the entire ear emphasising the front.
A subtle but very clear difference is it not? But what about an ear tunnel/plug that is almost solid but with a small opening in it? Is that either a plug or a tunnel?
Piercing Mania, therefore, decided to make a clear distinction. A plug is solid, no exceptions. As soon as it has even the slightest opening it will be labeled as a tunnel.
No flare
The term ‘flare’ is used for most tunnels and plugs. Flare, in this case, means edge. Logically a no-flare tunnel or plug has no edges, it is fully straight. These kinds of tunnels and plugs are easy to slide through the ear. But they would also fall out quite easily without any edges to keep them in place. That’s why no-flared tunnels and plugs are delivered with two o-rings.
An o-ring is a small rubber band. Flare tunnels and plugs are always a bit longer than your earlobe. This leaves extra space both at the back and front of your ear. The o-rings are supposed to be slid over the back and front, placed against the earlobe. With an o-ring on both the back and the end the plug or tunnel will keep in place.
A no-flare tunnel always has visible o-rings and is always extra long. The biggest practical advantage is that no-flare tunnels or plugs are very easy to place. They require no flexibility from the earlobe. That’s why no flare tunnels and plugs can be worn in earlobes that not are not yet fully healed.
Single flared
Where a no-flared plug or tunnel has no edge, the single flare tunnel has one. The side with the edge is mostly meant to be worn to the front. Therefore, you should be able to smoothly slide the plug or tunnel through your ear until the front hits the earlobe.
An o-ring on the protruding part at the back should keep the tunnel or plug in place. The biggest difference between the no-flare and the single flare is that the single flare is not influenced in its looks by the o-ring as its hidden at the back.
Just like the no-flare tunnel the single flare tunnel should slide easily through the ear. This makes them suitable for earlobes that are still recovering from their last stretch.
Double flared
Logically the double flared tunnel or plug has two outer edges. There are no o-rings needed the keep the piercing in place and they do not influence the look of the piercing. The double flared plugs and tunnels make up the largest part of all the tunnels and plugs combined.
But when placing or removing a double flared plug or tunnel the edges need to be pushed through the earlobe. As the edges are slightly bigger than the size of the plug itself the earlobe needs to handle a moment of pressure and offer some flexibility. That’s why double flared and tunnels are only meant to be worn in earlobes that have fully healed from their last stretch.
Screw fit
As mentioned the double flared tunnel or plug is only meant to be worn in fully healed earlobes. What if you do want the look of double flared tunnels or plugs but your ears haven’t fully recovered yet?
The screw fit tunnel appears to have to flares but has a screwable backside. By screwing off the back, the plug or tunnel can be placed as if it were a single flared plug, without requesting flexibility from the earlobe. Once in place you just screw back on the back and you have the look of a double flared tunnel.
Plugs and tunnels come in a wide variety of piercing materials, learn everything you need to know on our blog.
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All information about the twister piercing | CHURINGA PIERCING BLOG
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