Earrings and sensitive ears: points to check

Have your ears ever become red or itchy after wearing a pair of earrings, making you hesitant to choose another? Or perhaps you want to give a young girl her first real piece of jewelry for her communion, and you know she has sensitive ears or a very recent piercing. You can check some points yourself; others require asking the seller, and a product description doesn't tell you everything.

"Hypoallergenic," "nickel-free": understanding product descriptions

"Hypoallergenic" or "anti-allergenic": you will come across these words on many jewelry product descriptions. They refer to the material of the jewelry. They cannot refer to your skin. Some of our product descriptions also use "anti-allergenic": please understand it in this sense, as an indication of the material, not as a promise. How an ear reacts also depends on the person, and no product description can know that in advance.

"Nickel-free" is a more precise statement: it confirms the absence of a metal. Nickel is a component of many metals used in jewelry, depending on their shade. If a product description states this, ask which part of the jewelry it refers to.

What European regulations govern is the release of nickel: the amount of nickel a piece of jewelry releases upon contact with the skin is limited, more strictly for posts that go through a pierced ear. The right criterion is therefore not just "is it in there," but "does it come out."

This criterion can be verified by asking the seller two questions. The first concerns the exact grade of the steel. The second concerns the post, the part that goes through the lobe: does it comply with the European limit for nickel release? The post matters first, then the design. A seller who has a test report can provide it to you.

Our stainless steel, from the perspective of sensitive ears

Our pieces are made of stainless steel. Our product descriptions indicate this in forms such as "Stainless steel, gold finish" or "316L Stainless steel / 24k Gold plated": the gold finish covers the steel. The comparison between steel, gold plated, and silver details what distinguishes these materials. Here, only the question of skin concerns us.

For sensitive ears, the questions concern this steel, and primarily the post. Some product descriptions specify the grade of the steel, 316L: this is the case for rings and suspended letter earrings, but not for the three models presented below. None give its nickel content or what the post releases: if this is crucial for you, please ask before ordering. Write to contact@naloraofficial.com; we respond to every message within 24 business hours.

An ear that turns red or itches after a few hours of wear is a signal: remove the pair and ask a pharmacist for advice. If your ears have already reacted to several pieces of jewelry, a piercer or pharmacist can guide you on which materials to prioritize. Since all our jewelry is made of steel, ask them if this material is suitable for you. If a nickel allergy has already been diagnosed, the question becomes medical, and the advice should come from a doctor.

A recent piercing: wait for the piercer's approval

After a piercing, the piercer decides. They insert an initial pair and indicate how long it should stay in place. As long as that period is ongoing, leave it in. A personalized earring does not replace the pair inserted by the piercer.

If you are buying for yourself, the pair simply waits until this period ends. If it's a gift and the piercing was done a few weeks ago, the pair waits in its box. Say it in one sentence when you give it: "You can wear them when the piercer approves." The young girl who receives them will not feel obligated to try them on that day, in front of the whole family. For a specific date like a communion, order at least three weeks before the ceremony.

If her ears are not pierced, offering earrings means making a decision for her. Ask her first, even if it spoils the surprise, or choose a name necklace, which requires neither piercing nor healing, or a ring, provided you can find her size without making a mistake.

The style matters as much as the material

Once the material is verified, comfort depends on the style. A dangle earring hangs below the lobe. An open hoop has two free ends, which can catch on hair, scarves, or collars. A closed hoop forms a continuous ring once in place. A stud is put on in the morning and stays close to the lobe. The styles closest to the ear are therefore studs, like the name earrings in script font.

On this model, the closure is a stud and push-back: the post of the stud goes through the ear. The first name, cut in one piece in script font, rests on the lobe and follows its curve. The two questions about nickel therefore apply to this post. Three finishes are offered: gold, rose gold, and natural stainless steel.

With the name dangle earrings, the word hangs below the lobe, held by a delicate attachment. On a thin lobe, a dangle earring is more noticeable than a stud. The product description does not specify the closure; the photo shows a hook, which goes through the ear: if your skin has reacted before, ask about its material.

The closed name hoop earrings form a solid circle, with the name inscribed inside the hoop. Check the diameter before validating: four are offered, from 30 to 60 mm. The smallest ones stay close to the lobe, the largest ones are more visible from the front.

As a general rule, rely on the style, diameter, and, when specified, the closure indicated on the product description. If it doesn't say which part goes through the ear, ask. This is true for every model in the earring collection. Finally, re-read the entered first name, including accents and capital letters: this entry is what goes into production. And if the pair doesn't suit you, you have 90 days to change your mind, engraving included.

In summary

• “Hypoallergenic” or “anti-allergic,” including on our product descriptions, refers to the material; no mention can predict your skin's reaction.
• European regulations limit the nickel released by jewelry, more strictly for posts: the question applies to the post.
• Some of our product descriptions specify the grade of steel (316L), but none specify its nickel content: ask for it if it matters to you.
• An ear that has reacted before deserves the opinion of a pharmacist; a diagnosed allergy, that of a doctor.
• After a recent piercing, the pair can be offered as a gift, but it should wait for the piercer's approval before being worn.
• For earrings, the style, diameter, and closure matter as much as the material.