Plastic ring on earring backing? Help!

[jli]

This may seem like a reall amateur question but I only recently got my ears pierced and don't wear earrings too often. I usually wear studs and I got these pairs of Nine West studs the other day but the backing for the stud had these extra plastic rings attached to it. Initially I thought they were supposed to be removed before wear but, when I tried to pull them off they seemd permanent. They look glued on.

Are they supposed to be there? If so, that's a lot of junk on the back of my ear lobes (I have small ones and the ring is pretty big) and you can actually see a bit of the ring from the front which is very unflattering.

Here are some pics in case you don't know what I'm talking about. I don't really know what to call them.

http://ohshot.com/depot/6240a5.jpg

http://ohshot.com/depot/4e984d.jpg

Thanks.

[CSK'sMom]

Many earrings now have those discs attached to the backings. It's meant to protect your earlobe from stretching and keeps the earring sitting straight and not sagging...

[me0kat]

Those plastic rings CAN be pushed out. I've purchased a few earings with those, even a pair from Nine West and they will come out if your push them downwards.
If they aren't bothering you, you can leave them on. There are no real benefits or harm in taken them off.

[jli]

thanks for all your help!

me0kat: you actually got them off? i tried pushing down on them and the little suckers wouldn't even budge! i let my mom and dad try as well.

i do want them to come off because like i mentioned before, the rings are pretty big for my earlobes and have a tiny bit of clear plastic show from in front is really unflattering. and it doesn't feel as comfortable to me as earrings without them.

[chilicat]

Use backings from a different pair of earrings then..

[evoke0ne]

i dont wear earings, but I did have to get some of these for my girlfriend because she was so useless in finding these kinds of things.

Pop into accessorize, on yonge st between eglington and lawrence...they had a few extra bags when I went...If you just ask them at the cash if they have any extras or any alternatives im sure they can help you out....the stuff there is crap...but its good for say....to be worn once or twice...

Good luck...

**my spelling is terrible...lol....but you girls know what I mean.

[me0kat]

Yeah I managed to get the plastic backing off. Most of the time it just pops out, or slides out without trouble.

They're not supposed to be glued on.. How about if you cut a side of the plastic ring? Then you could pull it out that way maybe.

[pengu]

You can purchase just the backings of regular earings if you don't have any to spare. I lose backings often so I have a baggie full of them. Anywhere that sells craft stuff or jewelry should have them. Claire's, Walmart's craft department, probably even Ardene. You don't need to use the ones with the plastic backing if you don't want. Any backing from a pair of studs you own will do.

[angelove]

ick I don't like those lol especially if the studded earrings length isn't that generous. I'd just switch the butterfly with another pair of plain ones.