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How to Remove Flat Back Earrings: A Complete Guide
Once reserved for the alternative and piercing-forward crowd, flat back earrings have officially entered the mainstream—and for good reason. Known for their comfort, security, and modern aesthetic, flat back studs are quickly becoming the preferred choice for anyone with multiple ear piercings or who wears earrings all day and night.
As demand grows for higher-quality piercing jewelry that doesn’t compromise comfort, understanding how to remove flat back earrings correctly is essential. Whether you’re a customer wearing them for the first time or a jewelry store educating clients, this guide walks through everything you need to know.
Why Flat Back Earrings Are So Popular
Traditional butterfly-back earrings work well if you only wear one pair at a time and remove them nightly. But if you—or your customers—have multiple piercings, sleeping in butterfly backs quickly becomes uncomfortable.
Flat back earrings are designed with a smooth disc that sits flush against the skin, making them ideal for:
- Sleeping
- Multiple piercings
- Everyday, long-term wear
- Fresh and healed piercings
The current trend favors high-quality, fine piercing jewelry that blends comfort with elevated design—and flat backs deliver exactly that.
The Two Types of Flat Back Earrings
Before learning how to remove flat back earrings, it’s important to know which type you’re wearing.
Threaded Flat Back Earrings
Threaded jewelry uses a screw-style mechanism where the top twists into the labret post. While once common, threaded styles have notable downsides:
- Threads can loosen over time
- Repeated twisting wears down threads
- Jewelry can unscrew and fall out
- Sharp threading may irritate the skin during insertion or removal
Wearers must remember to regularly tighten their jewelry to avoid loss.
Threadless Flat Back Earrings (Friction Fit)
Threadless flat backs—also known as push-pin or friction-fit jewelry—use a smooth pin that slides into the labret post and locks in place through tension.
This system is universally superior because:
- One top fits multiple labret lengths
- No threads to strip or loosen
- Easier downsizing during healing
- More secure for everyday wear
- Safer and more comfortable for insertion and removal
For these reasons, threadless flat backs are recommended for both fresh and healed piercings.
Why use a Flat Back Labret vs. Traditional friction post?
Having multiple ear piercings, I understand the demand for high-quality, comfortable piercing jewelry. Traditional butterfly earrings work well if you have just one lobe earring and remove it at night. However, for people with multiples, we prefer to wear all of our studs with a flat back for added comfort and convenience.
I wear mine 24/7/365
I've come to understand the main difference between the two types of flat back earrings: threaded vs. threadless. I initially chose threaded earrings but soon discovered that the threadless option offers more versatility and convenience.
My threadless flat back earrings are compatible with any gauge labret, which makes them ideal for downsizing or changing jewelry with ease. Additionally, the threadless system eliminates the concern of threads wearing down over time and the jewelry falling out.
The benefit to threadless jewelry far outweighs any minor disadvantage, making them the preferred choice for many people with multiple piercings.
1. Testing the Fit
The most important step is to take the Labret and the intended Jewelry and fit them together to test for snugness. If the jewelry slides in and out of the labret easily then it is too loose.
2. Bending the Push-Pin
Use the labret to VERY GENTLY bend the stainless steel pin just a tiny bit toward the end of the pin.
If the labret doesn’t go all the way to the hilt, you may have over-bent the pin and a bit of straightening may be required.
If it’s still loose, then bend it a bit more. It takes a little practice at first but this should become second nature and take only a few seconds to accomplish.
Red Arrows = Pressure to close
3. Tapering an existing hole:
TAPER IS OPTIONAL, YOU DON'T NEED IT IN MOST CASE.
A Taper is a pointy (rounded, not sharp) needle similar to a miniature knitting needle. It is fed easily through the ear hole from the back. This is handy if you need something to guide you putting the labret through.
The Titanium Labret is placed on the pin at the end of the taper and both are gently pulled so that the Labret is seated in the hole from the back.
5. Remove the Taper:
Remove the Taper and the small end of the Labret will be visible in the front of the hole.
6. Addition of Jewelry
Press the jewelry into the hole in the labret carefully making sure not to twist it. Press it in and make sure you can hear the nice click-in sound.
Performed correctly, the piece may sit securely & comfortably for years without needing to be removed.
If you are unsure, you could also take your earring to Piercing Shop to have the piercer help putting it in. Please do not take our jewelry in for fresh piercing.
Piercing Shops or Piercers are just like us, we do not pierce with jewelry brought in by customers. Who knows what materials it was made out of.
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