Earring back plastic: Can’t live with it, can’t live without it. Right—or wrong?
Twitter User @Chelsea__Smithh had an epiphany and shared it with the world on Twitter on Aug. 1 but had no idea how many people’s minds would be blown by her words. "After my nineteen years of living, I have now realized that you are supposed to take the plastic part off," the teen tweeted.
After my nineteen years of living i have now realized that you are supposed to take the plastic part off pic.twitter.com/ejValCaa7G
— Chelsea Smith (@Chelsea__Smithh) August 1, 2015
The discovery—which now has over 41,000 retweets and 40,000 favorites (and counting!)—resonated with thousands of users as many similarly expressed their amazement at the simple hack.
But is the hack really a hack? "What if the plastic backs are there for a reason?" some users are firing back. Others are even passionately declaring their love for the plastic earring backs, stating that they help give extra support to heavy jewels, distributing the weight equally.
@meghantonjes @Chelsea__Smithh lol I feel like I'm still going to wear it with the plastic even after seeing this
— Victor Pope Jr (@VictorPopeJr) August 2, 2015
@Chelsea__Smithh @zeldanarchy not necessarily, I had my ears stretched and when I wear regular studs the plastic/rubber is all that would
— A DEV's Wife (@DEVsahw) August 3, 2015
@Chelsea__Smithh NO!!! The plastic piece helps distribute weight on heavy earrings and makes it more comfortable. Promise!
— Jo Anne Smoot ºoº (@joannesmoot) August 2, 2015
@Chelsea__Smithh ive been wearing it with the plastic part all this while ????
— Krittika ? (@NJHoran_4ever) August 2, 2015
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With the Twitterverse being so divided on the issue, Us Weekly reached out to jewelry designer Kendra Scott for her expert opinion. Turns out, the plastic disks are actually there for a reason, but don’t have to be a permanent part of the bauble. "The plastic earring backs offer more… stability, which comes in handy with larger or heavier styles. For smaller studs and more delicate styles, the smaller backs might be more comfortable," she told Us, adding, "Less coverage lets a style be worn with multiple piercings."
What do you think about Chelsea Smith’s discovery? Are the plastic discs on the backs of earrings helpful? Tweet with @UsWeekly using the hashtag #stylebyUs!
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