After a few weeks (four or five) have passed since your piercing, it’s time to look for new earrings! It’s always hard the first time you pick earrings. Should I get 14k gold ones? Should I get heavy ones, to stretch the hole out? Or should I keep it light, so it doesn’t affect my ear too much? What brand should I buy? A whole bunch of questions run through your mind when you first start shopping. So what should you do?

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Here are some guidelines to help you pick the perfect pair:

1. Try to start off with a 14k gold earring. Unless you’re experienced and know what you might be allergic to, start off with a gold earring, or coated one. Go to sterling silver, then progress to sensitive solutions (may not be available all the time). If you haven’t had a reaction to any of these earrings, then move on to regular earrings. If you do have a reaction, then go back to the earring type that’s before the one that you had a reaction on.

2. Pick from brands that you know. If you’re a first time buyer, then choose from stores where your friends recommend. Different brands have different ways of making their earrings. Even now, three years after I’ve pierced my ears, I tend to stay away from brands that I’ve never heard of. I never know if I’m allergic to them or not! But if you’re an adventurous type, then go ahead.

3. Heavy or light? It doesn’t really matter. Most people start off with light earrings, just to get the feel of wearing them. But some start off with heavy earrings, to stretch the hole so that it’s easier to put on other earrings. It doesn’t really matter which one you use or start off with. Both are good for anyone!

Note: If you’re an athletic person, try to stay away from dangle earrings. They may pull on your earring while you’re moving, and may cause you pain. Plus, they could hook onto something, like your hair of outfit, and tear your ear (never happened to me, but I still stay cautious!). Studs are very athletic-friendly, or you could take out your dangle earrings before you go exercise.