How to care for handmade earrings so they last

Why a little care goes a long way

A handmade earring is not something you pick up off a factory shelf by the hundred. Each pair is made by hand, in small batches, and a bit of gentle handling helps it look the way it did on day one.

The good news is that looking after earrings is not complicated. You do not need special products or a long routine. You mostly need to remember four things: keep them dry, keep them away from sprays and creams, wipe them softly, and store them flat.

This is the same care note we put on our own earrings, so you can follow it for any pair from the shop.

1. Keep them away from water

Water is the first thing to avoid. Take your earrings off before you shower, wash your face or go for a swim. If you get caught in the monsoon rain, wipe them dry as soon as you get home.

The same goes for sweat. We suggest taking earrings off before exercising, and before sleeping too. That way they are not squashed under your pillow or tugged on while you are not paying attention.

2. Perfume, lotion and hairspray come first

Perfume and lotions are the other big one. Our care note says to keep your earrings away from both, and it is easy to do if you build it into your getting-ready order:

• Do your skincare and body lotion first.
• Spray your perfume and let it settle.
• Style your hair, and use hairspray if you like.
• Put your earrings on last.

It is a tiny change, but it means your earrings never meet the products that are hardest on handmade pieces.

3. Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth

After you take your earrings off, give them a quick wipe with a soft, dry cloth. A clean handkerchief or a spare piece of soft cotton works well.

Wipe gently, without scrubbing. The idea is to remove the day's dust and skin oils before the earrings go back into storage. Please keep the cloth dry. Water and cleaning liquids are not part of our care advice, so we would rather you avoid them.

4. Store them flat in a dry pouch

How you store earrings matters as much as how you wear them. Our advice is to keep them flat in a dry pouch.

Here are a few easy ways to do that:

• Use a small cloth or soft pouch, and keep it somewhere dry, such as a drawer or a shelf, rather than the bathroom.
• Lay dangles flat instead of letting them hang crumpled or tangled in a pile.
• Keep pairs together so you are not hunting for a match on a busy morning.
• When travelling, put the pouch in your bag rather than loosely in a pocket.

Storing flat is gentler on your pieces and stops them rubbing against each other.

A note on hair clips

If you also wear our hair clips, the care is similar. Keep them dry and store them flat. Open and close the clip gently so it keeps its snap. Snap clips last longest when they are treated kindly, so please resist the urge to bend them or pull them open wider than they need to go.

What if you have sensitive ears?

We choose hooks and posts that are gentle on skin. If you have a known metal allergy, please message us before ordering and we will tell you exactly what each piece uses. It is always better to ask first than to find out after wearing a pair.

Quick checklist

• Off before water, sweat and sleep.
• On after perfume, lotion and hairspray.
• Wiped with a soft, dry cloth.
• Stored flat in a dry pouch.

Pairs to start with

If you are building a small earring collection, it helps to have one pair you wear all the time and one you save for special days. Minimal Magical Studs are everyday studs that go with everything, while Leopard Print Dangles, Purple Flower Dangles and Chirp and Charm Dangles bring a bit more personality. The care note above is the same one we list for these pieces.

With a few good habits, your favourite pair will keep making you smile for a long time. When you are ready for something new, you can shop dangles, look at studs, or browse all pieces.