Steph Simpson

Contrary to what some people would have you believe, having a part of your anatomy pierced is not just as simple as walking into a piercing studio, getting whatever it is that you would like pierced, and then skipping merrily home without a care in the world. Having a new piercing of any kind, takes a great deal of planning, inside knowledge, money, and of course, plenty of self discipline as well. If you ultimately decide to make the transition from non-pierced to pierced, after the initial piercing is carried out, you will then be faced with the tricky task of choosing the right body jewelry for the piercing itself. Although the concept of piercings is far from new, it is only recently that we have really seen some pretty amazing breakthroughs in regards to not only the design of body jewelry, but also in regards to the materials used as well. In the past, when you were deciding upon which jewelry to choose, you basically had two options: stud, or, ring. Nowadays however, things are very different and so for that reason, here’s a look at a few handy tips on how to choose the best body piercing jewelry.

Know the correct terms – If you’re thinking of having a new piercing, when it comes to choosing the best jewelry, you may find yourself feeling pretty overwhelmed when you’re faced with the numerous different styles and designs of body jewelry. To make matters even more complicated, each specific style and design is also known by a very specific name, which, if you aren’t quite sure about, could make describing the jewelry itself pretty complicated and complex. If you have your tongue pierced for example, you should know the correct terms for the jewelry in question. Rather than asking for a tongue ring, you should instead ask for a straight barbell. With belly button piercings, rather than navel rings, you should ask for a curved barbell or straight barbell. This will not only help make it much easier to ask for specific jewelry, it will also help you get a better understanding of the terminology behind specific words and phrases.

Use the right materials if you have sensitive skin – When you have a new piercing, the piercing hole will be vulnerable to a whole host of various infections and complications, which could lead to pretty significant health risks. If you have sensitive skin, the risks of complication will be even greater, so you should always use the right materials if you have sensitive skin. For best results, go with materials such as titanium, Teflon, glass, or surgical steel, as these materials are far more forgiving.

Never use restrictive materials – Depending on where you happen to have the piercing, chances are that a stiff and rigid piercing may restrict your movement, which is obviously far from ideal. If you do have a piercing that would indeed restrict movement in certain parts of the body, you should always use a non-restrictive material for your piercings. Teflon jewelry for example, is ideal as it is flexible and non-restrictive, so it will therefore allow for more fluid and free movement, which is exactly what you want.

Know what will and will not work with your piercing – As there are countless different types of piercing, that can be carried out virtually anywhere on the body, you will need to ensure that you know what will and will not work with your piercing before you take things any further. To help make life slightly easier, the good news is that most types of jewelry can indeed be worn in virtually any type of piercing, although there are still a few exceptions to be wary of. Surface piercings are the most common examples of piercings that require specialist jewelry, as they will only require specialist surface bars. Take the time to familiarize yourself with what will, and will not, work.

Decide whether a piercing is really right for you – Finally, before you commit to any piercing, the first thing you should do is take the time to ask yourself whether or not the piercing is indeed really right for you.  A piercing is not something that should be done on a whim as it requires a great deal of care and attention, and then of course, there is the cost and pain to consider as well. If you’re sure that your piercing is the right thing for you, and that it won’t impact your life, or your finances, in a negative manner, then you may wish to take things to the next level.