Getting a new piercing is a mixed bag, emotionally. It’s a combination of excitement and anxiety, especially when looking at the types of body piercings you can get. Twelve percent of men and 72 percent of women in the United States of America have some kind of piercing, and the practice is gaining acceptance across society.
The appearance and pain level of the piercing is the most common things on peoples’ minds when they visit their local piercing and tattoo parlor, but there’s much to consider when you commit to a body piercing. Choosing body jewelry that is right for your aesthetic and health is essential.
The good news is that you’ve found the perfect guide to learning about body jewelry material and costs after your next piercing. Keep reading to find your favorite jewelry at the body jewelry store today!
Know the Name of Your Body Piercing
It’s challenging to shop for jewelry for your piercing when you’re unsure of the piercing you’ve gotten. Knowing the name of your piercing will make finding proper jewelry much more manageable during your next trip to the body jewelry store. The ear alone has up to ten different types of piercings you can get.
The nose is another part of the body that involves various options for piercings. It’s best to know the piercing you got before comparing body jewelry costs and picking a new piece of jewelry.
If you still need to figure out what type of piercing you have, the internet is an excellent resource. You can find pictures of the different types of piercings and determine which one you have.
Understand Body Piercing Size Differences
Learning about the size options for body piercing jewelry is also critical when shopping for new jewelry. The size most often refers to the diameter of the jewelry. Jewelry, like a hoop nose ring, gets measured by its diameter.
Knowing the diameter will help you find jewelry that doesn’t cause pain or irritation to your new body piercing. Always check the diameter of the ring before purchasing it to avoid a painful experience.
Bar jewelry is measured by length, so keep that in mind when shopping for your piercing if you’re wearing bar jewelry. You want to find jewelry large enough to avoid tugging on the piercing but small enough to prevent snagging on clothes and other items.
Learn About the Gauge
The gauge of the jewelry is referring to the thickness of the piece of jewelry you’re purchasing. Always look at the gauge when choosing body jewelry online or at the body jewelry store. You need the gauge size to be accurate to avoid causing damage to your piercing.
Higher numbers indicate smaller gauges, while lower numbers represent thicker pieces of body jewelry. A 14-gauge piece of jewelry is larger and thicker than a 20-gauge piece. The most common gauge size for body jewelry is a 16-gauge, equal to 1.2mm in diameter.
Jewelry with too small a gauge will be loose in your piercing. It’s possible that jewelry that is too small could fall out while you’re wearing it. Jewelry with too large a gauge will stretch your piercing and cause pain and irritation.
Dive Into Types of Body Jewelry
You also need to know about your options for body jewelry, especially for the types of body piercings you have. Some piercings can only accept a particular type of jewelry, so know what works with your piercing before making a purchase.
The four primary types of body piercing jewelry are labrets, bars, rings, and curved bars. Curved piercing jewelry is an excellent choice if your piercing is newer since they aid the healing process. Rings allow you to add a bit more to your appearance, while labrets offer a minimalist option.
You can also find nose screws, plugs, and spirals when you start shopping at the body jewelry store near you. Make sure you explore the body jewelry options for your piercings to know ahead of time what will work with your new piercing.
Find the Best Body Jewelry Material
Finding the right material for your new piercing is another vital step to take if you want to speed up the healing process and avoid infections. Many people with sensitive skin face reactions and infections due to the jewelry material. If you know you have sensitive skin, shop for options that are non-allergenic when choosing body jewelry.
Common body jewelry materials are gold, silver, and acrylic. Many piercing parlors will start body piercings with surgical-grade stainless steel jewelry since it’s affordable and durable. Titanium is a wonderful option if you know you have sensitive skin and you want to ease the healing process.
You won’t be able to return any body jewelry that you’ve opened, so do your due diligence when comparing body jewelry costs and options. Organic options like wood and glass are perfect if you want a unique look and fewer issues when healing your piercing.
Protect Against Movement
It’s possible for your body piercings to get snagged when you’re going about daily life. Keep that in mind when you’re shopping for types of body piercing jewelry, as you could destroy the jewelry and face a painful injury. Clothes cover some types of body piercings, so you won’t have to worry about snags as much.
If you play a sport, you could face irritating your ear piercings with a helmet or other equipment. Choosing the right jewelry will prevent irritation and injury after you invest in new body piercings.
Explore Your Options When Choosing Body Jewelry
Knowing what you’re looking for when choosing body jewelry is essential for your health and appearance. You must know about the size and gauge of the jewelry before heading to the body jewelry store, and it’s wise to pick a material that works well with your skin. Finding the best types of body piercing jewelry will allow you to achieve the perfect look without irritating or infecting your piercing.
Are you ready to spice up your appearance? Check out the rest of our blog posts for more exciting content like this today!
