Buying piercing jewelry

[temp256]

I'm looking to buy some jewelry for ears and nipples. I really like the segmented ring style, but I'm worried the seam would pose a hygiene problem. I'm not quite ready to get my nipples pierced, but I thought I'd get a pair of smaller rings for my ears to test them out, then get nipple sized ones later.

This is what I'm considering. Solid titanium, just what I want. I'm not sure if this store is any good though. The prices are suspiciously cheap. Has anyone ordered from them? Can anyone recommend another store with solid titanium segmented rings? Would it be better to buy them from a piercer?

 

[Ellafun]

I'm not sure what your purpose in trying them out on your ears will accomplish. Your initial options for nipple rings would be straight bars, or a hoop with a captive bead. You don't want a segmented ring for an initial piercing, because it can take up to a year, sometimes longer, for the nipple to heal all the way (depending on the size of your nipples) and you're right, you could get lots of bacteria imbedded in between the segments. All of my nipple jewelry is surgical grade stainless steel; I would recommend that you stick with that for your initial piercing, as well. I sometimes use a segmented hoop in my nose piercing, and yes, sometimes it catches, and is really annoying. I order my jewelry online from Bodycandy.com. You might also consider some of the non-piercing nipple jewelry that is available online if you are unsure about getting your nipples pierced.

You should go and talk to a professional piercer; I'm sure they can offer you much more advice and direction. Good luck!

 

[twister947]

A captive ring is a captive ring, whether the closure is a segment or a bead...both have small dimples that capture the pointed ends of the ring. If appropriate hygiene and aftercare are practiced, neither one poses a significant problem vis a vis "trapping bacteria."

That said, a straight barbell is almost always a better choice for initial nipple jewelry. It will move around less, and is not as prone to getting bumped and snagged. A few folks find they have allergy issues with stainless steel (specifically, nickel), and for them titanium is a better choice.

Finally, avoid cheap jewelry. Good stuff doesn't cost that much.

 

[warrior queen]

A captive ring is a captive ring, whether the closure is a segment or a bead...both have small dimples that capture the pointed ends of the ring. If appropriate hygiene and aftercare are practiced, neither one poses a significant problem vis a vis "trapping bacteria."

this is correct advice.

That said, a straight barbell is almost always a better choice for initial nipple jewelry. It will move around less, and is not as prone to getting bumped and snagged.

this is incorrect.
a good piercer will be able to give you advice on this - sometimes it depends on the shape of the breast and nipple.
most times, it makes little difference.

A few folks find they have allergy issues with stainless steel (specifically, nickel), and for them titanium is a better choice.

Finally, avoid cheap jewelry. Good stuff doesn't cost that much.

if you have issues with stainless steel, then it is NOT piercing grade jewellery - all stainless jewellery for piercing should be 316 stainless which is the same as that used in orthopedic surgery (head plates, leg pins, etc)
if you have a problem with this metal, you should probably be wearing a medicalert bracelet to alert medicos in case you ever need a bone pinned!

wq - piercer extraordinaire

 

[JustaSCOUNDREL]

I'm new to this particular board so I am sure you will take this with a grain of salt.

I agree pretty much with what WQ said. I would only add a couple of things. When and if you decide to get pierced do not play with the self piercing crap.

Go to a good piercing shop and talk to the piercers and get them to give you a tour, It should be neat, clean, and well lighted. If anything does not seem right to you go look at another until you find one you like.

The piercing itself is really not that painful. It does hurt for just a second or two and then it is over. Usually there is no to minimal pain afterwords.

Insure they are using surgical grade stainless jewelery with internally threaded ends. Less painful when it is threaded through and less chance of infection.

My wife has 5 piercings other then her ears and is allergic to nickle. She did not have any problem with the surgical stainless steel.

When you are done the shop should provide you with after care instructions and perhaps some sea salt. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. Sorry about shouting but the after care is very important.

No matter what decision you make I wish you the best. I will add my wife loves each and every one of her piercings.

Mike C.

 

[warrior queen]

I'm new to this particular board so I am sure you will take this with a grain of salt.

I agree pretty much with what WQ said. I would only add a couple of things. When and if you decide to get pierced do not play with the self piercing crap.

Go to a good piercing shop and talk to the piercers and get them to give you a tour, It should be neat, clean, and well lighted. If anything does not seem right to you go look at another until you find one you like.

The piercing itself is really not that painful. It does hurt for just a second or two and then it is over. Usually there is no to minimal pain afterwords.

Insure they are using surgical grade stainless jewelery with internally threaded ends. Less painful when it is threaded through and less chance of infection.

My wife has 5 piercings other then her ears and is allergic to nickle. She did not have any problem with the surgical stainless steel.

When you are done the shop should provide you with after care instructions and perhaps some sea salt. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. Sorry about shouting but the after care is very important.

No matter what decision you make I wish you the best. I will add my wife loves each and every one of her piercings.

Mike C.

as a body piercer of many years experience - i personally do not like and never use internally threaded jewellery.
the bar is hollow, and that makes a great place for bacteria/detritus to congregate that cannot be adequately cleaned.
it's fine for healed piercings, but not for newly done piercings that need to be cleaned/maintained, sometimes for many months.

wq - piercer extraordinaire

 

[twister947]

as a body piercer of many years experience - i personally do not like and never use internally threaded jewellery.
the bar is hollow, and that makes a great place for bacteria/detritus to congregate that cannot be adequately cleaned.
it's fine for healed piercings, but not for newly done piercings that need to be cleaned/maintained, sometimes for many months.

wq - piercer extraordinaire

Queen, I don't question your experience, and certainly am not out to start a pissing contest, but I want to point out that your position on threading directly contradicts the Association of Professional Piercers' (APP) standard for jewelry for initial piercings.

I just checked a 10g internally threaded barbell from my stash, and that particular piece is not hollow. There is, however, a cavity between the bottom of the bore and the bottom of the threads on the bb end. A similar cavity doubtless exists in the bb end of an externally threaded piece, and it too is proximate to the puncture wound of a fresh piercing. I agree with your position on places for bacteria to set up shop, but don't see a significant difference in the threat posed by the two styles of jewelry.

My advice on bars v rings for nipple piercings is based on personal experience, as well as that of numerous others I've talked with through the years (yeah, I'm an olde pharte), but you're right, rings work for some.

Dave

 

[JustaSCOUNDREL]

warrior queen, my info came from my local piercing shop HTC here in AZ. I do know the internally threaded costs a bit more the the external jewelery so they could have some self interest in their recommendation.

I am not arguing just saying where I got my information.

Thank you for your information and have a great day.

Mike S.

 

[warrior queen]

i'd just like to draw your attention to the bit where i said I PERSONALLY...

i've been piercing since 2001, so i've had a lot of experience when it comes to healing piercings - and it is my personal experience that externally threaded jewellery is much less troublesome.
i'll explain why - with externally threaded jewellery, if i need to clean it completely, i can take the ball off and autoclave them while leaving the bar in the piercing. then i can clean the external thread of the bar while leaving it in situ.
in order to clean the internally threaded jewellery thoroughly, i need to remove the bar to do so.
(of course, this is only if there is a deep-seated infection that needs to be treated, which is quite rare - but does sometimes occur.)

wq