You don't follow the crowd and your fashion doesn't either. Conventional jewelry designs won't show off your great abs or draw attention to your stunning smile. That's why every free spirit needs body jewelry for self expression. To maintain good hygiene as well as great style, you'll want to take extra care when deciding how to buy body jewelry. This body jewelry buying guide is designed to help you make an informed decision.
Body jewelry features multiple designs constructed just for piercings and crafted of the best materials. Everyone wants to be stylish, but safety should always be a consideration. Follow the advice and care instructions of your professional piercing technician in regards to any new piercing.
The art of body piercing truly lets you be creative with your jewelry--people pierce, well, anything and everything. Here are a few of the more common types:
Navel: A belly button piercing is cute on girls, sexy on girls and guys and offers a great stage for expressing your personality. Navel jewelry ranges from simple steel barbells to colorful belly rings with jewels and dangling charms. Getting a navel piercing is often the first choice for body art novices.
Nose: Many cultures have a tradition of nose piercing (even if your boyfriend's or girlfriend's mother has never seen one). For comfort's sake, nostril piercings tend to be small and accommodate studs that twist into place. Other nasal body jewelry includes nose bones and rings. A twinkling crystal often decorates these pieces.
Eyebrows: Most place this piercing at the outer edge of the brow. Small straight and curved barbells fit the eyebrow piercings and some include dangling charms or crystals. Choose simple grey or black barbells for a grittier look. With all eyes on your eyes, well-groomed brows are a must.
Mouth: The one that really has the old ladies wagging their tongues is the piercing in the tongue. The body jewelry worn here is called a tongue ring. The middle section below the lower lip (called a labret) and the right corner above the upper lip (called a Marilyn) are also popular places for barbells.
Ears: If you haven't had new ear piercings since you were six, it is time to put your hair up and add some more. In addition to the many earrings you can wear on the lobes, body jewelry offers designs for the outer rim and even on the inner cartilage. A setting of two holes on the outer cartilage is called the industrial piercing; a tragus piercing is on the triangle at the front.
If you want some non-traditional jewelry that doesn't require anxiety and needles, look to these fun options:
Ankles: These ankle bracelets are just as pretty and varied as bracelets for your wrists. Gold or silver anklets shine with cute charms and glittering gemstones.
Abs: After hours at the gym, you've earned the right to display your sleek tummy. Add some style with a belly chain slung around the hips.
Toes: Decorate perfect pedicures and flirty summer sandals with toe rings. Usually sold in matching sets, toe rings adjust to fit and feature many designs.
What are the safest materials for new piercings?
Piercings are sensitive, and it is important to protect them with the most hygienic materials. Don't settle for cheap body jewelry. Choose body jewelry made of surgical stainless steel, surgical titanium and 18-karat or 14-karat gold. Surgical stainless steel of 316 LVM implant grade is especially scratch resistant and resists corrosion, even after multiple cleanings. Both surgical stainless steel and surgical titanium are used for medical implant devices. If your body jewelry is made of these high-quality materials, it won't ever set off metal detectors, so you can relax in the airport security line.
Try to avoid using barbells made of sterling silver and base metals, which can oxidize and cause irritation, until the wound is completely healed. This also applies to goldplated jewelry as the gold layer will rub off over time.
How does "gauge" relate to body jewelry?
Piercings are not all the same size and body jewelry must be available in sizes to accommodate the differences. The gauge is the thickness of a piece of body jewelry and relates particularly to the size of the bar that threads through a piercing. The thickness of the jewelry decreases as the gauge number increases; thus, 16 gauge is thinner than 10 gauge. The average barbell for a belly or tongue piercing has a 14 to 16 gauge.
| Gauge | 20 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 00 |
| Millimeters | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 |
Most piercings are meant to stay the size they started as, but many people like to stretch their ear piercings to a larger size. If you want to do this, choose body jewelry in the next gauge up, insert it carefully and expect a little bit of soreness as you adjust to the new size. Wait until this new size has healed--it's no longer sore and it stays the same size when you remove your body jewelry--before attempting a larger gauge.
Is body jewelry returnable?
For your health and safety, body jewelry is not returnable or exchangeable.
Inspiration
Putting together a look that is all your own takes more than just a great nose bone, and Overstock.com has all the jewelry and clothing you need to maintain your individual style. Try on some of the new stainless steel bracelets and rings now available. Whether you prefer retro or cutting edge fashion, our clothes store has the designs.
Are you a seasoned body art veteran or a nervous novice? Either way, you'll find books and DVDs in our media department on body jewelry, jewelry design and tattoos. Let one inspire you to try something new. Of course, you'll always find a great price on everything, including the best body jewelry, at Overstock.com.
