We all want our piercings to heal as quickly as possible and without any problems. The material your jewellery is made from and the final quality of the surface of the metal can be a big factor in your healing experience. be sure it is the correct hypoallergenic grade and has a smooth mirror polish. This is the perfect combination for speedy healing!
Titanium Jewellery
Titanium is the most appropriate metal for healing a fresh piercing.
A nickel free material and one of the most hypoallergenic metals for people with sensitivities.
It is lightweight, scratch-resistant and timeless. It is important to have a metal that’s durable, safe and long-lasting.
There are a few different grades of titanium and it is important to get the right one, look for implant certified implant-grade ASTM F-136 titanium.
Surgical Stainless Steel
The most common metal used in piercing jewellery is Surgical Stainless Steel. This is because it a strong and affordable metal for manufacturing body jewellery.
There are a variety of surgical stainless steels available, however for fresh piercings we strongly recommend 316LVM ASTM F-138.
That said, those with metal sensitivities should take care as even hypoallergenic stainless steel contains a small amount of nickel.
Niobium
Niobium is another one of the safest metals for piercings. It’s softer and heavier than titanium, and actually isn’t a metal but an element. Typically, niobium is a great starter piercing for fresh piercings.
While it isn’t as popular as titanium or surgical stainless steel, niobium is a solid alternative for those with metal sensitivities as it’s hypoallergenic and biocompatible.
Gold
Gold is a classic jewellery staple and it’s incredibly popular. Gold is pure, timeless, natural, hypoallergenic and overall a safe and stylish metal.
To ensure your gold jewellery is pure gold, opt for 14k or 18k. There are also copper alloys available, which still contain gold but the copper helps strengthen this naturally soft metal.
While pure gold is a great choice for piercings, gold-plated jewellery can cause infections and allergic reactions. Which leads us to our next point: what are materials we don’t recommend for jewellery?
Which Metals to Avoid and Why?
We’ve explored the best metals, now let’s take a look at which metals to avoid and why they’re unsafe metals for piercings/jewellery.
Plastic and Nylon
Both of these materials are soft and brittle, meaning they’re difficult to clean and prone to falling out. Worse, they’re permeable; like a sponge they absorb fluids which promote the growth of bacteria. What does bacteria breed? Infection. Lastly, they’re sticky which can be highly uncomfortable.
As you can see, plastic and nylon are some of the worst metals for jewellery. If you’re looking for the best nose rings that don’t fall out, avoid plastic and nylon.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver has other alloy metals in it that might interfere with the healing process of a fresh piercing. Furthermore, silver tarnishes when mixed with natural fluids like sweat, which can actually stain the skin permanently. This happens because the silver oxidises, turning the metal black and the skin along with it.
Metal allergies present in different ways from person to person. These sensitivities can become worse the longer someone has contact with a metal that is causing a reaction. If you think you might have a metal sensitivity be sure to mention it to your piercer!