Belly button piercings were the ‘90s accessory du jour. They are not only meant for well-toned stomachs such as those of celebrities like Lindsay Lohan, Xtina, and Britney Spears. You can rely on this trend to enhance your boldness and femininity.
Haven’t gotten your belling piercing yet? It is high time you got one right away. However, before you do that, keenly pass through the below highly important information. We have featured everything you need to know about belly button piercing.
Belly Button Piercing Guide
Materials
Regardless of the part of the body that you want to get pierced, it is essential that you buy high-quality jewelry. Among the many factors that determine the quality of body jewelry is its material. The best material for a safe and successful belly button piercing should be non-allergic and non-corrosive. Some of them include:
Solid 14K gold is a beautiful and elegant choice. Because gold is soft, it bends when warm. Consequently, it might not be an excellent choice for each day and tanning.
Tygon plastic is a remarkable alternative particularly if you are allergic to other metals.
Titanium is the metal used in denture implants. The fact that it can hold up to saliva means it will hold against your belly too.
Stainless is among the safest choices for body jewelry. The last thing you will have to worry about is allergic reaction and deterioration.
This refers to a revolutionary and new type of jewelry that is not only metal-free but also extremely biocompatible and flexible. It is made from Bioplast, which is a biological plastic that is formulated specifically to aid healthy piercings and healing.
What is more, it does not irritate the skin. This jewelry material is hypoallergenic meaning it is perfect with sensitive skin and metal allergies.
Finally, yet importantly, it is non-stick. The fact that it is non-stick makes it effortless to clean. In summary, the following are the benefits of bioplast body jewelry:
- Customizable
- Non-irritating
- Highly flexible
- Non-stick
- Does not attract plaque
- Reduces healing time and swelling
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Choosing a belly button piercer
When you get a belly button piercing, you are at risk of contracting a blood-borne disease like hepatitis C. One of the factors that determine the extent of risk is the person performing the procedure. That explains why your choice of a piercer is very important.
Common practice dictates that you ask around for recommendations. In addition to word of mouth, you also need to check on reviews to land a reputable and reliable shop.
Visit the shop before the big day to get a feel of the place. It must be well lit and clean.
Ensure your prospective piercer is licensed. To ascertain the qualifications of your prospective piercer, visit safepiercing.org and check his or her name on the list of members. To be on the safe side, always ensure that the professional is an APP member.
You increase your risk of contracting an infectious disease every time you have the procedure conducted outside of a sterile and specialized environment.
Inquire about the sterilization process
Once you have information about your prospective piercer and have visited his or her shop, inquire about his or her sterilization process and methods.
Generally, piercers utilize an autoclave to get rid of any possible bacteria or pathogen on the equipment. An autoclave is handy when it comes to sterilizing reusable tools like closing/opening pliers for body jewelry.
Ensure that all the piercing needles of your piercer come in sterile and sealed packages. He or she should not use shared needles as it increases the risk of diseases. At all times, the person performing the procedure should wear gloves.
Avoid piercing guns
Does the shop you have visited use piercing guns? If yes, then you need to avoid it like a plague. Cancel any appointment you had made.
Of great importance to note is that reusable piercing guns may transmit bodily fluids among customers, which is unhealthy. On top of that, they damage local tissue during the process of piercing.
Studio hygiene and set-up
As we mentioned earlier, the studio premises together with the staff need to be noticeably clean at all times. Drinking alcohol, smoking, or taking any form of a drug (s) should never happen. If you establish that studio, the policy permits clients to try piercing jewelry – run!
Your prospective piercing studio or shop needs to have five distinct zones. They include:
- A sterilization room – This ought to be an isolated enclosure for processing contaminated equipment and tools. Members of the public should not be allowed to access this room.
- A public bathroom – A piercer should never use a public bathroom for cleaning contaminated piercing equipment.
- A separate room – Good ventilation and bright lighting should characterize this room. The only purpose it should serve is piercing. Ideally, it needs to contain a hand-washing sink that is stocked with an air dryer or paper towels (but not reusable cloth towels) and liquid soap.
- A waiting area
- A retail counter
Belly Button Piercing Ideas
Belly button piercings are turning out to be a popular way of not only expressing yourself but also drawing attention to you. Here are some of the most popular piercing ideas today that you can try out:
An Initial
You can aggrandize your navel piercing using a belly ring that features your first name’s initial on it. Such rings are perfect if you want to add some personalization to your piercings.
Pearl belly barbell
How about you go all out for a pearl look by accessorizing with a pearl belly barbell! One of the best attributes of pearls is the fact that they are always in fashion. Additionally, they are an excellent choice when it comes to imparting a classy yet simple look to piercings.
Diamond banana bell
Who is not into diamonds? Is there anything better than putting them on the most sensuous part of the body? If you want a luxurious belly button piercing look, then dawning a diamond banana bell is the prudent thing to do.
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Reverse belly ring
These go through the top part of your belly to get out via its center thus making them unique.
Ring with a charm
Belly rings that feature charms on them are gorgeous and adorable. All you need to do is choose your preferred charm and settle for a gold belly ring to realize a perfect combination. For instance, women that have a firm belief in God can settle for a crystal cross charm.
Heart-shaped rings
With this belly button piercing idea, showcasing your romantic feelings is a walk in the park. I Love You or ‘heart-shaped’ belly rings are perfect for wearers who are in love.
Use a labret
Another idea of flaunting your navel is by using a labret. They come in an array of designs, colors, and styles. Choose a gemstone or diamond labret. Alternatively, you can settle for a star or heart-shaped one.
Flowery belly jewelry
There is some dazzle and charm that comes with adorning your belly with floral body jewelry. In fact, this style seems to never fade even as the years pass by. You can choose a flower belly ring like the Diamond Daisy Flower ring, double flower dangle belly button ring or lotus flower rings.
Bold and fearless belly jewelry
With this idea, you are able to flaunt your fearless side by choosing belly rings with fierce and bold designs such as wild animals, a skull or cobra.
FAQs
Q: What type of belly button ring do I get when I get pierced?
A: Most belly button piercings are done using a curved barbell that is preferably made of high-quality titanium or 18k gold or 14 gold. Other metals aforementioned on this primer can also be used.
A navel piercing’s standard size is 14 gauge also known as 14G. Avoid using a barbell that is thinner than 18G. Higher gauged needles present more risk of migration, tearing and rejection.
Related: Types of Nose Piercings
Q: How much does it cost to get my belly pierced?
A: Belly button piercings are affordable, at least to many people. Expect to pay anywhere from $30 – $60 for this service. Several factors affect the cost of getting your belly pierced.
One of the primary factors that affect the cost is how popular your piercer is. The cost will be higher if he or she has a loyal following of customers. Popular or in-demand piercers charge higher for their popularity and set of skills.
The other factor that may affect cost is location. Those with shops in a metropolis area charge higher compared to ones with shops in small towns.
Lastly, how expensive the selection of your jewelry has an impact on the cost. This does not mean that you settle for cheap jewelry that utilizes allergic metals such as nickel. Cheap jewelry does not hold up well in the long term. Additionally, it causes allergic reactions.
As aforementioned, some of the best metals for jewelry include gold, stainless steel, titanium, Tygon plastic and bioplast.
Related: How Much Does Nose Piercing Cost?
Q: Do belly button piercings hurt?
A: On the old plain scale, belly button piercings are not too bad. They do not hurt that much. Compared to earlobe piercings, belly button piercings are less painful. The piercing part entails getting the needle real quick. For a few seconds, you will feel some stinging. However, it is as prolonged as with some piercings such as daith piercings.
The good thing is your belly is not as sensitive as other piercing areas or spots such as the nose meaning less sensitivity and pain will be involved. When it comes to aftercare, it does not demand too much from your side. Aside from some soreness for several days, there is nothing much to worry about.
Q: How do I take care of my belly button piercing?
A: There is no way around it. Belly button piercing changes the feel and looks of your belly button. It might seem weird to even think about how much oozing and discomfort may result from something as tiny as needle getting through your skin but it happens.
How fast your piercing heals and whether you will develop any complications depends partially on how well you take care of it. It is prudent to dedicate a couple of minutes every day to your piercing aftercare.
Also read: How Long Does It Take for A Nose Piercing to Heal?
Some of the things you will need for an effective aftercare routine include sea salt hot water and Dixie cup.
Mix roughly 8 ounces of water with ¼ spoon of sea salt. Take off your short. After that, bend over at your waist until the paper rim cup is around the piercing spot. Move to your bed or couch as you maintain firm pressure wedging the Dixie cup against your navel.
Lie down carefully as you maintain the cup in place in such a way that you do not break the seal and spill it.
Water completely envelopes the spot and makes its way there. Salt, on the other hand, helps clean and sanitize your wound.
Water warmth encourages any discharge or pus to drain from the piercing spot. It is prudent to hold the cup against your navel for roughly 10 minutes.
Once the minutes have elapsed, carefully stand up to avoid spilling the liquid. Once you do that, drain it down at the sink and then pat your belly dry using a clean paper towel.
The alternative cleaning method is by placing a cotton ball soaked inside some sea salt solution. Hold the wet cotton ball against your belly. After every couple of minutes, grab a clean cotton ball in such a way that the piercing remains wet the entire time.
Effective and affordable piercing aftercare sprays are available on the market. They are also great at helping your piercing heal efficiently and quickly.
On top of thoroughly cleaning your piercing spot, here are some of the things you need to avoid:
- Avoid things that dry out your skin such as sun exposure. Dry skin slows down the healing process.
- Refrain from applying sunless tanner on the spot. The same is true to lotion. These might irritate your wound.
- If you need to apply something, the only thing you need to is a sea salt solution. Any product that contains hydrogen peroxide such as soaps or anti-bacterial sprays should be avoided.
Q: How do I prevent belly button piercing infection?
A: It is normal for the pierced area to feel sore for several days after the procedure. While most piercings heal without any issues, bacteria might infect the area before your healing is complete.
There are plenty of ways to prevent your piercing wound from being infected. Here are some of the strategies:
- Avoid wearing tight clothes
- Avoid touching the pierced area with unclean hands especially after touching things with chemicals such as soaps
- Always ensure the area is dry
- Avoid getting into a swimming pool, Jacuzzi or any water body
- Always seek the services of a reputable and qualified piercer
- Avoid taking part in physical activities or sports
Learning how to clean belly button piercing also goes miles in preventing your wound from getting infected.
When it comes to infections, the following are some of the symptoms you need to be on the lookout for:
- Foul-smelling or unusual discharge
- Swollen bump close to the piercing
- A burning sensation or intense pain on the area
- Swelling
- Redness
- Rash
- Fever
If you develop some irritation or an infection, ensure you speak with your doctor or piercer before applying any topical treatment or ointment to the area.
Q: Can I swim after getting my belly button pierced?
A: Stay away from the swimming pool until you have healed completely. Some pools can be full of harmful bacteria and germs.
Q: Is belly button piercing safe?
A: Yes, the procedure is safe. The only catch is the fact that you need to get it from a qualified and reputable piercer. As we mentioned earlier, the piercer should be a member of the APP. If you are scared about belly button piercing, another great alternative to beautify your belly is by using navel tattoos.
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