Body Jewelry
Body piercing today is used for personal distinction or decoration when it comes to visible piercings like the ears, nose, eyebrow, lip and navel. Intimate piercings of the tongue, nipples and genitals are intended to further sexually stimulate the pierced individual as well as their partner.
Body jewelry can be made from stainless and surgical steel, titanium, nickel-free gold, platinum, amber, Lucite, glass, wood or more elaborate semi-precious gemstones.
Styles of body jewelry include:
Barbells - either straight or curved, with a removable threaded ball.
Nose Bones - small, straight studs with a rounded end to hold it in place.
Nose Screws - small studs with a curved end to hold it in place.
Capture Ball Rings - circular rings with a ball held in place by tension.
Segment rings - work like captive ball rings, but they use a removable curved segment. Ring opening pliers are required for both captive ball and segment rings.
Labrets - commonly placed through the lower lip or nose, they have a fixed flat back and a removable ball on the opposite end. Removable ends can include spikes, gemstones and novelty beads.
Tusks - fit through a septum piercing with a threaded locating bar to connect the two sides.
Tubes, Plugs and Flesh Tunnels - are inserted to enhance a piercing hole, commonly the earlobe. This practice is called stretching or gauging.
Lucite Retainers - are made of clear Lucite for those who need to be discreet about their piercings but want to maintain them.
To learn more, click on the links above to access some online suppliers of body piercing jewelry and accessories!