Here is a comprehensive list of typical body jewelry material types. If you have
a suggestion or think you can add to this list please feel free to email
us.
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316L steel is the most basic metal used in body jewelry. It is the basic requirement
of metal to be used in initial piercings and for healing. There are better grades
(below) but usually they cost more as well. For most people this grade of steel
works just fine.
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| 316LVM
Implant Grade Stainless Steel |
This grade of steel is top of the line. It is highly recommended, but it comes
down to a personal preference on whether you want to pay a little bit more for
the best. Lots of people are fine to use the basic 316L steel, but for some people
with extremely sensitive skin, getting the top grade of steel usually helps.
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| Titanium |
Titanium is usually preferred over steel because it contains no nickel and
it weighs almost 50% less than steel. Titanium can come in plain polish which
looks just like steel AND it can come in a variety of colors (but NOT red or
black). Titanium is super for people with sensitive skin to steel. It does cost
a little more but is well worth it. Titanium comes in different grades just like
steel with Grade 23 (6AL4V ELI F-136) implant grade being the highest. Colored
titanium does fade over time (but is not dangerous to your piercing). If worn
in the mouth the color usually fades faster.
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Acrylic jewelry is light weight and great for healed piercings *only*. Acrylic
should not be used in new or unhealed piercings. It should also not be used in
newly stretched piercings. Be aware that this acrylic when worn in tongue piercings
can emit toxins from the plastic. For tongue piercings, dental acrylic is recommended.
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Acrylic cannot be autoclaved
- Simply wash with antibacterial soap and warm water
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DO NOT clean with alcohol or other harsh chemicals as it will
ruin the jewelry
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Be careful with your acrylic balls! If you try to thread them
down too far the threads can strip.
- Acrylic is very fragile and brittle and will shatter under stress
- Do not leave in direct sunlight or heat as it can warp
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Dental acrylic is much stronger AND safer than standard acrylic which most
jewelry is made from.
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PTFE (Monofilament nylon and teflon) is a 100% safe flexible material that
is becoming very popular for surface piercings and also for piercings where more
flexibility is needed (the navel during pregnancy or for surgeries). It has a "non-stick" surface
and can be used in initial piercings.
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- Simply wash with antibacterial soap and warm water... no need to use alcohol
or harsh chemicals.
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Flexible plastic is okay for temporary use. If you're looking for a permanent
solution with flexibility you need to use PTFE as it's safer for piercings. Flexible
plastic also comes in colors where PTFE only comes in white.
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- Simply wash with antibacterial soap and warm water... no need to use alcohol
or harsh chemicals.
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Direct from the manufacturers website:
According to the current state of knowledge Bioplast™ conforms
to all world wide standards on use of body jewellery materials.
- Bioplast™ is Biocompatible.
- Bioplast™ is flexible.
- Bioplast™ can be cut to any length and
threaded by any metal ball closure.
- People pierced with Bioplast™ have less swelling and infections.
- The healing process with Bioplast™ is faster than that of other
materials.
- No allergic reactions (no nickel)
- Bioplast™ can be sterilised by autoclave
(up to 121°c.)
- Bioplast™ is competitively
priced and is available in 8 colours.
- Bioplast™ is one of the best materials
for initial piercing.
Although Bioplast™ has been tested and judged Biocompatible
this does not guarantee its appropriateness for use in all people and due to
the complexities of the human body the Bioplast™ manufacturer recommends
that any one experiencing any sensitivity towards these products remove the jewellery
and seek medical advice.
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Organic jewelry is considered anything that comes from the natural environment
such as wood, bone, buffalo horn, and natural stone.
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Do not let wood, horn, or bone jewelry get wet. Do not wash
it with soap and water.
- For wood, horn, and bone jewelry lightly oil it with jajoba or olive oil
about once a week to help keep it from cracking
- You can use antibacterial soap and warm water to clean natural stone
- Organic jewelry can NOT be sterilized
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Pyrex glass is a great alternative to steel or titanium and you can get all
kinds of cool designs in it! It contains no nickel and is extremely sturdy. Pyrex
is basically kiln annealed (heated) to make it as strong as it can be.
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Used from Kaos Softwear:
Implant grade silicon is entirely safe for body piercing use and is great for
people with metal allergies or sensitivities. It's also a good substitute for
acryllic, since it comes in a wide range of colors and won't react badly with
your body.
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Niobium is an elemental metal (not man made) and is slightly heavier than
316L stainless steel. If you are allergic to stainless steel, niobium is a good
alternative, but most people prefer titanium because it is much lighter and about
the same price. Niobium is also the only metal that can be colored black through
a heating process, and is still proven to be safe.
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Only 14k or 18k gold is appropriate for body jewelry (24k gold is too soft).
14k is the best as it is strong enough to maintain the threads for barbell etc.
The higher grade of gold, the softer it gets. Lower grades than 14k could result
in migration, rejection, or develop permanent reactions to gold.
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Silver should never be worn in new or unhealed piercings. It is safe to wear
in healed piercings for short periods of time. Silver tarnishes quickly and when
worn in a new piercing, the tarnish can be deposited into the skin causing it
to darken or turn gray. Silver is very soft and is easily scratched. Scratches
in the jewelry surface can easily irritate even a healed piercing and trap bacteria,
encouraging infection. If you have a nickel allergy, do not wear sterling silver.
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Read
a scientific detailed article at PF Online about the PVD coating process.
The process used to black-coat jewelry is called PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition).
It is an outer coating over a base metal (titanium or steel). This jewelry is
fine for autoclaving or steam sterilization treatments. We carry two types of
black-coated jewelry:
- One is from the #1 manufacturer which is made from a top of the line wear
resistant thin film coating on solid G23 (6AL4V ELI ASTM F-136) implant grade
titanium. If you are concerned about quality, buy titanium black-coated
jewelry.
- The other is a coating on standard 316L steel and is less expensive. If price
is more important buy steel coated. Cheaper steel black-coated
jewelry does risk fading or even possibly chipping over time. It should be for
occasional wear only.
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Do not use alcohol or harsh chemicals to clean jewelry. Just
use standard antibacterial soap and warm water to clean jewelry.
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Information on this page is courtesy of BodyArtForms.com
Big Thanks to them for allowing us to use this information!
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