We’re here to debunk some of the most common piercing myths!

‘Can I get my nose, ears or cartilage pierced with a ring from the start?’

Labret flat back studs are commonly used for cartilage piercings on the ear and a curled pigtail stud used for the nose.  It is possible to get pierced with a ring in your cartilage or nose straight away so the answer is yes, we can pierce you with a ring! Other popular areas to have pierced with rings are the helix, nipple, conch, lip, eyebrow and navel/belly.

You may have heard that you should not pierce with rings. We are here to bust some of these common myths. After all, we have been piercing for nearly three decades!

Myth 1: Rings or hoops pull down on the piercing and tear the skin.

Essential Beauty hinged rings are hollow and lighter compared to other jewellery like labret bars, Ball Captured Rings (BCR’s) and Captured Ball Rings (CBR’s). This makes all the difference.

Non-hollow rings or bars can cause irritation when the jewellery puts pressure on the skin during sleep. The choice of jewellery should always depend on the shape of your ear and the placement of the piercing. Our piercers will help you curate both the positioning and the best jewellery style for your individual needs with hollow rings. Myth busted!

Myth 2: Rings or hoops have a larger external surface area where bacteria can land on and infect your piercing.

This will only be a problem if you are touching or rotating your jewellery. It is a common misconception that you are required to rotate your jewellery during the healing process. However, this is old piercing advice which will actually slow down healing, similar to picking off a scab, allowing bacteria to enter.

Rings are easier to clean as the backing on a stud or flat back labret can be prone to trap dead skin and dirt. Care has to be taken to spray in between the backing and the skin to clear any build up. Rings have no obstruction and are easily cleaned with a minimal need to touch the piercing or jewellery which is what is needed for good healing.

Myth 3: Piercings heal better on a straight bar rather than a ring.

This is not true. Piercing needles create space for the jewellery to sit in whether it be a ring or a stud. Your skin will heal naturally around any shaped jewellery. When your piercing is fully healed, you will be able to swap easily between a labret bar, stud or a ring.

Rings will allow more room for swelling after being pierced. If you are pierced with a stud or labret bar and are experiencing swelling to the point that the jewellery is sinking into the skin, you will need to swap your jewellery to a ring.

If you are concerned about your jewellery catching on clothing, hair or towels, your best option is a hinged ring as they are more secure and have no external clasps for fabrics and hair to catch on to. Hinged rings work well for nipple piercings as they sit flat on the skin. However, a curved barbell can sit flatter in belly or eyebrow piercings.

If you are unsure about what piercings and type of jewellery are right for you, call your local salon to book a piercing consultation and discuss curating your ear or nose with the correct positioning and jewellery to suit you.

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