The two most common types of body jewelry are barbells and captive bead rings. Barbells are used for tongue, navel, eyebrow and nipple piercings, while captive bead rings are used for earlobes, eyebrows, nostrils, navels and septums. Barbells unscrew into three parts--the bar itself and the beads at either end. Captive bead rings consist of a C-shaped hoop with a bead held between the two prongs by pressure. Body jewelry is most commonly adjusted once a piercing has healed and the swelling has gone down, when the jewelry may be too large or too long for the piercing.
Step 1
Wash the piercing and your hands with antibacterial soap. Dry thoroughly. If the jewelry is small, you may wish to put on latex gloves to help you get a better grip on it.
Step 2
Change a captive bead ring by grasping the bottom of the ring with one hand and the bead with the other. Most beads will snap out when slight pressure is applied to the bead in a sideways direction. The beads have indentations at either end that snap into place between the prongs of the ring.
Step 3
Remove the ring. Prepare the new ring by bending it into a corkscrew shape if the opening is not wide enough to fit around the pierced body part. This is common with nostril piercings. Push the two ends of the ring away from each other, sideways. Rings below a 12-gauge can be bent by hand.
Step 4
Lubricate the end of the ring with a water-based lubricant for easier insertion. Push the lubricated end through the piercing, and bend the ring back into shape by pushing the prongs toward each other, sideways. Never pull the prongs apart vertically, as this bends the middle of the ring and makes it difficult, if not impossible, to push back together.
Step 5
Position one indentation of the bead on the bottom prong of the ring. Push the bead sideways until you feel the other indentation snap into the upper prong.
Step 6
Change barbells by unscrewing them into three pieces. The two beads come off at either end. To remove a barbell, grip the bottom bead with one hand. Twist the upper bead counterclockwise until it unscrews.
Step 7
Replace one of the beads on a shorter bar by turning the bead clockwise to tighten. Insert the jewelry into the piercing and screw in the other bead. This technique also works for barbells with a flat back, such as labret studs. Screw the flat end into the bar first, insert into the piercing, and screw on the outer bead.
Tips and Warnings
- Never insert jewelry that has been in anyone else's body. For captive bead rings 12-gauge and above, visit your piercer, who has special ring opening pliers for heavier jewelry.
- Do not attempt to change jewelry in a piercing that has not fully healed. Ask your piercer how long the piercing takes to heal, and follow the after-care instructions for the duration of the healing.
Things You'll Need
- Latex gloves
- Antibacterial soap
- Water-based lubricant
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