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What Are the Different Types of Barbell Jewelry?

By Kelly Ferguson
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 10,923
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Barbell jewelry — one of the most common kinds of jewelry used for body and facial piercings — can differ in size, shape, and the material from which it is made. Generally, these options are tailored to the specific area of the body where the barbell jewelry will be worn. Certain circumstances may require some people to wear a flexible plastic piece of jewelry to allow for movement and bending of the piercing site, such as in a navel piercing during pregnancy. There is also an option to have an internally threaded barbell as opposed to the more common external threading, which may help avoid irritation to the piercing site, but is often chosen based on personal preference.

The size of the barbell jewelry is called the gauge. Smaller posts have a higher gauge, while larger ones have a lower gauge. Usually, a body or facial piercing is pierced with a fairly modest gauge, such as 14. Once the wound heals, the wearer has the option to stretch the piercing to accommodate jewelry of a larger size.

Barbell jewelry comes in several different shapes as well. A straight barbell is a straight post with two objects at either end to prevent the post from slipping out of the piercing site. Circular barbells are structured similarly to straight barbells, as a post and two end pieces, but the post itself is curved into a circular position. Banana barbells are a sort of middle ground between straight and circular barbells, where the post is bent into a banana-like shape. Generally, barbell jewelry features small balls at either end, but they may also have blocks, discs, and other shapes.

Straight barbells are commonly seen in piercing sites where the openings of the piercing are directly opposite from each other, such as in tongue piercings and certain kinds of ear piercings. Circular barbells are frequently seen in the type of nose piercing called a septum piercing. Banana barbells are the barbell of choice for navel piercings.

Barbell jewelry can be found in many types of materials, from metals to plastics. Fresh piercings usually require surgical-grade metals to heal properly. Titanium is a popular option for people with sensitive skin or allergic reactions to other kinds of metal. Occasionally, the balls or other objects on the ends of the barbell can be replaced with plastic alternatives. Individuals with tongue piercings commonly do this to avoid tooth damage from accidentally biting the balls while eating or speaking.

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Discussion Comments
By Ivan83 — On Jan 25, 2012

Can barbells be made out of glass? This seems like it would open up lots of creative possibilities but I don't know if it is sturdy enough or sanitary enough to work.

By nextcorrea — On Jan 25, 2012

I have my belly button pierced and I have a whole box of jewelry just for that. Ionestly, I probably have more different things to go into my belly button than I do my ears.

I live out in California where the weather is always nice and I love to show off my midriff. I find that people notice my naval jewelry more than my earrings. I figure I might as well give the people what they want and try to dazzle them down there.

One of my favorite pieces is a small length of chain body jewelry that is made from real gold. It is only three or four lengths long and it's not that big but somehow it really grabs people's attention.

By truman12 — On Jan 24, 2012

I have been gauging my ears for the past five years, getting progressively and progressively larger. I am not sure how large I want to go in the end but I know I'm not ready to stop yet.

As much as I like the gauges I have never been crazy about the jewelry. I use a basic stainless steel barbell and I never change it unless I am going up in size. This might sound weird, but it is more about the hole than the thing holding it open.

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