Belly Rings

Belly button rings are some of the most iconic piercings. Beyond being a great fit for every age and body type, this cute little mod sits right in your navel and adds just a bit of flash to your look, especially during those warm summer months at the beach.

This ultra-versatile piercing can be completely hidden (by regular clothing), so even if you're not one to flaunt your stomach, it can still be an amazing way to beautify your body and feel better about yourself from day to day.

Looking forward to getting your belly button pierced? Here's everything you need to know about this timeless piercing!

Is a Belly Ring Right for Me?

Although a belly button ring is a great way for anyone to beautify their navel, it's not actually a great fit for every person. This has more to do with the way your body "folds" than anything to do with weight, height, or age.

Stand up and bend forward while keeping an eye on your navel (this can also be done when sitting down). If your stomach creases above your belly button, that's perfect! You'll make an excellent candidate for a belly button piercing.

If you notice that your stomach creases directly across your navel, a belly button piercing might not be the best fit for your anatomy. As your navel creases across your fresh piercing, it will repeatedly jostle it. This will inevitably cause a lot of irritation in your piercing, which can lead to infection, irritation, or piercing rejection.

Does A Navel Piercing Hurt?!

Yes! At first. The piercer is going to (potentially) clamp your belly button and then push a needle through your skin. That's bound to be uncomfortable, at least on some level.

When it comes to piercings, it's hard to pinpoint exactly how it's going to feel. Every person's body is different. Every person experiences pain in a different way. Every piercer is just a little bit different. Who knows how a navel ring will rank on your pain scale?

In general, most individuals tend to rank the belly ring somewhere in the middle of the pain scale. It's probably not as painful as a nipple or cartilage piercing, but you'll probably still feel at least some sort of discomfort.

What Can I Wear In My Belly Piercing?

There are SO many options for decorating your belly piercing, even beyond a dangly belly ring or tried-and-true basics. Here are a few options for jewelry to wear in your navel:

1.) Barbells - this is more than likely what you're thinking of when you hear the term "belly ring." These also come in "j-bar" variations, which are very similar, just with a harsher angle in the bar itself.

2.) Spiral Rings - These cool belly button rings offer a different look. They're more of a "circle" than traditional belly rings. For more information, check out this blog here.

3.) Pregnancy Retainers - You don't have to give up your navel ring when you get pregnant! There are special retainers made for just such an occasion. Learn more about pregnancy belly button rings here.

How Do I Insert a Navel Ring?

First make sure your belly ring has completely healed! Changing your jewelry before it is ready can lead to irritation, which could cause unfortunate complications down the road.

Once you're sure your belly button piercing is healthy, putting in a new piece of jewelry is a piece of cake! Here's a few easy steps to take when changing your belly ring for the first time:

1.) Wash your hands/jewelry - Before you start, wash both your hands and your jewelry. Use a small amount of gentle soap, place your jewelry in your hands, and lather up. Make sure you've thoroughly washed your hands/jewelry and you're ready to start.

2.) Take out existing ring - Pay attention to your body. If it starts to hurt at any time, you might not be ready to change out your jewelry. Gently unscrew the ball of your previous belly ring until it comes off the post. Pull on the jewelry so that the ball-less end is pulled through your piercing.

3.) Prep your new jewelry - Unscrew the ball end of your new jewelry. This should already be clean from washing it earlier. If you need to, moisten both your piercing site AND the jewelry with a bit of saline for some sterile "lubrication."

4.) Put in your new jewelry - Place the ball-less end of the jewelry at the site of your piercing that you'd like to enter. Gently push the jewelry into your piercing until you see the top poke out the other side.

5.) Reattach the ball end - You're almost done! Screw the ball back on... That's it! Take a step back and admire your new jewelry!