If you’ve been around the pierced community for more than a minute, you’ve probably noticed the move away from steel jewelry towards titanium. This may have you wondering: what’s wrong with my steel jewelry? I’ve worn steel forever, am I doing something wrong? Are my piercings going to get infected? Today we’re going to take a moment to discuss steel jewelry – the good and the bad so that you can make the choice that’s right for you.
First of all, steel can be a lovely choice for jewelry and if you’ve always worn it and never had a problem. It’s an extremely strong metal and very durable. These are great qualities for body jewelry, which tends to take a beating because it often isn’t changed as frequently. It doesn’t tarnish, the way sterling silver jewelry can. When it is removed, it’s super easy to clean and doesn’t damage that easily. It’s also extremely affordable, which is great for modified folks on a budget. It comes in a wide range of finishes, the best and most durable of which is anodizing. But plated jewelry also is fine if you take care of it properly and don’t wear it around the clock 24/7/365. It’s even sustainable! Yup, that plain jewelry that you’re bored with or no longer have the piercing for? Stainless steel is absolutely 100 percent recyclable! As long as it’s not plated and doesn’t have any gems or sparkly things on it, you can totally recycle that jewelry. Good for making room for new pretties, good for the planet.
So why are people switching to titanium? Well, nothing in life is totally perfect and that includes steel jewelry. One of the first downsides that comes to mind is skin allergies. Nickel allergies are one of the most common metal allergies out there. And before you say “Well, I don’t have that”, know that a nickel allergy can appear at any stage in life, most commonly during periods of stress. So even if your steel jewelry causes you no problems now, that’s not to say that it never will. Steel is also tough to bend (which can be part of its allure, really) so items like nose hoops or closure rings can be challenging to close all the way without damaging the jewelry or your fingertips. Another issue can be the simple weight of the jewelry. Jewelry like dangle belly rings with really chunky charms can pull at your piercing and cause issues like some migration or possibly even slight tearing if they are worn constantly. And while steel is super-sturdy stuff, it's not indestructible. (Good thing it’s recyclable, just in case.) Finally, as the titanium takeover marches on, the range of colors may become more limited for steel with less anodized steel available and plated steel only typically found in a more basic color range.
If you want to stan steel or you just don’t want to replace all your body jewelry with titanium, that’s a fair decision to make. It’s your body and you are the one who gets what is best for it. In the grand scheme of things, steel body jewelry is a risk but compared to letting a stranger put a needle through your septum or healing a wound so that it creates a semi-permanent hole in your body, it’s ALL a risk…isn’t it? Just remember to be a good steward of your body. Don’t perform piercings on yourself at home, don’t put tea tree oil on your irritation bumps, don’t leave silicone plugs in all day/every day, and don’t sweat the steel if you don’t want to. It’s your choice to make. Happy piercing!
