Your belly button piercing is finally healed after a period of almost 12 to 16 weeks. You have followed proper care, and congratulations, it is your cue to change and style it with cute belly piercings.
You can be both simple and bold, depending on what you actually want. Both kinds of jewellery changing is exciting and frankly a little daunting. But don’t stress about it. Read this guide to make your first belly piercing change super smooth.
Why Change Your Belly Piercing?
As you heal, your skin adjusts, and you might find that your original jewellery doesn’t feel as comfortable anymore.
You might be bored of the original stud, or maybe you want to try out a different style, like a dangly charm or a cute hoop. Changing your belly button piercings can also be a fun way to truly experiment with your style.
When Can You Change Your Belly Piercing?
Be sure your belly button piercing is fully healed before you attempt to change it.
Signs your piercing is ready to change:
- No swelling or redness
- No pain or discomfort
- No pus or crusting (if you’re worried about an infected belly piercing, consult your piercer or a healthcare professional)
If your piercing is still tender or showing signs of infection, like in the case of an infected belly button piercing, it’s best to wait a bit longer.
What You’ll Need
To change your belly button piercing safely, gather these essentials:
- A new piece of high quality belly button jewellery (preferably hypoallergenic materials like titanium or surgical steel)
- A mirror
- Clean hands (always wash them with soap and water)
- A disinfectant solution (like saline solution or rubbing alcohol)
- Cotton swabs or gauze
Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your Belly Piercing
Use Clean & Washed Hands
You might not want to infect it after it heals. It is safe to properly clean your hands with water and soap to evade doubts.
Use Clean Piercing
Now that your hands are as clean, grab some disinfectant. Saline solution or rubbing alcohol will do the trick. Dip a cotton swab in there and gently clean the area around your belly button piercing. You wanna get rid of any leftover yuckiness to keep it fresh.
Prep Your New Jewellery
Time to prep your new belly piercing. Take it out of the packaging, and if it looks like it could use a rinse, give it a little bath in warm, soapy water. Pat it dry with a clean paper towel.
Remove the Old Jewellery
Using your fingers, gently unscrew the ball or the end of your current jewellery. If you’re struggling, try to relax and give it a little twist; don’t force it. Once it’s loose, carefully pull it out. If you’re dealing with an infected belly button piercing, make sure to be gentle to avoid any additional irritation.
Insert the New Jewellery
Now, take your new piece of jewellery and insert it into the hole from the back of the belly bars. If it’s a barbell, slide it through until it comes out the front. Don’t rush this part; if it feels stuck, don’t force it. If you’re having trouble, you might need to wiggle it a bit or use a smaller gauge jewellery temporarily to help it go through.
Secure the Jewellery
Once the jewellery is through, secure it by screwing on the ball or end piece. Make sure it’s tight enough to stay in place but not so tight that it causes discomfort.
Clean Up
Give your new belly piercing another quick clean with the disinfectant solution to ensure everything is bacteria-free. You can also clean around the piercing again, just to be safe.
What If You Have a Faux Belly Piercing?
If you’re rocking a faux belly piercing (those cool clips that look like the real deal but aren’t), changing them is a breeze! Just pop them off and switch them out for a different style. You don’t have to worry about healing time, but make sure to clean them before putting them on.
So here you have it, a step-by-step process of getting the job done easily at home with a healed belly piercing. If you are still searching for jewellery options, you might want to check belly jewellery trends for 2024 to pick the most beautiful piece.