One thing people don’t find out until they have a few piercings of their own is that there is paraphernalia that goes along with them. Not just things like jewelry, but things you need to have on hand to avoid running to your piercer every other week. A toolbox. (That said, extra jewelry bits are super handy to add to this toolbox. Things like ball ends, o-rings, and spare jewelry can help turn an emergency into an inconvenience.) What should your toolbox have in it? Here are a few basic items that will just make having piercings a whole lot easier.
Jewelry Insertion Taper
If you wear threadless flat back earrings, an insertion taper is a game-changer. Made from implant-grade titanium with a smooth anodized coating, this tool helps guide your jewelry into place with minimal discomfort. To use, simply push the taper through your piercing, align the hollow end with the backing post, and insert your jewelry. The taper makes threading jewelry through the piercing quick and easy, eliminating the frustration of missed alignments or fumbling with tiny pieces. Add this to your toolbox, and changing your flat back earrings becomes a breeze!
Ball End Grabber
This is just a retracting claw with a handle. You use it to pick up a ball end off of a flat surface and if you have long nails or trouble grasping tiny little spherical objects that roll away from your touch, you really are going to love this tool. That probably describes 99% of the population so if you’re pierced, this will definitely have a home in your toolbox.
Piercing Ball Remover Tool
Have you ever had a ball end get stuck on your piercing? Maddening. This item is just a metal tube lined with silicone. The silicone lining allows a real grip on the ball end and the tube is larger so it’s way easier to turn it. So much simpler than trying to grab the jewelry with a pair of tweezers and forcibly twist off the ball end while wearing gloves. It’s a good idea to have one of these around BEFORE you need it.
Ball Holding Tweezers
Like regular tweezers, but these have circular plates at the end that can firmly grasp the ball end between them. Try that with regular tweezers and the ball end is liable to turn into a projectile and never be seen again. These are going to make changing your jewelry easier and who wouldn’t want that?
Captive Ring Opening Pliers
These are like tiny little needle nose pliers but instead of having the needle nose, they have two tiny pegs at the ends. You put the the pegs into a captive ring and open the pliers very, very gently, to open it and allow you to remove the captive bead or charm and insert the jewelry. These allow you to change out a captive ring on your own without destroying it. Easy on that pressure though, you don’t need to open the ring that far. If you push too hard, you’ll bend it out of shape.
Captive Ring Closing Pliers
These look like they might be a smaller version of ordinary pliers but the ends each have a groove in them. You put the ring in the grooves and verrrry very gently use the pliers to close the opened ring to keep the charm or bead in place. They are made specifically for this purpose so as long as you don’t use too much force, they will close your captive ring without bending it out of shape or scratching it.
Aftercare Spray
Ok, so sterile saline spray isn’t really a “tool” by definition. But you know what? You should have it around anyway because you never know when you’re going to need it. Maybe your pet accidentally knocks your nose piercing, maybe you sleep funny on your pierced ear, maybe you happen to impulsively go get pierced one afternoon because you’re bored. No matter what, you have proper care on-hand already because you had sterile saline spray. You’re almost certainly going to need it sooner or later anyway. Whether you’re taking care of a new piercing or babying one that’s irritated, this stuff is a must.
Having piercings is a joy, but also an ongoing responsibility. Taking on that responsibility means keeping a few odds and ends around the house to help yourself when you need a little help. It’s okay to go to the piercer just to get your jewelry changed, and it’s ok to go to the piercer because the ball end is stuck on your cartilage stud. But isn’t so much nicer to not have to and to just do it yourself? Happy piercing!
