If you’ve been around body modification culture for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard a lot of talk about titanium. Titanium piercing jewelry, ASTM F-136 titanium, titanium v. stainless steel, and other debates that continue to go on across the internet and probably will for another decade or so. But you might be wondering, what is the deal with titanium? What is it and why does everyone talk about it? So today let’s take a moment and take a closer look at titanium.
What is it?
Titanium is an element, number 22 on the periodic table. It’s also a durable, corrosion-resistant metal. Because it is an element and not a mix of metals (also known as an alloy) titanium jewelry will be made with titanium and nothing else. This is why it’s so great for people with metal allergies. You’ll know what you’re getting and that there is no allergen lurking in your jewelry. It’s also incredibly rare to have a titanium allergy unlike alloys and other metals like nickel. This is why your piercer should be using pure ASTM F-136 titanium jewelry when they pierce you. (And if you’re not sure about that, it’s okay to ask!)
Anodized Titanium
Anodizing is a chemical process that turns titanium from its natural silver color to virtually any color you might want. This even includes that cool rainbow, oil-slick finish. The only color that cannot be achieved through anodizing titanium is true black. The closest to black one can get is a dark gunmetal grey, which is very cool but not a true black. The nice thing about anodized jewelry is that the color cannot chip or flake away. If it fades over time, it retains a smooth finish that will not irritate your piercing with a rough texture.
Titanium v. Stainless Steel
You should never be pierced with stainless steel. Titanium, niobium, and rhodium are the only metals appropriate for getting pierced with. After your piercing is healed, you can choose to replace your jewelry with stainless steel. Stainless steel is an alloy and may contain nickel. If you don’t have a nickel allergy, this is a totally fine option. Surgical grade stainless steel is affordable and widely available. Both metals are durable, and resistant to dents, scratches, and corrosion. Stainless steel is perfect for fashion jewelry (as opposed to piercing jewelry - learn more about the difference - click here) and one should simply remember to take it out at night and not leave fashion jewelry in around the clock. Stainless steel is rarely found anodized and if it’s any other color than silver, it is most likely coated. This is perfectly okay as long as you aren’t wearing it constantly and are checking the finish when you take it out. If the coating begins to chip or wear away, it’s time to replace the jewelry so the texture of the jewelry doesn’t irritate your piercing.
When selecting a new piece of jewelry, there are many factors to take into account. If you don’t have metal allergies, the only time this becomes vital is when you are preparing to get a new piercing. Titanium is the gold standard for piercing jewelry because it doesn’t contain nickel, is extremely durable, and is easy to find and relatively affordable. But for fashion jewelry, you shouldn’t be wearing it for months at a time, so these factors are less important. So long as you’re not allergic, there’s no reason to rule out stainless steel for your fashion jewelry. Take good care of it and it will take good care of you. And if you prefer to wear only titanium jewelry, that’s okay too. Body modification is about choices as well as style and it’s perfectly fine to make the choice that is best for your body. Happy piercing!
