Expressing ourselves as a way to show our individuality and set ourselves apart from others has been part of the human experience since the dawn of time. Whether through painting, writing, singing, dancing, or some other creative outlet, expressing yourself is vital to living a happy life.

In the same vein, jewelry is one of the oldest and most universal forms of self-expression.

All over the world and throughout history, people have used body jewelry and other forms of body modification to communicate their status, beliefs, and values.

Body jewelry is a great way to show your personality and style or to accessorize your look. However, with such a wide variety of piercings styles and jewelry available, it's essential to ensure that you're getting the correct size.

Most Popular Types of Body Jewelry

There are many different types of body jewelry available on the market today to achieve any look you desire.

The most popular types of body piercings and jewelry include:

• Earlobe piercings. Earlobes are the most common locations for piercings, and can be placed anywhere along the fleshy part of the earlobe. The earlobe can hold anything from a stud or a barbell to a hoop, and can be stretched into plugs. You can combine earlobe piercings with cartilage piercings using body jewelry chains.

• Nose piercings. These are usually placed through the fleshy part of the nostril. Nose jewelry can be a hoop or a captive bead ring, but are most commonly a stud with a flat back.

• Tongue Piercings. These are generally placed in the thickest part of the tongue, although there are other types of tongue piercings, such as a frenulum placed under the tongue, a tip of tongue piercing, or a double tongue piercing. Tongue piercings tend to use a straight barbell as jewelry.

• Eyebrow Piercings. These are generally placed vertically along the side of the eyebrow, although they can also be horizontal or nonstandard. The curved barbell is the most popular type of eyebrow piercing, although it can also hold a hoop or captive bead ring.

• Belly Button Piercings. Belly button piercings are placed through the fleshy part of the lower abdomen above the navel, and generally hold a curved barbell or a dangle ring.

• Nipple Piercings. These are placed through the base of the nipple and can be done at any angle, usually horizontally. The nipple can hold a barbell, a nipple shield, a nipple clicker, or a captive bead ring, and you can combine it with chest body jewelry.

• Dermal Piercings. Dermal piercings are single-point surface piercings, meaning they do not have an exit point and can be placed anywhere on the body.

These are just a few examples of the world of piercings types to choose from, with others including statements such as lip piercings, septum piercings, or bridge piercings.

Many other parts of the ear can be pierced, such as the cartilage, tragus, daith, or helix, and these piercings can be combined to create patterns or a certain effect with the use of chains or other types of body jewelry.

There is no limit to the number or placement of piercings you can get: why not express yourself by trying something new?

Measuring Your Body Jewelry: The Basics

Once you've chosen the piercing you want and the type of jewelry you want to put in it, the next step is to ensure you're getting the right size when you're buying any new pieces.

You want to be aware of three main measurements when it comes to body jewelry: the gauge, the length, and the diameter.

• The gauge is the thickness of the wire used to make the jewelry. It's measured in numbers such as16g, 18g, 20g, etc., with a lower number meaning a thicker wire. You can ask your piercer what gauge they use, as they tend to have a preference (often 14g or 16g). The exception to this is larger plugs that are often measured in inches.

• The length measures the actual jewelry bar from one end to the other, not including the whole piercing with all of its decorations. This is especially important for barbells, as if the bar is too long, it will stick out of your piercing and could catch on things, and if it's too short, it will feel tight and uncomfortable.

• The diameter is the measurement across a circular jewelry piece, usually in millimetres (mm). This is especially important for hoop-style jewelry, as a hoop that's too small can be challenging to put in and take out, and one that's too large can be uncomfortable, or even fall out.

If you want to know what size your piercing should be, the best way to find out is to ask your piercer. They should be able to tell you what size jewelry they used (gauge, length, and diameter) and whether it's a standard size or not. If you're thinking of buying any jewelry that's not the same size, they will also be able to tell you whether or not it will fit and how it will look on you.

If you want to measure it yourself, using a flexible measuring tape is the best way to do so. You can also use a string or paper to measure and then hold it against a ruler, but these tools can be harder to get an accurate measurement with.

To measure the gauge, you will need a calliper, which is a tool that measures the thickness of metal, as the bar or rings are very thin and tricky to measure with a regular ruler.

If you want to measure the internal diameter of a ring, you will need to see where you want the hoop to sit on your ear, nose, or wherever your piercing is located and then measure from the actual piercing to that point.

When you're measuring body jewelry, make sure that you only take it out once your piercing is fully healed, as you don't want to risk damaging your piercing or causing swelling.

Also, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before handling any jewelry, as you don't want to introduce any bacteria into the piercing.

Once you've taken the body jewelry out, you can measure it by holding it up to a ruler or using a calliper to get an accurate gauge, length, or diameter measurement.

Finding the Right Body Jewelry for You

Finding the right piece of Body Jewelry for you is really a matter of personal preference.

If you want something high quality that won't cause an allergic reaction and will last, then titanium body jewelry is a great bet.

You can find men's and women's body jewelry in all price ranges, from high-end designer pieces to more affordable options and all styles. Once you start building up a collection, mixing and matching different pieces can be fun to create your unique look.

No matter what type of jewelry you choose, before you buy any pieces, make sure that they're the right size for your piercing, as this will ensure that it's comfortable and looks good.

At Black Line Studio, we offer a diverse collection of body jewelry for whichever style you’ve got your heart set on. Contact us to get one step closer to your dream piercings with quality and ease.