There are a lot of different shapes and styles of jewelry on the market when it comes to piercings. The piercer has to decide what will work best, which may not be what the piercee would like to have. Always remember that when choosing a jewelry style, the options for wear after the piercing are healed will increase. I've listed the most common types.

Piercing Jewelry:

The following jewelry styles are used for piercing at the Axiom as of the updating of this article in June of 2025.

Threadless Jewelry:

Threadless Labret Studs:

By far the most common style that we use to pierce most ear piercings and nostril piercings. This is a titanium post with a flat disc on the backside of the piercing and a stylized end on the visible side of the piercing. The post section is an industry-standard hollow post. The end has a wire that is slightly bent and then inserted into the hollow post—the bend of the wire then wedges into the stud to ensure that it stays in place. 

Threadless Curves:

Threadless Curves work the same way as the Labret style, but the post section is a quarter of a whole circle curve. They are used to pierce Rooks, Snugs, Daith, Anti-Tragus, Vertical Labret, Eyebrow, and Navel Piercing. There are three styles: 

• Standard requiring a threadless end on both sides
• Fixed Ball - One side has a fixed ball that is soldered to the end.
• Floating Navel Curves - one side has a fixed disc.

Threadless Nostril Scews:

A bent piece of wire that is straight where the jewelry passes through the nostril piercing, and a curved end that sits inside the nostril. The only real difference between Threadless and normal Nostril Screws is that instead of a fixed gem or other settings, it is hollow and a threadless end can be inserted.

Threadless Standard Barbell:

A standard straight post with either a fixed end on one side or no fixed ends. 

The Advantages of Threadless Jewelry:

• No threading ends to damage the piercing or cause additional trauma during jewelry insertion.
• No threading to strip out or come loose and fall off. This dramatically reduces the risk of jewelry loss.
• A vast selection of different ends and settings. These ends are all interchangeable regardless of the style and gauge of the post, material, or manufacture. At the time of writing this update, Axiom Body Piercing stocks over 200 different ends. From basic Titanium balls and discs to shaped and gemmed settings to very high-end 14kt designs.
• Since to remove the ends, you simply pull them out, they are much easier to change than threaded jewelry.
• Ends can be used on 20g, 18g, 16g, and 14g jewelry.
• Guide Pins fit easily inside the hollow posts, making jewelry changes and insertion much easier with a reduced risk of damaging the piercing. Axiom Body Piercing currently offers 18g guide pins for individuals who frequently change their jewelry.
• Due to the variety of ends and how easy it is to remove the ends, you can change the look of the piercing without completely removing the jewelry.
• Downsizing only requires replacing the post.

Threaded Jewelry:

All the threaded Jewelry that Axiom pierces with and sells is internally threaded and industry-standard, which means that the threading is inside the post and the end has threading that resembles a screw. Externally threaded jewelry, where the threading is on the post and the ball acts as a nut, is of the lowest quality and is an outdated design; we advise against wearing it, even in a healed piercing.

Threaded Labret Studs:

A straight post with a fixed disc on one side and a threaded end on the other side. Used mainly for piercings that enter and exit the mouth, like Labret, Beauty Marks, and Medusa Piercing and Groupings. The threaded version is used with oral piercings where the ends require more secure attachment than a threadless version would provide. 

Threaded Circular Barbells:

Often called a "Horseshoe", it is a perfect circle, but the bottom is missing, and two threaded balls are attached to the ends. These are used to pierce Septums to make them easy to flip up and hide if needed, as well as for daith piercings. Also, it can be used to pierce several female and male genital piercings in place of a Captive Bead Ring.

Threaded Curved Barbells:

Shaped like a banana with two threaded balls on both ends. Used to pierce Rook, Snug, Anti-Tragus, Eyebrow, Vertical Labrets, Navel, Christina, Vertical Clitoral Hood, and Dyeo Piercings. 

Threaded Navel Curved Barbells:

Shaped just like a curved barbell, but usually has a fixed larger setting on the bottom and a threaded top facing setting on the top. The Axiom also stocks threadless versions also.

Threaded Standard Barbells:

A straight post with two threaded ends. Used to pierce Tongue, NIpple, and Frenum Piercings.

Rings

Rings are not the best option for healing most piercings. However, they work well in some areas where a ring would fit better, limiting pressure and movement. 

CAPTIVE BEAD RINGS: 

Often referred to as CBR, it was once the most widely used style in body piercing. It has since fallen out of favor as better options and styles have become available. Now it is only mainly used in genital piercings. Currently, at the Axiom, we only use CBRs on Horizontal Clitoral Hood piercings, Triangle Piercings, Labia Piercings, Prince Albert Piercings, Scrotum Piercings, Lorum Piercings, and Guiche Piercings. In some cases, depending on the anatomy of the client, a curved or circular barbell may be used.

It is a ring with a bead made of either Implant Grade Steel, Titanium, or a stone that is countersunk on each side and/or has a hole through it. The tension of the ring locks and holds the bead in place. The main issues with rings are that they have a higher profile, which increases the amount of contact and increases movement.

BEADED RINGS OR FIXED BEAD RINGS: 

Same as the CBR, but the bead is made of the same metal and can not be removed. The drawback is that the ring must be pulled apart and then twisted to remove and replace it. 

SEAMLESS RINGS: 

The Seamless, in most cases, is not the best choice for piercing jewelry because many are just rings with blunt ends that are pushed together. If the seam gets into the piercing tunnel, there is a chance the body will try to grow tissue through the seam in its attempt to reconnect the skin. 

Other Jewelry Styles:

Nostril Screws:

Though we are phasing out nostril screws in favor of Threadless Labret Studs, if requested we will still pierce with nostril screws. They a wire with a fixed end, usually a gem setting, and the wire is bent first at a 90-degree angle and then a curve. The flat part sits inside the piercing, with the curved section seated against the inside of the nose.

The main advantage is that the jewelry can be, in some ways, easier to remove and change than Threadless Labret Studs. However, the jewelry, if caught, can easily fall out during healing and cause extreme pain and difficulty in reinserting it into the healing piercing. Additionally, the end of the curve can tend to hang out of the bottom of the nostril. Especially, if the piercing is placed lower to make it easier to wear rings once the piercing is healed.

L-Bend:

L-bend jewelry is not offered at the Axiom but is commonly used to pierce nostrils, just like a nostril screw but without the curve on the inside of the nose. Instead, it is just a straight post. This makes it much easier to remove and put back in, but it is also significantly less secure and more prone to falling out.

Septum retainers:

Though not used as often, we do stock and will pierce with septum retainers. They come in two styles: the staple style, which is shaped like a staple, and what we stock, which is the omega style, which is shaped like the Omega symbol. They are designed to be worn flipped up during the healing. Since there are no ends, they aren't as secure as circular barbells, which is a much better option. Plus, they look a lot better when you wear them down.

Healed Piercing Jewelry:

Hinged Rings:

A ring with a quarter section that swings out on a hinge and then has a closer with a lead that fits tightly into the ring. It just snaps right in and is very secure. Since the opening is large, it is easy to insert the jewelry without the expansion and bend required by seamless rings, fixed bead rings, and captive bead rings. Additionally, since you are not bending the jewelry, it won't lose its shape and is more durable. Then there is the endless variety of styles from basic plain rings to elaborate gem and bead designs. Whether it be for a septum, a nostril, or a conch piercing, there is a design that will fit perfectly and give that piercing a completely new look. The Axiom stocks over 50 designs in various sizes, as well as 18g and 16g options. We stock Nickel-Free 14kt Gold, 24kt PVD-coated titanium, and Implant-Grade Titanium that we can anodize into 20 different colors.

Clickers:

Clickers have the same type of closure as hinged rings; the only difference is that with clickers, the hinged section that sits inside the piercing is flat. Great for Septum and Daith piercings.

Retainers:

There are those times in life when you can not wear jewelry in your piercings. Whether it be a medical procedure, employment, or a social event, retainers are needed to ensure that your piercings do not close. Although even with retainers, your piercing may be noticeable, it is safe to wear for most medical procedures. Other than the metal septum retainers mentioned above, all of our retainers at the Axiom are glass from Glasswear Studios. The glass material is high-quality Pyrex, also known as Borosilicate or hard glass. It is durable with a smooth finish and safe to wear in a healed or healing piercing, and can be sterilized. Additionally, glass is highly biocompatible. They come in clear and flesh tones.

We do not suggest wearing plastics in your piercing, regardless of the brand name or how the material is marketed. Long-term exposure may cause health issues. It is unknown because most studies that have been done on the material have not involved exposure to healing or healed piercings. The other problems are that the roughness of the plastic jewelry can cause trauma and damage to the piercing, and it cannot be sterilized.

Glass Labret:

Straight posts with a flared side and an o-ring. Works in most piercings where labret or studs are worn.

Glass Curves:

Curved post with a flare on one side and an o-ring on the other. Works in most piercings where a curved barbell or ring is typically worn.

Glass Nostril Screws:

Just like a metal nostril screw but it's made of glass.

Stretching Jewelry:

Usually worn in the Ear and come in a large variety of shapes and materials. Since the weight of CBR and Cir BB can significantly increase when you get into larger gauges, many piercing collectors will wear plugs while stretching. Not to mention how hard it is to get a bead off a 0g CBR. They usually start at 12g and go up to several inches. They are made of metal, Glass, medical-grade silicone, and various organic materials, including wood, stone, and antlers.

Plugs:

A solid cylinder and other shapes that have several different ways to keep them in place, including flared sides and O-rings. If you are stretching a piercing, we recommend avoiding plugs with flares on both sides. It requires you to stretch the piercing beyond what is necessary to insert it. This can damage the piercing. Single flared organic and glass come with an o-ring on the back, while some metal plugs have removable threaded flares on one side. The Axiom stocks a few organic plugs and glass plugs from Glasswear Studios and Gorilla Glass and offers stretching kits.

Eyelets:

Eyelets, also called tunnels, are just like plugs except they are hollow. The Axiom currently stocks a few organic eyelets and Flared Titanium Eyelets with an internally threaded flared end on one side, ranging from 8g to 1 inch.

Hangers:

Also known as spirals, they are characterized by a hook with an often larger, more decorative side or a spiral. The Axiom stocks a few designs in glass.

Ear Weights:

Large hanging pieces with a slit that piercing slides into. There are various shapes, designs, and materials available.

Surface to Surface & Single Point Piercings:

The Axiom does not offer surface-to-surface piercing or single-point piercings, also known as dermal anchoring. So we do not stock dermal anchors or surface-to-surface jewelry.

Micro Dermal Anchors

Much like a labret stud, but instead, the back or anchor is oval-shaped instead of disc-shaped. Since they are almost exclusively used for Micro Dermal and other forms of surface-to-surface piercing and pocketing, they are not the best choice for other piercings because the post is too short.

With Dermals, the jewelry is designed never to be changed. In some cases, you can change the tops, but there are several different thread styles and thread sizes. So, you may be unable to find one that works. The post section stays in until you decide to abandon the piercing and can not be replaced without redoing the procedure.

Surface Bars

A flat bar that is bent at a 90-degree angle on each end. Think a very short U. The flat bar is designed to sit under the surface of the skin with the threaded ends only being visible. Like Dermal Anchors, Surface bars cannot be replaced; however, the ends are usually standard-threaded and can be changed.

Jewelry types that we do not suggest:

Nostril Bones:

A nostril Bone will usually have a setting or ball on one end and then either a cone-shaped ball or a ball on the other. They go in fairly easily because the ball is often the thickness of the most common 18g. The problem is getting them out. Since the post section is often much thinner than the ball, the piercing tunnel conforms to the thickness of the post, and to remove it, you either have to pull the larger ball through or have it cut out. As the piercing season and the piercing become larger, the jewelry often falls out.

Nostril Pins:

Sometimes labeled simply as "nose jewelry," it often has no back or an ear-piercing stud-style back. The pins without backs are likely to fall out, and the ones with backs tend to want to tighten and can cause the jewelry to impact the piercing.

Navel Curved Barbells with charms and dangles:

These are essentially the same as curved barbells, but they feature shaped and often large charms or settings, along with dangles that hang from the jewelry. Too often, even if the jewelry is labeled as Surgical Stainless Steel, Implant Grade Steel, or Titanium, they are only referencing the post of the jewelry. With shaped objects, they are often made of substandard metals, which could cause a reaction. Also, the sharp points of the shaped charms can cause discomfort. The dangles tend to get caught on everything. Remember that basic jewelry is always the best choice, even with a healed piercing.