When and How Can I Change My Belly Button Ring?

Changing your belly button ring for the first time can be exciting and nerve-wracking. Whether you’re eager to try new jewelry styles or simply ready to swap out your start ring, timing and technique are everything. In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly when it’s safe to change your belly button ring and how to do it properly to avoid irritation, infection, or prolonging the healing process.

When Can You Change Your Belly Button Ring?

Belly button, also known as navel, piercings take anywhere from 6 to 12 months to fully heal. At the six-month mark, at the soonest, if you’ve gone two to three weeks without any of the following, you’re ready to change your belly piercing jewelry:

• Redness
• Soreness
• Swelling
• Crust or discharge
• Irritation

If you’re unsure, it’s always best to check with a professional piercer in your area. Changing the jewelry prematurely can prolong the healing process.

How to Change Your Belly Button Ring

Before changing your navel piercing jewelry, gather the following items that you will need during the process:

• Saline piercing spray
• Clean paper towels or gauze
• Cotton pads or Q-tips
• Your new belly button jewelry you’re switching to
• A small packet of sterile lubricant, which you can get on Amazon
• Optional: non-latex disposable gloves for better grip

Step One: Wash Your Hands

Before touching your jewelry or piercing, wash your hands in warm water with a mild, antibacterial soap. This helps prevent you from introducing new, unwanted bacteria into the piercing, which can cause an infection.

Step Two: Clean The Area

Next, you need to clean the area. This also helps prevent bacteria from getting into the piercing site when you change the jewelry. To do this, use a saline wound wash spray and spray it onto a cotton pad or Q-tip. Wipe the area clean and pat it dry with gauze or a clean paper towel.

Step Three: Remove the Existing Jewelry

Once the area is clean and dry, it’s time to remove the existing jewelry. First, if you have disposable nitrile gloves, put them on now, as they will help you get a better grip on the jewelry.

Using one hand, firmly grasp the bottom bead; with the other, you will want to twist the top so it comes off. Remember, it’s “righty-tighty, lefty-loosey.”

Don't tug or pull on the jewelry if you’re having trouble getting the bead loose. Instead, stop what you are doing and go to a professional piercer to have the jewelry removed and replaced.

If you do remove the top bead, gently and carefully slide the jewelry out by pulling it from the bottom bead.

The removal process is slightly different if your belly button jewelry is threadless. Threadless jewelry is designed for a secure fit using tension instead of screwing the ends together, which makes it both sleek and comfortable to wear. However, it can be a little tricky to remove if you’re not familiar with how it works.

To remove threadless navel jewelry, wear disposable gloves for a better grip. Use one hand to gently grip the bottom of the jewelry, and with your other hand, pull the top bead straight away from the post. You don’t need to twist it. It’s normal to feel some resistance due to the pressure fit design, but if it feels too tight, you can wiggle it gently while applying even pressure to coax the top off.

Step Four: Clean The New Jewelry

Now that your old jewelry is removed and your piercing site is clean, you need to ensure your new jewelry is sterilized and thoroughly cleaned.

If your jewelry is brand new and sealed, it’s likely to come pre-sterilized. However, if you’re reusing a piece of jewelry you’ve used or are unsure if your jewelry came pre-sterilized, it’s always best to give it a gentle cleanse before inserting it.

First, remove your disposable gloves and toss them in the trash before handling the new jewelry. Next, wash your hands thoroughly again using warm water and soap. You can put on a pair of new gloves for this step if you wish, but it’s not necessary.

Next, it’s time to clean the new jewelry. First, plug your sink drain so any jewelry won’t accidentally go down if it slips out of your hand. Then, take apart the new jewelry so that any removable ends are separate from the barbell itself. Sometimes, only the top bead is removable, but that’s okay. Using fragrance-free antibacterial soap and warm water, wash the new jewelry thoroughly and pat it dry with a clean paper towel.

Step Five: Insert the New Belly Button Ring

Before inserting the jewelry, open the packet of sterile water-based lubricant to the end of the jewelry that will go into the piercing site. This helps reduce friction, making the insertion smoother and more comfortable–especially if the piercing channel is tight or you haven’t changed the jewelry before.

Do not use petroleum jelly or oil-based lubricants; they can trap bacteria and clog the piercing channel.

Once the jewelry is lubricated, gently insert the barbell into the bottom hole of your belly button piercing, guiding it upward through the channel until it exits at the top.

Once it’s entirely through, screw or push the top bead on, making sure it’s secure but not overly tight.

During this step, it’s important that you take your time. If the jewelry doesn’t slide in easily, don’t force it. Reapply lubricant, take a breath, and try again gently. If it still won’t go in, stop and go to your piercer for help. Forcing jewelry in can cause unnecessary trauma to the piercing site or even damage it.

When the jewelry is fully inserted, you can remove the gloves and dispose of them in the trash.

Step Six: Clean the Area Again

Once the new jewelry is in, spray the saline wound wash solution on a cotton pad or Q-tip and clean the area around the jewelry. Pat it dry with a clean paper towel.

Looking for New Belly Button Piercing Jewelry?

Changing your belly button jewelry can be rewarding and straightforward to refresh your look. Just make sure to do it safely and with clean, high-quality pieces. Whether you’re switching styles or upgrading materials, taking the time to follow proper aftercare and insertion techniques will help keep your piercing healthy and comfortable.

If you’re looking for stylish, well-made belly button rings, check out the variety available at Urban Body Jewelry. From classic titanium barbells to bold statement pieces, we have options for every aesthetic and stage of your piercing journey.