Body Jewelry Material Guide for Plugs
We’ve written this body jewelry material guide to explain the different materials that plugs are made from that you will see when buying new jewelry.
This material guide is intended to be helpful and informative so you can know what you are putting into your body and why. Certain materials like steel and glass are safe for healing ears while most other materials should only be worn after your ears are healed to avoid infection and to ensure proper healing.
Read up on each type of material to help determine your preferred material for your next piece of jewelry.
Steel
GOOD FOR FRESH EAR STRETCHES AND PIERCINGS
GOOD FOR HEALED EARS AND PIERCINGS
Stainless steel is the most common metal that body jewelry is made from and is typically used in fresh piercings and stretches. Stainless steel, or 316L steel, is autoclavable and nonporous which make it a great option for healing. It contains some nickel, but the finishing polish adds a layer of chromium oxide that locks the nickel away from contact with the skin. Nickel can produce mild to severe allergic reactions on the skin for the 10 to 20% of people that are sensitive to nickel.
Implant grade steel, or F138 steel, is the highest quality of steel available and contains much less nickel than stainless steel. Implant grade steel is graded as such because it has been proven to be one of the few biocompatible steel alloys. Biocompatible materials do not harm living tissue and do not trigger rejection.
We have stainless steel jewelry for any and every piercing type.
Our stainless steel plugs range in style from simple tunnels to plugs with inlays like gems or patterned designs.
Titanium
GOOD FOR FRESH EAR STRETCHES AND PIERCINGS
GOOD FOR HEALED EARS AND PIERCINGS
Titanium, specifically F67 or F136 titanium, is another popular metal for body jewelry. Titanium is a high-quality metal and has no nickel, which means it is safe for people with metal allergies and sensitivities. Our titanium tunnel plugs would be a good option if steel irritates your ears.
Titanium is:
- Nickel free
- Corrosion resistant
- Approximately 40% lighter than steel
- Able to be anodized in a variety of colors
Niobium
GOOD FOR FRESH EAR STRETCHES AND PIERCINGS GOOD
FOR HEALED EARS AND PIERCINGS
Not as much jewelry is made with niobium, but it’s another nickel-free biocompatible metal. It can be anodized in color and it happens to be the only metal that can be truly anodized black.
Glass/Pyrex
GOOD FOR FRESH EAR STRETCHES AND PIERCINGS
GOOD FOR HEALED EARS AND PIERCINGS
Glass plugs are a great alternative to metal plugs. It is nonporous and can be autoclaved so it’s safe for healing tissue and glass plugs come in a variety of brilliant colors and interesting designs. It can give also the look of stone plugs, but without the weight! While fairly sturdy, glass plugs can still break when dropped.
Bone, Horn, Stone, and Wood
BAD FOR FRESH EAR STRETCHES AND PIERCINGS
GOOD FOR HEALED EARS AND PIERCINGS
Natural and organic materials are lightweight and a decorative options for plugs, but they aren’t safe for healing tissue. They are porous materials and harbor bacteria, which can cause irritation and infection in healing tissue, so only wear them once your stretch or piercing has healed properly.
Stone plugs are a natural and colorful option that appeal to many people. Bone, horn, and wood plugs also give a natural look, but can be more decoratively embellished like steel plugs with inlays and engravings or carved into delicate designs like these gorgeous saba wood blooming flower hanger plugs.
Natural materials are not water friendly materials! Prolonged exposure to water or moisture will warp and crack the plugs. Take them out when you shower, swim, etc. To clean them, wipe them off with a clean, damp cloth and oil them. Regular oiling with coconut or jojoba oil is also needed to prevent the jewelry from cracking and drying out. Our jojoba oil is perfectly suited for the job.
Acrylic
BAD FOR FRESH EAR STRETCHES AND PIERCINGS
OK FOR HEALED EARS AND PIERCINGS
Acrylic is a super lightweight and affordable plastic that is used for plugs and various pieces of body jewelry. Acrylic jewelry is bright and colorful and can mimic the look of glass and stone for a much more affordable price.
Putting graphics or images under the acrylic is a popular technique that offers an endless amount of design possibilities, like these Lil Zombie Hello Kitty plugs We also have glow in the dark acrylic jewelry like these glow in the dark captive bead Rings and glow in the dark acrylic plugs if you really want to light up the night.
As a porous material, it can only be worn in healed stretches and piercings or it will cause irritation. Be aware that prolonged wear can still cause irritation in healed tissue in some people. Another downside to note for acrylic is that it is fragile and can strip or break easily.
Silicone
BAD FOR FRESH EAR STRETCHES AND PIERCINGS
GOOD FOR HEALED EARS AND PIERCINGS
Silicone is a soft, flexible, rubbery, and incredibly comfortable material. It’s perfect to wear for sleeping, working out, participating in sports, or under a helmet. Silicone plugs come in a rainbow of colors and there are both solid plug and tunnel styles to choose from.
Silicone is only intended for healed ears. Wearing silicone while stretching was reported to have severe negative reactions. Prolonged wear of silicone can also cause irritation or allergic reactions in some people because pollen and dust can stick to the surface. It’s important to keep the plugs and your ears clean to avoid this. Occasional oiling may also be necessary with either jojoba or coconut oil if your ears begin to feel dry.
Implant grade silicone is biocompatible and the highest grade available for plugs. However, very few companies actually use implant grade silicone. We offer products from Kaos Silicone plugs, the company that originally developed and produced implant grade silicone for squishy plugs.
As always, visit or call your piercer if you’re not sure about a material or if you are running into issues with your jewelry or piercings.