Piercing Hoops
Piercing Hoops Shopping Guide
Piercing hoops are one of the most versatile piercing types. There are several different kinds of piercing hoops available, so there is something for everyone.
Some piercing rings need special forceps to open and close properly. You can find more information about this as well as other useful information in this shopping guide.
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Piercing Hoop Sizes
Piercing hoops are often available in several thicknesses and diameters, and they are suitable for many different piercing types. The thickness and diameter needed for your specific piercing can vary from the standard sizes. The illustration shows how a piercing ring is measured.
Below is an overview of the standard or most common sizes for six popular piercing types, but the size you need can differ from the most common sizes.
We recommend measuring your current hoop to make sure you choose the right sizes for your piercing.
Piercing hoops are perfect for cartilage piercings. Check out the cartilage jewellery shopping guide for the most common sizes.
Most Common Sizes
Thickness 1.2 mm
Diameter 6 - 8 mm
Piercing hoops are a great choice for a nose piercing. You can find traditional nose rings in the nose piercings category.
Standard Sizes
Thickness 0.8 mm
Diameter 8 mm
Besides the special septum clicker hoops, all other available piercing ring types can be used for the septum piercing.
Standard Sizes
Thickness 1.2 mm
Diameter 8 mm
Piercing hoops are a great alternative to a curved barbell. There are many different ring types you could use.
Most Common Sizes
Thickness 1.2 mm
Diameter 8 - 10 mm
Although less commonly used than traditional belly bars, piercing hoops can also be used for the belly button.
Standard Sizes
Thickness 1.6 mm
Diameter 10 mm
Nipple rings are a nice change from the standard barbells. The diameter needed can vary between individuals.
Most Common Sizes
Thickness 1.6 mm
Diameter 10 - 19 mm
Special Forceps for Piercing Hoops
Some piercing hoops require special forceps to open and close the ring. You can also see this on the product pages of these hoops.
The forceps have notches on the inside and outside to help with easily opening and closing the ring. You can find detailed instructions on how to use them on the product page of the forceps.
There are two types of ball closure rings, ones with a loose ball and ones with a fixed ball. The loose ball is kept in place by pressure. This can make it quite a complex piercing ring to put in, so forceps are required to open it and close it tightly enough to hold the ball.
Seamless rings have a small opening that allows these rings to be opened and closed by bending. Thinner seamless rings that have no plating can sometimes be bent by hand, but special forceps are recommended to properly and safely open and close the ring.
Segment rings are a bit similar to ball closure rings in that there is a part of the ring that can be removed to open the ring, but segment rings shouldn’t be bent. Replacing the loose segment might take some practice, but once it is placed, the ring is completely smooth.
Piercing Hoop Materials
Choosing the right material for your new piercing hoop is important. Below is more information about the most popular materials for piercing rings.
316L Surgical Steel
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316L Surgical Steel
A majority of piercing hoops are made of this material. 316L surgical steel is a high-quality steel that contains small amounts of nickel. Find many piercings rings with colourful platings.
Titanium
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Titanium
Titanium piercing hoops have a bit less choice in designs, but they’re definitely worth it. Titanium is a nickel-free and hypoallergenic material. It doesn't require any maintenance and won’t discolour.
14 Kt. Gold
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14 Kt. Gold
14 kt. gold is a bit more extravagant, but a gorgeous material. It doesn't need much upkeep, but it's still recommended to care for your gold jewellery. Available in yellow, white, and rose gold.
.925 Sterling Silver
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.925 Sterling Silver
Not many piercing hoops are made of real silver, but there is nothing like the clear, bright shine of silver. Note that it can quickly fade as this material is very sensitive to discolouration.
Piercing Hoop Aftercare
Just like with any other piercing, the right aftercare is crucial. You can find more specific aftercare instructions on the page of the type of piercing you have.
In general we recommend using a Salt Spray for routine cleaning. When suffering from inflamed skin, use a product containing tea tree oil, such as our Salt Spray with Tea Tree.
Thinking about getting a new piercing?
When you are going to get a new piercing, you might want to use a piercing hoop as your first piercing. Always consult with your piercing artist first. A ring is not always the best piercing type for the healing period.
If you are looking for more information about getting pierced, we recommend checking out our piercing guides.
New Piercing Hoops
