Titanium
There are a few materials approved by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP), but implant-grade titanium is the one most piercers recommend for initial piercings.
Here’s why:
- It’s nickel-free. Nickel is the most common contact allergen in the world, according to the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation. It’s regularly found in jewelry for piercings. Titanium doesn’t contain any nickel, which makes it safe for people with sensitive skin or a nickel allergy.
- It has a high strength-to-density ratio. In other words, titanium is considerably less dense than stainless steel and other metals, but just as strong (if not more so). This makes it durable and less likely to bend or break.
- It’s lightweight. That low density we just talked about is what makes titanium jewelry lighter than those made with other metals.
- It can be anodized. Titanium’s dark metallic colour is cool as is. But unlike other stainless steel, you can get titanium in other colours. This is done through anodizing, an electrochemical process that changes the surface colour while maintaining safety.
- It's less expensive than several alternatives like Niobium & Gold
- It is the most widely used in high quality body jewelry brands and therefor gives you the most options
