Learn to change your navel for the first time

After getting your navel pierced, there are many things you need to do to prevent infection and irritation. It is important to care for the piercing as you would any wound. A stainless steel needle was inserted through your skin and it is important to treat your new belly button ring as such.

After you’ve waited the recommended 6 to 12 months for your new piercing to heal, you’re probably ready to shop for new navel rings. They are available online, at piercing and tattoo parlors, and at mall kiosks. Belly rings are sometimes available at department store jewelry counters or even at discount stores like Wal-Mart and Target. No matter where you get your new body jewelry, you must follow these rules for cleaning and changing your belly button rings.

Before you even buy the rings, check that they are made of a reliable material that will not irritate your skin. Even after the piercing has healed, it may still be tender and prone to infection. The best materials for belly button rings are 316L Surgical Steel (a form of stainless steel), Titanium, Bioplast or Bioflex, 24K Gold Plated, and 14K Real Gold. These materials are hygienic and strong, and belly button rings made from these things are less likely to chip or break.

Before inserting the belly ring, sterilize each product with warm soapy water to remove dirt and oil. You can also autoclave your belly button rings, which is a sterilization process that uses extreme heat to kill germs that can cause pain and infection. You’ll usually need to visit a tattoo or piercing parlor if you want your belly button rings autoclaved.

When changing a ring, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before you begin. If you have medical gloves available, you can wear them for added protection. Be sure to position your new belly button ring close to where you’re working so you can spend as little time as possible without anything in your piercing.

Unscrew the top ball of the new belly ring you want to insert and set it aside. In some navel rings, only the top ball is removable, in some only the bottom ball is removable, and in some both balls are removable. For ease and comfort, it is recommended that you remove the top ball.

Gently grasp the bottom of the belly ring you are wearing firmly between your thumb and forefinger. Gently twist the top ball of the navel ring you are wearing to remove it from the bar. Slowly pull the navel ring down and out of the navel piercing.

Immediately take the replacement belly button ring and place the non-ball part of the bar near the inside of your belly button (where the piercing hole is). Apply pressure slowly and gently and continue until the bar sticks out of the top hole of the piercing. If this is your first time changing belly button rings, it may take a couple of tries to push it all the way through.

Take the top ball of your new ring and gently screw it in while supporting the bar with your thumb and forefinger. Once you’re done, wash your hands immediately, as well as the old belly button ring.

If you follow these steps carefully, you will be able to change your belly button rings frequently and easily.