Captive Bead Rings

Captive bead rings are popular body piercing jewelry because they are practical and convenient.  For instance, the bead is held in place so securely that it is difficult for it to fall out, yet it is quite easy to remove.   The wearer simply removes it, preferably with ring opening pliers.  Because captive bead rings are held in place so securely and the bead protects the ends of the ring, they do not easily snag clothing, hair, or furniture.  Thus, they are very popular choices for those who have newly created and healing piercings.  To avoid infection at the piercing site, bead wearers should thoroughly wash their hands with soap and hot water during the bead insertion and removal processes.Body piercing is something that human kind has done for various reasons throughout time and today is no exception.  It is not uncommon to see people with one or multiple body piercings in any number of places on their bodies. Captive bead rings are one of the most common types of body piercing jewelry.  A captive bead ring is a circular piece of jewelry with a small opening in which a bead or ball is used to hold the piece in place and to complete the circle.  The bead holds the ring together for two reasons. First, it is slightly larger than the jewelry’s opening. Second, the bead has small indentations that correspond to the end points of the ring.  This enables the end points to fit very snugly into the bead.  Often times, a hole is drilled through the bead making it easier to connect the bead and the ring.  Captive bead rings are generally made out of stainless steel, niobium, or titanium.  The bead is made of colored glass, ceramic, or a gemstone.  

Before inserting captive bead rings, the wearer should fully understand how the jewelry works.  Snapping the ball in and out of the jewelry several times to learn how it works helps prevent painful or injurious attempts to insert the jewelry.  Also keep in mind that very thin or very thick captive bead rings are more difficult for people to insert themselves.  Most importantly for those who do not get the hang of inserting the jewelry or do not want to risk hurting themselves, piercing professionals can insert the jewelry for them.  However, if you want to insert your own captive bead rings, following the steps that are listed below will help you insert them safely.

1. To prevent infection at the piercing site, wash you hands with soap and hot water thoroughly.

2. Clean an area about the size of a paper towel so you will have a sanitized work area.  Cover this area with clean paper towel.

3. Wash your hands again before you actually handling the captive bead ring. .  If the ring does not come in a sterile package, then it must be washed with soap and water.

4. Carefully clean the piercing with liquid soap and water, pat it dry, and remove the current jewelry. 

5. Prepare the captive bead ring for insertion by removing the bead and twisting the ring open slightly.

6. Place a very small amount of liquid soap on one end of the captive bead ring and slide it into your piercing.

7. When you have inserted the jewelry, wipe off the access soap, dry the ring, twist it closed, and snap the bead in place.

After all of these steps to insert captive bead rings, you might be asking yourself: “How do I remove a captive bead ring?”  It is best to use ring-opening pliers to remove your captive bead ring or seek the help of a piercing professional.