Build Your Own Titanium Barbell

Let’s look at the old school, rock-solid threaded titanium barbell first. It’s the classic style most people know. And it comes in two versions:

• Internally threaded titanium barbell - The screw is hidden inside the post. It’s smooth to insert, piercer-approved, and much safer for fresh piercings.
• Externally threaded titanium barbell - The screw sits on the outside of the post, which can scrape the piercing when you put it in. This is why most piercers don’t recommend it unless you’re in the ‘been there, seen it and worn the t-shirt’ category.

People love threaded jewellery for the following reasons:

• Super secure once tightened, making it perfect if you don’t change jewellery often
• Can hold large decorative tops without wobbling
• Works well for thicker gauges from 12g / 2.0mm upwards

But it also comes with its downsides:

• Small pieces, like tiny gem balls, can be fiddly to screw on
• They can come loose if they’re not tightened properly, or if hair and movement twist them
• Different gauges don’t always match. For example, a large top won’t necessarily fit a medium post

That’s threaded jewellery in a nutshell. But how does it compare and contrast to its threadless counterpart?

Threadless jewellery works differently. Its decorative top has a tiny straight pin that slides into a hollow post. You bend the pin slightly and it holds in place with tension.

A threadless titanium barbell has the benefit of:

• Ease and speed to change, without any need for fiddly screwing
• Universal ends, meaning one style of top usually fits most posts
• Alignment of curved or circular threadless jewellery, keeping the design exactly where you want it

Conversely, there are boxes a threadless titanium barbell doesn’t tick:

• Can weaken and snap if bent too much or too often
• Not as strong as threaded barbells for use with very large or heavy tops
• Some piercings, like tongue, dermals, surface, and many genital placements, need the safety threaded jewellery provides

So, which will it be? A threaded industrial barbell? Threadless circular or curved barbell? Let’s help you decide.

Fresh or delicate piercings?

Go with internally threaded or threadless jewellery.

Love swapping jewellery often?

Threadless is your NBF.

Wearing big, heavy tops or thick gauges, like a titanium industrial barbell?

Stick with threaded.

You now need to turn your thoughts to form, function and vibe. So, what are the options? And what’s going to work (or not) for your specific piercings and personal style?

Now is the ideal time to make sure you know your gauge from your length.

Gauge = thickness of the titanium barbell. You’re likely to see gauge shown in both mm and g. But the UK usually measures in mm. And the following gauges and piercing types are the most common matches:

• 1.2mm (16g) - Many cartilage piercings, plus some lips and eyebrows
• 1.6mm (14g) - Tongue, belly button, nipple, and some piercings that penetrate thicker swathes of cartilage, like the conch and daith
• 2.0mm (12g) and 2.4mm (10g) - Heavier piercings, personal preference, or stretching journeys

Length = wearable end-to-end section of the titanium barbell, not including balls or tops. Notably, fresh piercings need more length for swelling, so size up by a notch. On the other hand, healed piercings can take a snugger fit, creating a sleeker profile.

Why does length matter?

• Too short = pinching, pressure bumps, angry piercing
• Too long = snags on hoodies, hair, headphones, hats and your daily business

Build Your Own Barbell means you’re not stuck buying a whole new piece every time you want a different look. In fact, you can create an entire kaleidoscope of looks when you curate a collection of mix-and-match separates.

This enables you to:

• Mix materials - Get a titanium barbell as your post, and a selection of gemstone or PVD-coated tops for colour
• Synthesise sizes - Tiny 2 - 3mm titanium body jewellery adds a subtle sparkle. Or try 4 - 6mm when you want to get seriously noticed. (Remember, threaded styles are recommended for going chonky)
• Experiment with styles - Spikes. Domes. Discs. Semi-precious gemstones. Balls. Chains. The titanium barbell’s your oyster.
• Coordinate or contrast - Match a titanium labret bar with a curved or circular barbell for a unified aesthetic. Then flip it next week to add some chaos into the mix

Simply confirm your selections, check out, and make room for your new threadless tops, labret bars, or industrial barbells by 3.00pm the next day for orders placed by 3.00pm GMT.

If in doubt, go titanium. It’s the gold standard body mod material (even though it’s silver tone). Here’s why:

Biocompatible

Implant grade titanium plays nice with skin. And it’s even more reassuring for sensitive skin

Lightweight yet strong

Sturdy, without the risk of dragging your piercings down

Corrosion-resistant

Zero tarnish tantrums

Colour options

Anodised finishes and PVD-coated hues dress you up for drama without a dodgy alloy in sight

Get the science behind it all, but still not sure what to put where? Take this as an at-a-glance cheat sheet:

Lobe

A straight titanium barbell or labret is more than adequate. Or a circular barbell lends a twist

Conch

Medium gauge labret bars work well with thicker cartilage. You can even stack two, with matching or different tops for extra drama

Daith and rook

Go for a small curved barbell or snug circular barbell. And threadless helps align decorative ends like fleur de lys, hearts, or stars upright

Helix and upper ear cartilage

Labret bars offer flat back comfort. Or try a small curved barbell for an anatomy-hugging look

Tragus

A short titanium labret bar or threadless top is fast and convenient to swap

Industrial

This is subjective, depending on your piercing locations. But generally, a long, internally threaded titanium industrial barbell helps with smooth insertion and long-term comfort

Belly button

A medium to large titanium curved barbell should do the trick, depending on your overall body shape and size. Wear it with a larger top ball and smaller bottom ball for classic look. Or be a rebel and flip it

Nipple

Titivate a mid-sized straight titanium barbell with balls, spikes, gems, whatever floats your boat. Stability and style in one fell swoop

Septum

Glow up a circular barbell with metal balls or ornate ends

Tongue

A mid to larger threaded titanium barbell is your best bet, bearing in mind threadless jewellery isn’t recommended here

You might find barbells fiddly at first. But you’ll soon get used to them when you stick to a few common-sense rules:

Threading tips

Clean surgical gloves help with grip. Start threading your titanium barbell gently, and tighten it firmly when it’s in place. Keep checking it’s still ok after showers and hair wash days. You’ll learn it wasn’t tight enough, or cheap threads might have loosened if it’s disappeared. So, replace it with higher quality. And tighten it regularly, especially after baths, showers or swimming

Threadless jewellery installation

Pre-bend the pin slightly, and push it together until you feel resistance. You’ll know you need a touch more bend if it’s too easy to pull apart

Direction dilemmas

Honestly, you’re playing orientation roulette with a threaded curved barbell. So, swap to a threadless curved or circular barbell to keep designs upright, without worrying about them slipping sideways

Take a length check

Noticing your bar starting to feel too short? Piercings change with swelling, season, and sleep. Move up a length and re-assess

Travel supplies

Keep spare balls and pins with you, just in case anything happens while you’re away

Traditionally, you’d buy a fixed titanium barbell and top combo, then keep buying more new pieces whenever you felt like a change.

Now, Build Your Own Barbell is changing the face of body jewellery shopping, for many good reasons:

• One listing, all options - Choose threaded or threadless jewellery, pick your titanium barbell shape, select the right gauge and length, then add as many tops as your heart and ears desire
• Modular wardrobe - One titanium barbell + a selection of tops = dozens of looks
• Universal threadless - Mix posts and ends across multiple piercings without needing a maths degree to work it all out
• Pimp your post - Shift effortlessly between styles and seasons with the comfortable post you love

Q) Threaded or threadless? What should I pick?

A) Both are safe when your jewellery is high quality. Threadless jewellery is ridiculously convenient if you change looks often. Or go for threaded for sheer stability with big, heavy tops or thick gauges.

Q) Can I reuse the same tops across different piercings?

A) With threadless, usually yes at the small to medium end of the scale. But compatibility varies with threaded. So, don’t automatically assume heftier ends will fit small gauge barbells.

Q) Is a titanium barbell better than surgical steel?

A) For most people, yes. Titanium body jewellery is lighter, nickel-free, and ultra-biocompatible. And always choose titanium first if you’re sensitive or healing.

Q) How do I pick the right bar length?

A) Measure the wearable length of your current bar, or ask your piercer. Remember, healing piercings need extra room for swelling, while healed piercings can go snug for a cleaner profile.

Q) Are big statement tops a bad idea?

A) Not at all. You just need to be smart about it. Use threaded for heavy ends, match the gauge to the weight, and think about your lifestyle, because snag risk is real.

Your body isn’t a template, and your jewellery shouldn’t be either. For these reasons, Build Your Own Barbell gives you the autonomy to customise your favourite titanium labret bar, curved barbell, circular barbell, or titanium industrial barbell.

Additionally, it’s over to you to pick threaded or threadless. Plus, you set the gauge and length. And you crown it with tops to match your mood, your outfit, or the occasion.

Head to our website and start building the titanium barbell you’ve always wanted. You’ll discover a treasure trove of tops, from minimalist discs to showstopping bling. Build once. Remix forever.