One woman is on the cutting edge of design in the art of creating waist art ‘to die for’ in sensual accessories.
Born and raised in the manufacturing and design of jewelry her entire life, and a native New Yorker, Rhonda began working for her family’s jewelry business as a young girl. With a long lineage in the jewelry industry, her grandfather was one of the first costume Pearl manufactures in Brooklyn, and her father was one of 4 manufactures of the mood ring amongst countless other forms of jewels.
In the 1970’s, Rhonda owned 3 jewelry stores, but pressures of running the businesses forced her to close them to raise her children. Now she owns her own chain factory, bringing her unique talent and designs to eBay for more than 5 years, and currently in the process of creating her own website.
As a certified gemologist amongst other degrees, she was the first to ’show the belly’ on eBay and began the whole belly body chain craze, doing most of her own modeling.
“My passion is to design jewelry to make women feel sexy.” says Rhonda. “Sexy is a state of mind no matter your size.”
Belly Piercing and Belly Bars
With very little information available on the internet or otherwise, I ‘took one for the team’ to learn first-hand in my quest to ascertain more about belly piercings.
It may not be for the squeamish, but the beauty and steaminess of a woman’s navel dressed in fine fashion jewelry is far reaching. Ahem.
You might be surprised to learn that navel and nipple piercings are 2 of the longest types of piercings to heal due to the depth that they’re pierced beneath the skin. It can take anywhere from 3 up to 12 months to completely heal internally, depending on a variety of factors — health, weight, diet, clothes, profession, and above all, how stringent you are in its care. The surface will typically heal within 1 month.
Your navel is at the ‘hinge’ of your body. I for one can attest that in the beginning, you will not be able to bend at the waist for some time. At nearly a month since the piercing, I can now bend slightly, but touching it is still relatively painful. One good result of this is that I have developed better posture while sitting at the computer for hours on end.
There is a vast difference in a belly ring and belly bar piercing — they are 2 different forms of piercings. Do some searches on the internet to decide which type of jewelry you prefer before taking the plunge. A belly ring will require a set of pliers to change the rings, which you may not be able to easily do yourself. Belly bars have a removable ball or gem at the top — far easier to change jewelry, and typically very secure with a screw top.
I for one prefer the look and designs of jewelry for belly bars, for which you should stick to something that won’t dangle and get caught on anything during the healing process. The jewels will position directly inside the navel and chains will cascade downwards from there.
Belly rings are also subject to a lot of movement, whereas belly bars will not get knocked around as much, thus making for a quicker healing.
Surprisingly, there was no blood from my fresh piercing, despite the fact that my piercer “lost the lead” after the piercing, as I lay there with clenched teeth for what seemed like an eternity — at least 5 minutes — before she was able to thread the belly bar through to close it, something she stated had never happened to her before.
Piercing Process
While I do not know if the practice is standard procedure, I can tell you the process that I underwent. I had forgotten the card reader for my camera which I was going to use to photograph the process, but for those who may get queasy, you are probably thanking me for it.
Tools and materials that were used during the procedure were
• Sterilized medical clamp style pliers
• Sterile pair of tight-fitting plastic gloves
• A cork, also sterilized
• Sterilized 14 gauge needle lain upside down within its package which the piercer would not reveal to me, a practice she used to prevent instilling fear or anxiety. They are typically as thick as the bar or ring which should be 14 gauge.
• K-Y Jelly to promote an easy insertion of the belly bar
Do’s and Don’ts of Belly Piercings
If performed while one is ill-educated in proper practices or done by a poor professional, you will very likely suffer severe infections, and lose your piercing altogether in effort to heal. Follow the Do’s and Don’ts below and you should have little or no difficulties. Happily, my piercing looks now just as it had at the very time of my piercing, minus the slight red inflammation which lasted but a few hours.
DO’s of Belly PiercingsDo your research to find a highly qualified piercer in your area — this is not the type of thing that cheaper is better. You want your piercing to last you your lifetime and without complications.
You will not likely receive any topical freezing prior to your piercing, so be forewarned. In the words of the artist who performed mine, “If you can’t cut the pain, you don’t deserve one.” Take some painkillers prior to your departure to the parlor for those who do not have reactions to them. I was severely distracted by the throbbing pain while driving afterwards, so try to have someone drive you home. But don’t let the notion of pain throw you off — it’s nothing that painkillers won’t be able to keep at bay for the first 2 to 3 days.
Countless individuals are allergic to nickel, for which I also suffer from as one of my forms of contact dermatitis — a localized rash or irritation of the skin caused by contact with a foreign substance. Although gold has a small quantity of nickel in it, I am able to wear it, so my first reaction was to buy a solid gold bar for my piercing. You will not likely find a piercer that will use it for your piercing.
I was fortunate enough to find out second-hand of a woman with the same problem and did so. The piercing would not heal due to the porosity of the gold, and had to switch to a hypo-allergic bar. It healed within a month enough to replace it with the gold bar. I was able to acquire a nickel-free stainless bar through my piercer.
The navel is a depressed scar that has a tendency to collect dirt, and if not dried properly can be subject to fungal infections even when not pierced. Once pierced, it’s much more crucial to ensure extra care for cleaning to prevent infection — an issue which cannot be emphasized strongly enough.
Prior to stepping foot in the parlor for your piercing, make sure to purchase a liquid solution of dead sea salt to have on hand which will work both to cleanse and heal your piercing. Use it twice daily — spray and allow to dry naturally. H2Ocean Spray came highly recommended to me. It consists of purified water, sea salt, Lysozyme and Sodium Benzoate. Lysozyme exists in our bodily fluids naturally, to protect us from airborne bacteria. The Coral Reef Sea Salt contains over 82 essential trace elements and minerals used to help in healthy cell regeneration.
If you find that you are still having a difficult time with the healing process after several weeks, use another alternative to wash your piercing such as liquid anti-microbial or germicidal soaps like Provon.
Wash your hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason. Use soaps like Provon in the shower once a day. H2Ocean or warm saltwater soaks can be used up to 2 times a day.
Wear loose clothing for the day of your piercing that will not put any pressure on your navel.
Dry your navel thoroughly after showering with a paper tissue, as towels can harbor bacteria.
Give the piercing some sunshine if you’re able, as it aids in producing Vitamin D which helps promote healing, and minimizes infections.
DON’Ts of Belly Piercings
Hands off the belly bar! Rotating your jewelry during the first 3 to 4 weeks will only create friction on the healing tissue, irritating the flesh and prolonging your healing. Touching your piercing can introduce bacteria — your hands have no place near your healing piercing.
No soaps! They will not only kill off the bad bacteria, but the good bacteria as well which is essential for your body to heal. Soaps also often leave behind residue which can irritate your piercing and prolong your healing.
No Polysporin or any other creams or ointments. These tend to clog the piercing, making it difficult for the healing tissue to breathe.
No alcohol, peroxide or iodine, as these forms of products are far too harsh and damage healing tissue, making for a difficult healing period.
Do not go into any open bodies of water — the sea, a pool, bath or hot tub during the first 2 months of the healing process.
If you find ‘crusties’ on your piercing, do not pick these off. They are dried lymphatic fluid which your body secretes as it heals — a natural part of the healing process. Soaking with warm water is all you need to easily remove these by a tissue, but be certain to have sterile hands.
Any discharge of a milky white substance is this natural healing process, and nothing to be alarmed over, providing it’s not thick and yellow — a sign of possible infection. This may last from 6 to 8 weeks. I for one have not had any of this occur, so it won’t necessarily happen to everyone.
Tight clothing at your waistline such as pantyhose, tight pants or skirts during the healing stage can cause the piercing to grow out, meaning that the piece of flesh taken by the piercing gradually diminishes until the ring comes out. Try to avoid synthetic fabrics that don’t allow the wound to breathe. After the healing process you’re fine to wear whatever you wish.
Do not replace the ring during the healing phase, as you will lose the piercing. No replacing the ring with a sleeper, as the sharp hinges can tear the inside of the wound, resulting in an infection, and increasing the possibility of the piercing growing out. Removing the ball from a belly ring yourself will require a circlip plier. Attempting to do so yourself will likely damage the ring, making it impossible to get the ball back on the ring — see your piercer to do this instead. This is one more good reason to get a bar piercing rather than a ring.
Silver sleepers are particularly hazardous — as the silver oxidizes in the wound, it can cause allergic reactions and Argyria — a permanent black mark inside the wound.
No hanging waist chains or charms from your ring or bar during the healing process — they can get caught and tear the wound, hampering the healing process.
Do not allow your piercer to talk you into making the final decision for the markings for the piercing for the needle to penetrate as I did. The lights were shining directly in my eyes, and for obvious reasons, my head was not close enough to determine the proper positioning, which resulted in a slightly off-centered piercing.
Belly Bars with Waist Chains
After the healing process, let the fun begin! Sexy up that waistline with some smokin hot belly bars and bars with waist chains.
Standard Waist Chains
For those who fear the needle, all is not lost. Dazzle them with some not-so-standard designer waist chains — a spectacular belly must-have.
Body Chains
It doesn’t get any sexier than this — breathtaking body chains that will wrap and hug your luscious bod.
Lariats
Drop-dead gorgeous, these absolutely stunning lariats can either drape down your front to your waistline, or drop down to the small of your back in a open back outfit. Need I say anything more?
