Losing a ball !!
Today’s Topic: Losing a Ball
Even with the best care and attention, it’s not uncommon for a bead or ball to come loose and fall off your jewellery—usually at the most inconvenient times, like late at night when no studios are open or when your piercer is away.
If your piercing is still healing, this can be particularly concerning. Without the ball to secure the jewellery, there’s a risk of it slipping out during sleep, which could lead to the piercing closing or becoming irritated.
So what should you do?
This guide will walk you through immediate steps you can take to minimize risk and keep your piercing safe until you can get it properly checked or replaced by your piercer.
Remain Calm
In moments like these, it’s completely natural to feel stressed, overwhelmed, or even a little panicked. These emotional responses are valid—but they can also make it more difficult to think clearly and respond effectively.
Take a moment to pause. Breathe deeply. Remind yourself that this situation, while frustrating, is manageable. Lost jewellery components are a common occurrence, and countless people have navigated similar situations successfully.
This is not the end of the world—and with a calm, thoughtful approach, both you and your piercing will be just fine.
Temporary Solutions for Lost Piercing Ends
Losing a bead, end, or the entire piece can be stressful—especially if your piercing is still healing. Fortunately, there are a few practical, temporary solutions you can use to protect your piercing until you’re able to visit a professional.
1. Captive Bead Rings (CBRs) Or circular barbells (Horseshoe)
If the bead or ball from a ring has fallen out, don’t worry—you’ll likely be just fine.
Gently rotate the ring so that the open gap is positioned away from the piercing channel. This minimizes the risk of the ring shifting or causing trauma.
If you’re concerned about the ring rotating, you can secure it in place using a small adhesive bandage. Simply apply the bandage over the jewellery to hold it steady until you can get to a piercer.
2. Labret/Flat-Back Studs
In cases where you’ve lost the decorative end of a flat-back stud—commonly in nostril, helix, conch, or flat piercings—remove the post and reinsert it backward, so that the flat disc sits on the outside.
This reverse orientation helps gravity keep the stud in place, especially in nostrils. For added security, you can place a small round bandage over the piercing. This will help prevent the post from shifting or falling out until you’re able to have it properly replaced.
3. Soft Earring Backings
If you have any of those clear, soft rubber earring backings at home (commonly used with stud earrings), you can carefully slide one onto the exposed end of a barbell.
While not a permanent fix, this can provide just enough hold to keep your jewelry in place temporarily.
Note: THESE ARE SHORT TERM TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS AND ARE NOT GOOD FOR LONG TERM USE.
4. Spare Earring (Last Resort)
If you’ve lost the entire piece and have nothing currently in the piercing, you can insert a clean, simple earring to keep the channel open.
This should only be used as a last resort and never as a long-term replacement. Visit your piercer as soon as possible to have appropriate, sterilized jewellery reinserted.
Remember: you’re not alone, and situations like this happen more often than you think. With a level head and a few quick actions, you’ll get through it just fine.
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