09/16/2026
Why do we reach for threadless jewelry for most ear piercings? Because it’s the best, duh!
Threadless jewelry has a smooth post with no screw threads, making insertion and removal gentler on the piercing channel. It’s secure, easy to change, and gives us SO many options for creating a beautifully curated ear, without having to change the post every time you want a new look (also any threadless end is compatible with any gauge!)
But internally threaded jewelry still has its place. We may choose it for:
Industrial piercings
Navel/belly button piercings
Clients who repeatedly lose their threadless ends and need something that screws into place
And an important distinction: internally threaded ≠ externally threaded.
With internally threaded jewelry, the threading is hidden inside the post, so the part passing through your piercing is smooth. Externally threaded jewelry has the screw threads on the outside of the post, meaning those rough threads have to pass directly through the piercing channel. That can cause unnecessary irritation and trauma - especially in a fresh or healing piercing.
So it’s not that threaded jewelry is always bad. It’s about where the threads are, the quality of the jewelry, and choosing the right system for the piercing.
Threadless for most ears. Internally threaded when it makes sense. Externally threaded? You’ll neva take me aliiiiveee🙅♀️