The circular barbell is a variation of the barbell piercing . It's also known as a horseshoe piercing because of its horseshoe shape. It consists of a threaded bar with screw-on ends, which are usually balls or cones, but can also take on other shapes. The difference from a straight barbell piercing is the curve of the bar; unlike a ball closure ring , it's not a closed ring but leaves an opening. Another variation is the curved barbell, also called a banana barbell. This most closely resembles the circular barbell but isn't as sharply curved, only slightly, like a banana. The circular barbell adds variety to the world of piercings and represents an intermediate form between straight bars and closed rings.

Circular Barbell Designs

Our circular barbells differ in the thickness of the bar (the material thickness), the inner diameter of the circle, and the size of the ends. Another variation is the size of the opening, meaning the distance between the two ends – the gap between them can be small or large. The ball size can also vary; the balls, cones, or other ends shouldn't be too small, so they don't disappear into the piercing hole, but also not too large, so they don't cause discomfort. The threads for screwing the balls on and off should be sturdy, not too short, and turn smoothly so they don't catch and the piercing can be easily changed. If the threads are too short, the balls won't sit securely enough and could easily fall off. The ends should be neither too loose nor too tight, so you don't lose them or have trouble opening the piercing. And don't worry, you can check this before inserting a new circular barbell piercing. Stainless steel offers silver, gold, blue, black, and iridescent colors, while acrylic and silicone offer virtually every imaginable color. Circular barbell piercings are also available in some cases with larger gauge bars, which are used for stretched piercing channels, such as the Prince Albert piercing. Depending on the pierced area, personal preference, and the length and gauge of your piercing channel, you'll need specific measurements for your circular barbell piercing. If you don't know these measurements, ask your piercer or measure the jewelry you already wear. The horseshoe piercing is currently very popular, not just as an inverted septum piercing. Incidentally, this shape cannot be faked in the nasal septum, meaning a circular barbell piercing clearly indicates that the wearer is genuinely pierced.

Using the Circular Barbell

They are used, for example, in the nose septum piercing hole, as well as in the ear and lip, for example, in snakebites instead of labret studs. They can also be used for nipple piercings or as intimate piercings. Horseshoe barbells are currently often seen in the nose; their popularity has increased with the rise of septum piercings. As an alternative to the simple labret stud, they are also possible and frequently used in all lip piercings . However, you should pay attention to soft materials to avoid injuring teeth and gums. Whether you use balls or cones is a matter of personal preference. Circular barbell piercings are universally applicable and therefore popular. Do you have several piercings? How about a matching look by adorning all piercings with the same design? With the universally wearable circular barbell, this is actually possible.

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