Navel (Belly) Piercing Jewellery: Curved Bars
A navel, or belly button, piercing usually sits at the upper rim of the navel, and it wears a curved banana barbell, with a decorative gem or charm on the visible bottom and a plain ball up top. Reverse and floating styles vary the look. It is a slow-healing piercing that needs a well-fitted bar. Here is how to choose navel jewellery.
Vanhess sells piercing jewellery in Coquitlam; we do not perform piercings. Get pierced at a professional studio, then use this guide to choose your navel jewellery.
Curved banana bars, and the ways to wear them
The classic navel piece is a curved banana barbell that follows the rim of the navel, with the decorative end, a gem, a dangle, or a charm, sitting at the bottom on show, and a plain ball at the top. Variations include the reverse or top-down style, where the gem sits at the top, and floating styles with a low-profile top. The curve is what lets the bar sit comfortably in the navel, so a straight bar is not used. Dangles and charms are best saved for a fully healed navel.
Fresh navel care
The navel is one of the slower piercings to heal, commonly six months up to a year, because clothing friction and body movement constantly disturb it, following Association of Professional Piercers guidance. Use an implant-grade titanium curved barbell for a fresh navel, keep up saline aftercare, and protect it from tight waistbands, seatbelts, and sports. A well-fitted bar that sits without pressure gives it the best chance, and heavy dangles are better added later.
Gauge and size
| Detail | Common range for navel |
|---|---|
| Gauge (thickness) | Often 14G |
| Barbell length and curve | Fitted to your navel; the curve lets it sit without pressure |
| Styles | Standard (gem bottom), reverse (gem top), floating, dangle |
| Best fresh-piercing material | Implant-grade titanium |
Our sizing and gauge guide explains these numbers.
Styling
A navel piercing is a pretty, summery accent, subtle under clothes and eye-catching with a crop top or swimwear. A single gem is classic, a dangle adds movement, and a reverse style puts the sparkle at the top of the navel. Because the bottom charm is easy to swap on a healed piercing, you can change the look for the season or occasion.
What to check when buying navel jewellery
Before you buy, confirm a few things so the piece fits and heals well:
- Gauge match. Buy the same gauge as your piercing, usually 14G for a navel. Too thin and it moves in the channel; too thick and it will not fit.
- Smooth through the piercing. Choose threadless or internally threaded jewellery so nothing rough passes through the channel. Externally threaded posts drag screw threads through and irritate it.
- Material. Implant-grade titanium (ASTM F-136) or solid nickel-free gold only. Skip anything plated or unmarked.
- Barbell length and curve. A navel bar is fitted to your anatomy; the right curve and length let it sit without pressure, which matters for this slow-healing spot.
- Finish. The piece should feel glass-smooth, with no rough edges or casting pits that can snag tissue.
Style and gemstone options
Navel bars come with plain balls, prong- or bezel-set stones, and dangles or charms, from cubic zirconia to genuine diamond, in yellow, white, or rose solid gold as well as titanium. Many people heal on a plain titanium curved barbell and switch to a gem or dangle once the piercing is fully healed. Keep heavy dangles for a well-settled navel, since weight can drag on a healing channel.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Changing too early. Swapping jewellery before the piercing is fully healed is the top cause of bumps and setbacks. Wait for your piercer's go-ahead.
- Cheap or plated metal. Nickel and worn plating cause most "my piercing is reacting" problems. Stay with implant-grade titanium or solid gold.
- The wrong size. A post or ring that is too long, too short, or the wrong gauge moves, snags, or presses. Match your gauge and get the length or diameter right.
- Over-cleaning. More than a twice-daily saline rinse, or using alcohol and ointments, slows healing rather than helping it.
- Sleeping on it or knocking it. Pressure and snags are a common cause of irritation, especially in the early weeks.
Aftercare in brief
Whatever you wear, a healing piercing needs the same simple routine: clean it once or twice a day with sterile saline, keep your hands off it, do not twist or remove the jewellery, and leave it in until a professional says it is healed. Stay out of pools, hot tubs, and lakes, and avoid knocks and sleeping on it in the early weeks. Most trouble comes from cheap metal or the wrong size rather than too little cleaning, so the jewellery you choose matters as much as the routine. Our aftercare guide has the full method, and our guide to bumps versus infection covers what to watch for.
Key Takeaways
- A navel piercing wears a curved banana barbell, with a gem or charm on the bottom and a ball on top.
- Reverse, floating, and dangle styles vary the look; the curve lets it sit comfortably.
- It is a slow healer, commonly six months up to a year, because clothing and movement disturb it.
- Commonly 14G; heal on implant-grade titanium and add heavy dangles only once healed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jewellery goes in a navel piercing?
A curved banana barbell that follows the navel rim, with a decorative gem, dangle, or charm on the bottom and a plain ball on top. Reverse (gem on top) and floating styles vary the look. A straight bar is not used, because the curve lets it sit comfortably.
What gauge is a navel piercing?
Commonly 14G. Match replacement jewellery to the gauge your piercer used and to the fitted length and curve, since a bar that presses or is the wrong shape can irritate this slow-healing piercing.
How long does a navel piercing take to heal?
One of the slower piercings, commonly six months up to a year, because clothing friction and body movement constantly disturb it. Keep the initial bar in, follow saline aftercare, and protect it from tight waistbands and sports while healing.
Can I wear a dangle in my belly piercing?
Once it is fully healed, yes. While healing, a plain, well-fitted curved barbell is best, because a heavy dangle can drag on the channel and slow healing. Save dangles and charms for a well-settled navel.
Can a navel bar be gold?
Yes. Navel curved barbells come in solid gold with plain, gem, or dangle ends. Many people heal on an implant-grade titanium bar and switch to solid gold once the piercing is fully healed.
Sources
- Association of Professional Piercers — Jewelry for Initial Piercings
- Association of Professional Piercers — Aftercare
General information, not medical advice. See a professional piercer for the piercing itself. Reviewed 20 July 2026.
Visit Vanhess
We stock navel jewellery in implant-grade titanium and solid gold, curved bars and dangles, at 2929 Barnet Highway, Unit 2424 in Coquitlam. Browse our piercing jewellery, or call +1 (604) 653-6449. See the nipple and navel bars guides next.