Body Jewelry That's Actually Safe: HPC's Guide to Implant-Grade Materials
If you've ever had a piercing, chances are you've experienced swelling, crusties, or a piercing that just never quite settles down even though you're doing everything right. It could be a handful of reasons — but chances are your jewelry is the issue. It's a really common story and you're not alone in it. Think about it: someone gets pierced at a kiosk in Ala Moana or picks up a ring from a shop with subpar stock, and within weeks their body starts showing signs of irritation — or worse, rejection.
At HPC and Hikina, we exclusively use implant-grade titanium, implant-grade niobium, implant-grade steel, and solid 14K or 18K gold. We hold ourselves to the same standards as the medical industry, because your body doesn't know the difference between a piercing and an implant. The material going in matters as much as the technique doing it.
What 'Implant-Grade' Actually Means
Implant-grade is a material classification, not a marketing phrase. Implant-grade titanium is ASTM F-136 compliant — meeting the standard set by the American Society for Testing and Materials for use inside the human body. It's lightweight, biocompatible with the vast majority of people, and corrosion-resistant. That last point matters on Oʻahu's salt air coast more than it might elsewhere.
Implant-grade niobium is equally biocompatible and more malleable, making it ideal for rings and captive-bead pieces. Solid 14K and 18K gold — sourced from BVLA, Body Vision Los Angeles, the world's most respected body jewelry manufacturer — rounds out the premium options at Hikina. We are the only studio on Oʻahu carrying BVLA, with custom orders available for pieces not in-studio.
Why Cheap Jewelry Fails — Even on Healed Piercings
The jewelry conversation usually centers on new piercings — and for good reason. But low-quality jewelry causes problems in healed piercings too. Mystery alloys and surface coatings break down over time. Nickel, the most common irritant in low-quality jewelry, can cause a reaction even years after a piercing has fully healed. If a piece makes your ear feel hot, swells the channel, or leaves a green ring on your skin — those are material failures. Not bad luck, not unusual anatomy. The material.
'Surgical steel' is worth being skeptical of. It's an unregulated term. Plenty of jewelry labeled surgical steel contains nickel or other reactive alloys. Implant-grade steel exists and is safe — but it is not the same thing as jewelry with a surgical steel label and no documentation behind it. At Hikina, we can document every piece of jewelry we carry.
The Brands We Carry — and Why Each One Is Here
Every brand on the Hikina floor earned its spot. BVLA for solid gold and custom pieces — the most detailed, jewelry-quality body jewelry made. Neometal and Anatometal for titanium threading systems. Glasswear Studios and Oracle for glass and specialty organics. Buddha Jewelry Organics for natural wood and stone weights. Each brand backs its pieces with a lifetime warranty — not a return window, a lifetime warranty. That level of confidence in material quality is the baseline we hold our brands to.
See the full jewelry selection on our website — and if you're looking for something specific that isn't in-studio, custom orders are available especially for BVLA.
Installation Is Always Free
When you purchase jewelry at Hikina, installation is included — no charge. Your counter staff or piercer handles it with the care the piece and your body deserve. It's also an opportunity to have the team look at your piercing and confirm everything is sitting the way it should. A check-in, not a transaction.
Not sure what you're looking for? Come in for a jewelry consultation. Meet the team — they'll help you find a piece that fits your anatomy, your aesthetic, and what your budget is actually working with.
Come See What Quality Body Jewelry Actually Looks Like
Hikina Piercing Co is at 767 Kailua Rd STE 103 in the Davis Building — between Easy Que and The Bike Shop, free parking in the lot, open daily 11 AM to 7 PM. No appointment needed to come in and browse.
To book a piercing or jewelry appointment: honolulupiercing.com/bookkailua. Your body deserves the real thing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Body Jewelry at Hikina Piercing Co
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Implant-grade refers to materials that meet medical-industry standards for use inside the human body — titanium (ASTM F-136), niobium, certain steels, and solid gold. These materials are biocompatible, non-reactive, and safe for long-term wear. The alternative — mystery alloys, nickel-heavy metals, unverifiable coatings — is what causes most piercing problems that people assume are aftercare failures.
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Hikina does not install outside jewelry. Without material documentation, the safety standard we hold ourselves to can't be upheld — and we won't compromise that. The in-studio selection is extensive, custom orders are available, and if you find something here you love, installation is free.
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Not necessarily. 'Surgical steel' is an unregulated term applied to a wide range of jewelry — some of which contains nickel or other reactive alloys. Implant-grade steel meets ASTM F-138 standards and is fully documented. Hikina carries only verified implant-grade materials from documented sources.
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Implant-grade titanium is the most broadly biocompatible option — lightweight, non-reactive, and well-tolerated even by most people with documented metal sensitivities. Implant-grade niobium is another excellent choice. Solid 14K or 18K gold from BVLA — which is nickel-free — works beautifully for healed piercings. Your piercer or counter staff will help you choose based on your history and anatomy.
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A: Yes. Hikina can custom order BVLA and other premium brands for specific stones, designs, or sizes not currently in-studio. Come in and have that conversation — see the jewelry page for an overview of what we carry and what's possible through custom orders.