A hoop’s gauge refers to the thickness of wire. Gauge sizes go in reverse; the larger the number, the thinner the wire.

22 gauge (.6mm) - 22g hoops are made with wire that is thinner than standard.

20 gauge (.8mm) - 20g hoops are made with standard piercing wire. If your piercing was made with a gun, this size, or the 22g is a good choice for you.

18 gauge (1mm) - 18g hoops are slightly thicker than standard and a very common piercing size for nose & cartilage piercings. If your basic piercing was made with a needle, more than likely you wear either 20g or 18g.

16 & 14 gauge - 16g & 14g hoops are much thicker than standard. If your piercing can support this size, you should already know it.

Unsure? Consult a professional.

4mm - Extremely tiny! This micro hoop is a little larger than the head of a wooden match. While very popular for forward helix, and anti-tragus piercings, these teeny hoops do not fit most people. Unless you are certain that your piercing can accommodate this mini size, the 4mm hoop is not for you.

5mm - Very tiny! 5mm hoops are extremely small, specialty hoops. Too small for many people. Possible sites for these tiny hoops are tragus, anti-tragus, daith, snug, rook and cartilage piercings.

6mm - Very small (1/4”). The 6mm hoop offers a nice “snug” fit for helix, cartilage, tragus, 2nd & 3rd lobe, daith, snug, rook and nostril piercings. Very popular size. Good fit for many (not all).

Unsure? Ask before purchasing.

A hoops size is determined by the space within the hoop. It is the hoop’s distance, straight across, inner wire to inner wire.

8mm - Small (5/16”). The 8mm hoop is *usually* a good fit for most piercings and people. While small, it is not as snug as the 6mm hoop. Possible piercing site options include helix, cartilage, rook, tragus, 1st lobe (if lobes are not too thick or large), 2nd & 3rd lobe, nostril, septum (close fit), and lip.

10mm - Medium (3/8”). A medium/larger sized hoop, the 10mm is a common size for helix, rook, 1st lobe, septum, high nostril, lip and can be worn by some people in a conch piercing.

12mm - Large (1/2”). This larger of piercing hoops is often worn as a 1st lobe earring or in the conch.

All sterling silver tarnishes over time and some factors can accelerate this process including, moisture, body chemistry, cosmetics..., however none of these factors will cause permanent damage and luckily, occasional, simple cleaning will bring it back to its beautiful state.

To clean your sterling silver hoops:

1. Line a small baking dish with aluminum foil (or use an aluminum pan) and place your hoop onto the foil.
2. Sprinkle a tablespoon of baking soda into the pan.
3. Pour some hot water into the pan (enough to cover the hoop).
4. Let the hoop soak in this mixture for about 15-20 minutes.
5. Remove the hoop and gently pat it dry with a soft cloth.
6. You’re done! And your hoop is as good as new.

14k gold & gold-filled hoops can be affected by harsh cleaning products such as alcohol or chlorine. Additionally, using hard bristle brushes to clean your hoop can damage its finish and luster.

To clean your gold-filled hoops:

1. Fill a small bowl with warm water and a drop of detergent-free soap.
2. Using an old toothbrush, or soft cloth, very gently brush/rub the surface of your hoop.
3. Rinse with warm water and pat dry with a soft cloth.

When not in use, store your 14k gold and gold-filled hoops in a soft cloth bag or the container you received it in.

Sterling Silver Hoops - Our silver hoops are created with 925. sterling silver wire. 925. Sterling is by weight 92.5% silver and 7.5% by other metals (usually copper).

Sterling Fact - All sterling silver will tarnish (think of grandma’s sterling silverware). This is a naturally occurring process called oxidization and does not in any way signal a “fake” silver hoop. Luckily, because our hoops are genuine sterling, they can be easily cleaned back to their original brilliance as often as necessary, for the life of your hoop. See our FAQ on simple cleaning methods for sterling hoops.

14k gold-filled - Both our yellow gold and rose gold hoops are created using quality gold-filled wire. Gold-filled is not gold-plate. Gold-filled wire is made by bonding an actual layer of 14k gold, with heat and pressure onto a brass core, rather than a thin wash as in plated gold. Gold-filled wire is highly resistant to tarnishing and does not flake as plated metals will. In addition, 14k gold-filled hoops are a highly economical solution to real 14k gold hoops as they provide the same great style at considerably less the cost. See our FAQ on how to best care for your new gold-filled hoop.

*Oxidized “blackened” sterling - Our oxidized sterling hoops are made with the same 925. sterling silver wire as our sterling hoops. These hoops are then “blackened” by exposing the wire in a pressurized environment to oxygen and sulfur, giving the silver an antique black, tarnished appearance. Oxidized hoops will not need to be polished occasionally, as there is no need to remove the tarnish and can be stored in any type of container or box. If oxidized hoops are polished they will return to their brilliant sterling silver color.

While it is possible for some people to experience a reaction to any metal, the following choices are typically the best options for people with high sensitivities.

Surgical Steel 316L - This body friendly metal is processed in a way that traps alloys, preventing their release. Considered body-safe, any irritation experienced is typically due to friction between the hoop and piercing.

Titanium - An excellent metal for those with extreme sensitivities, as well as a perfect 'first piercing' hoop. Titanium contains no nickel and is very lightweight.

Niobium - Like Titanium, Niobium is nickel-free and hypoallergenic. A great choice for initial piercings or for people that are sensitive to other metals.

Hoop size is determined by measuring its diameter in millimeters. The diameter is the measurement taken at the widest part of the hoop, straight across, inner wire to inner wire. A hoop's size is measured on the interior, as this is the space that is available for your piercing.

Below is an easy way to understand the actual size of each hoop.

Using an 8mm hoop as an example, draw an 8mm line on a piece of paper going west to east. Next, draw a second 8mm line on top of the original line going north to south, so that the center of both lines meet, making a perfect cross (+). Finally, draw a circle around the cross connecting all of the tips.

The interior of the circle shows the area available for that hoop size.