Ballback Jewellery

Ballback Jewellery at SkinKandy

Ballback jewellery at SkinKandy is a screw-on ball fastening style worn across ear lobe and cartilage placements, including helix and conch piercings. It's available in Titanium and Surgical Steel at 16G, with a 6mm or 8mm post length depending on your anatomy and how healed your piercing is. Ballbacks suit people who like a classic, secure screw-fit stud and want an alternative to a flatback closure. They're not our top pick for every cartilage placement though, so it's worth checking what suits your specific piercing placement before you buy.

Which placements suit ballback jewellery?

Ballback jewellery works well in ear lobe piercings and several cartilage placements, including helix, conch and flat piercings, all at 16G with a 6mm or 8mm post. It's not recommended for tragus piercings, since the small size of the tragus means there's a risk of the ball unscrewing and falling into the ear canal. For anti-tragus, rook, daith and snug piercings, we recommend a curved barbell, horseshoe or segment ring instead, since a straight ballback post doesn't sit as comfortably in these curved placements. If you're unsure which style suits your piercing placement, our piercing specialists can talk you through your options in studio.

What gauge and length do I need for ballback jewellery?

Ballback jewellery at SkinKandy is fitted at 16G, with post lengths of either 6mm or 8mm depending on the placement and your anatomy. A slightly longer 8mm post is common for fresh piercings to allow room for swelling, while a snugger 6mm post is typically worn once the area is fully healed and settled. Getting this right matters for comfort, since a post that's too short can dig in and slow healing, while one that's too long can move around and snag on things like clothing or hair. Our piercing specialists measure your placement in studio to make sure you leave with the length that fits properly.

What materials are ballback earrings available in?

Ballback jewellery at SkinKandy comes in Titanium and Surgical Steel. Surgical Steel is used by our piercing specialists on fresh piercings in studio, though it does contain trace nickel, so if you have a nickel sensitivity, Titanium is the better long-term choice. Titanium is lightweight and a reliable pick for both fresh and healed piercings, especially if your skin tends to react to other metals. Whichever material you choose, keep your jewellery in for the full healing period before switching styles.

Ballback vs flatback, what's the difference?

The main difference between a ballback and a flatback is the closure: a ballback screws a small ball onto the end of the post, while a flatback sits flush against the skin with an internally threaded top. Flatbacks are generally the more comfortable, low-snag option for cartilage placements like helix and conch, which is why we recommend flatback jewellery over ballbacks for tragus and most cartilage piercings. Ballbacks are still a great option for lobes and select cartilage placements where you want a classic screw-fit stud. If you're deciding between the two, our piercing specialists can help you weigh up comfort, placement and everyday wear.

How do I look after my ballback jewellery?

Keep the area around your ballback jewellery clean, and don't remove your jewellery during the healing phase, since this can affect how well the piercing settles. Clean the placement as directed by your piercing specialists and avoid twisting or fidgeting with the ball, since loose screw fittings can work their way undone over time. Check that the ball is screwed on firmly each time you clean the area, especially for helix and conch piercings where the fitting is easy to forget about. For full aftercare guidance, our aftercare page walks you through the healing process step by step.

Book a piercing at SkinKandy

Ready to find the right jewellery for your next piercing? Book your piercing experience with our piercing specialists via our piercing menu.