You’re wearing your favorite copper custom jewelry, and you’re feeling fantastic because it’s completed your look beautifully. However, when it comes time to take the jewelry off at the end of the day, you notice that your skin is green, and so is the jewelry item. What does all that mean?
For starters, it ought not to be a reason to panic. What is happening is that the metal is reacting to your skin. What then should you do to prevent that from happening?
In this article, we look at life hacks when it comes to handling jewelry made of copper. You don’t have to quit buying them or wearing them because you’ve had issues with them turning your skin green.
How to keep copper jewelry from turning skin green
Before we get into the hacks, we first need to look at why your skin becomes green when you wear jewelry. There are two reasons for that.
1.It could be a chemical reaction between the acids (sweat) on your skin and the metal you’re wearing.
2. The other reason could be a reaction between the metal and something you’ve introduced to your hands, such as lotion or detergent. Silver and copper are the two metals that oxidize the most. The tips and tricks for what we discuss for copper are similar to what you can use for silver custom jewelry.
Let’s get into what you need to do to avoid your copper jewelry from turning your skin green.
1. Take off the jewelry when going to shower
Oxidation takes place when something combines chemically with oxygen.
Therefore, when you’re in the shower, your copper jewelry will oxidize with the water and thus give you that green stain.
Equally, the copper metal can react with other stuff you use in the shower, such as shampoo, shower gel, and the like.
Even as the water dries off from the copper jewelry, the oxidation process will have begun, causing the change in color.
2. Keep your jewelry away from lotions
When applying lotion, you want to take off your jewelry because the ingredients in the creams are also going to react with the copper.
It is quite cumbersome; you have to take off your rings when washing your hands. After, you’re to lotion them before putting the rings back in your finger.
It is quite a process, especially if you want something that withstands elements, but for copper, that is the price you’ll have to pay to keep your skin from changing the dreaded green.
Copper jewelry care and maintenance tips
Let’s get into some handy tips you can use. ( Please read carefully if you want to protect your copper jewelry well)
1. Clean and polish your jewelry often
The other way to keep your copper from turning your skin color is by keeping the piece cleaned and polished. That removes anything that would cause oxidation to take place from the metal itself. There are a number of ways to clean metal.
One of them is to soak the jewelry for five to ten minutes in lemon juice mixed with water. Alternatively, you can use water mixed in with some salt. After, scrub the piece with a soft toothbrush or a cloth. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
The other thing you can do is form a paste using lemon juice and baking soda. You can use your fingers or soft brush to clean the bracelet before rinsing it off and drying it. This tip works for non-lacquered copper, whereby it does not have a protective covering applied on top.
When cleaning the copper, don’t use a metal container as it could promote transference and corrosion. What’s more, you can also soak the jewelry in vinegar for 5-10 minutes or form a paste using flour and salt for you to rub on the item. Once done, rinse thoroughly with water and dry it.
If the jewelry is lacquered, it means it has a shiny copper-colored coating on top that prevents tarnishing and corrosion of the elements. When it has this coating, cleaning the item gets a lot easier. All you have to do is take a dump cloth and liquid detergent and rub all over the piece. Once you’re done, rinse out the jewelry with water and dry it with a towel.
Once your jewelry is clean, you can use a polishing cloth to do the polishing. You can purchase something explicitly made for polishing copper to leave it looking brand new. There are quite a few products on the market; you just ought to settle for one with good reviews and proven to work.
2. Use clear nail polish
Here is one that you’re going to like. Take the copper item and coat it with clear nail polish. Voila, you have lacquered your copper jewelry. That is something a lot of celebrities do even when they are going for the red carpet. Custom jewelry is beloved because it is inexpensive and tends to come with more designs, and stars are not beyond wearing custom accessories.
You, too, can use the same hack to stop the copper from reacting with other substances. The nail polish in the case will create a barrier between the metal and your skin and other elements. The polish does chip, so you do need to reapply it frequently.
3.Storing your copper jewelry
For your piece to last long, and avoid tarnishing, put it away from humidity. The best places to put it are in a sealable plastic bag or store it using anti-tarnish paper.
You can also purchase an airtight jewelry box. When storing the jewelry, ensure that it is dry. Also, remember to wipe it after wearing it so you can keep it shiny for longer.
Conclusion
There is much you can do to avoid making your skin turn green when wearing jewelry.
It is more effort than you have to put with other types of metals when it comes to jewelry, but it is well worth it.
Copper has a unique color that gives a vintage vibe and works well for a variety of outfits. Overall, it is worthwhile to have one.
For more practical tips, visit this page for more.
Tiger is a fashion&jewelry lover. He is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that help thousands of small business to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. He is a truly metal expert and he will share some information you are looking for.