When you live an active lifestyle, it can be difficult to decide what to wear. From clothes to quality workout accessories, there are so many options to choose from. However, one thing many people feel concerned about is whether or not they can wear jewelry with their activewear.
This is an entirely valid question — lots of forums and websites feature people asking whether others also feel “naked” if they forget or don’t wear their rings. For many people, the idea of not wearing jewelry for any period of time, especially jewelry that has a sentimental or nostalgic meaning to them, is an absolute no. But, rest assured, there are lots of ways you can safely pair your jewelry with your activewear and still have pieces on without harming the jewelry or yourself. 
What Can Happen If You Wear Your Jewelry While Working Out
It’s not a crime to wear jewelry while working out. Lots of people do it, but some people feel uncomfortable wearing it while being active. There are some safety and health concerns to wearing your jewelry while working out.
- Ring Avulsion: If any of your rings have edges or raised diamonds, then you might be susceptible to ring avulsion. Ring avulsion occurs when the edge of your ring catches on the edge of something else — a door knob, the curve of a weight or even the waistband of your shorts can all cause ring avulsion. When your ring catches, it then pulls on your finger and can actually severe arteries and nerve endings on your finger. It’s an uncommon but dangerous injury, and some people have even had to have their fingers amputated as a result. Either way, ring avulsion is a huge concern for many people who wear jewelry while working out, especially rings.
- Skin reactions: When you wear jewelry while working out, you may end up with a reaction on your skin. This often leads many people to think they’re allergic to their jewelry, but they’re actually just witnessing their skin reacting to the bacteria and metal interacting. You might notice a red rash on your skin where your jewelry typically rests, or on the skin around it. This reaction is normal when the bacteria found in sweat interacts with metal. To avoid it, consider wearing an alternative metal jewelry option, such as silicone rings. This will eliminate any concerns for interactions or even allergic reactions, as silicone is a perfectly safe alternative to metal.
- Breaking: If you wear your jewelry while working out, you run the risk of breaking it. Whether you accidentally catch your necklace on something or you pop a diamond out of your engagement ring, wearing your jewelry while you work out can not just be dangerous to you but the jewelry itself as well. Not every piece of jewelry comes with a warranty for repairs, but even if you do have one you may still need to pay to get it repaired. For pieces that have been in families for generations, this can be devastating, and it all could’ve been avoided if you’d worn alternative jewelry while working out or just not worn any jewelry at all.
Choosing the Right Alternative Jewelry for Your Workout
When you decide to wear alternative jewelry during your workouts, it’s important that you find the right items for your specific workout needs. Silicone will always remain the top alternative option. Here are some of the reasons silicone is the best alternative for all your jewelry needs:
- Affordability: Silicone is a much more affordable material than metal or diamonds. If you’re someone who likes to shop on a budget or prefers not to spend thousands of dollars on items, then silicone might be perfect for you. It’s not a “cheap” material by any means, but it’s definitely more affordable than metal and diamonds.
- Durability: Silicone is a durable material. There’s a reason they use it in bakeware and cookware! Because silicone can withstand extreme temperatures and environments, it makes for the perfect alternative jewelry to metal, especially for people with active lifestyles. You can wear silicone in practically any setting.
- Maintenance: Unlike metal rings, which require a special cleaning solution and frequent trips to the jeweler, silicone washes easily at home. You can either place it in a small bowl of warm, soapy water or put it in the utensils section of your dishwasher. Either way, you can take care of a silicone ring much easier than a metal or diamond one.
Activewear, Jewelry and Exercise – What You Need to Know
Your jewelry doesn’t always have to match your activewear, and vice versa. You can easily work out without any jewelry on, but having the right activewear and jewelry for your workout can help to elevate your workout experience. Here are some common workouts and what activewear or jewelry that goes well with them.
- Pilates: Pilates is a mixed workout that targets multiple areas of your body. Since it’s an all-over workout, a pair of leggings and a loose fitting tank are the perfect activewear for this workout. A silicone ring and a bracelet are good options here for jewelry since you don’t typically use heavy weights.
- Weight lifting: Weight lifting usually targets specific areas of the body on specific days. Legs, arms, chest and glutes are all common focus areas. Using different machines and weights, you control your muscles to continue to strengthen them to hold more and more weight. When weight lifting, many people prefer to wear tighter apparel, flat sneakers and limited accessories. You’ll often see them wearing gloves to increase their grip on the weights, and most people will wear a simple ring instead of lots of other jewelry pieces.
If you’ve ever been unsure as to whether or not you can wear jewelry while working out, then it’s important to know the concerns and cautions of wearing jewelry when exercising. If you choose safe items and pay attention to what you’re doing in the gym, then you should be able to work out while wearing jewelry with no problem.