How do you all get pretty jewelry for fresh new piercings?

Do you look for a place that sells it and pick something out, or do you bring your own jewelry? (I’ve heard bringing your own isn’t allowed sometimes) Or do you switch them out later? (I thought we're not supposed to take the jewerly out)

Last time, I hated my initial jewelry, it was very boring looking. I did switch out my lobes from surgical steel to titanium bought online. Unfortunately, my helix got angry possibly bc of the initial jewelry material or the barbell being too small.

Does anyone know the ideal initial jewelry length for lobes and cartilage piercings and the recommended downsize length? To make sure I don't have that issue again.

I'm looking for titanium, specifically gold titanium/anodized titanium (just found out some studios can anodize it) or niobium.