Easy Ear Piercing Tips

Easy Ear Piercing Tips

Ear piercing can be done by yourself easily with a relatively little amount of pain involved. For the purpose of this task, you will need to prepare a safety pin, ice and a pair of earrings. Now all you need to do is to keep reading this article for easy ear piercing tips before you gather all the items mentioned and head straight to the bathroom to get on with the ear piercing business.

First step is to make sure that you have gathered the supplies needed which include a large safety pin, ice and suitable earrings that you want to put on after you have taken out the safety pin. A set of piercing earrings are the best option to use as they are slightly thicker in diameter. As your pierced ears heal, the size of hole that is left from the use of a piercing earring will ensure that you will be able to put on a new earring easily.

The next important step is to ice the ear that you want to pierce until it gets really numb. This usually takes around one minute. Sterilize the safety pin by burning it in the flame of a candle and swipe it with alcohol soaked towel.

Pierce the part of your ear that you want using the sterilized safety pin. Once it is in, just leave it for about ten minutes before you start to remove it. During the removal or the safety pin process, try to be gentle yet firm. Do not rush this process. When the pin is out, you can now put on the piercing earring on your newly pierced ear carefully.

To prevent unnecessary infection, make sure to use alcohol to clean your pierced ears every night. Keep in mind that you must not take out your earrings for about four to six weeks to allow for the complete healing process to take place.

From Initial Piercing to Tongue Ring Bling - How to Care for Your New Piercing

From Initial Piercing to Tongue Ring Bling - How to Care for Your New Piercing

You may have started with pierced ears. That's usually the first step since earrings for pierced ears are found everywhere. Then, maybe you ventured to your belly button and got that pierced. There are some very sexy belly button rings that are great to show off with that new outfit or bikini. For some, the next body part to be pierced is the tongue. It's amazing all the styles of tongue rings that are available to show off your individuality. Try a Playboy branded barbell, a vibrating or diamond stud, or even a smiley face. Tongue rings come in many shapes and sizes. However, before you get to these fashionable options, you must go with a basic surgical steel barbell and take steps to properly care for your new piercing.

Your mouth has enzymes which naturally fight off bacteria so experiencing an infection from a tongue piercing is rare. In fact, more harm can be done to a new piercing by using too much of the mouthwash recommended. All that swishing could kill some of the useful natural enzymes in your mouth!

The best option is to rinse with the mouthwash no more than twice a day. The piercing itself should be cleaned in the morning and before going to bed with a simple solution of salt and water. Be sure your own hands are clean before touching the piercing.

When you experience swelling, put some ice chips on your tongue and just let them melt. This will help reduce any inflammation. It's also a good idea to plan on switching to a liquid diet for a few days. Ice cream is allowed, but avoid hard and crunchy foods. Try some smoothies, fruit juices and clear liquids.

Do not try to remove the initial barbell on your own. Yes, you are going to be anxious to put in your new tongue ring, but wait to get some help from a professional. They will be better able to check on the piercing to be certain that it has healed properly and is ready for full exposure.

And speaking of exposure, keep your new piercing away from anything that could introduce irritants to the area. This includes smoking, chewing tobacco or oral sex. All normal activities can be resumed after the healing process has been completed; however, avoid a longer healing process than is necessary by following our tips for the best healing.

If at any time you are not comfortable with your piercing, see a doctor or get it removed. Although an infection is rare sometimes our bodies have different reactions. If in doubt, just get it check out.

Side Lip Piercing - The Monroe

Side Lip Piercing - The Monroe

A lip piercing is one of the hottest crazes today whereby a body hole is made that goes through the lip area or just on the area that surround the lips. The piercings can be made in a given number of ways. The lip piercings are made singly or in pairs. The lip piercing that is made on the upper lip on one side is the Side Lip piercing and it is most commonly known as the Monroe.

Even though the piercings are made just anywhere around the mouth for a lip piercing, it is common to find that the actual surface of the lip is not the one affected. The only time the surface of the lip is used to make the piercings is when the canine bites or horizontal piercings are required. Piercings are given names according to the positions they take on the face. A Side Lip Piercing for example is one that is made on the upper lip but on one side of the face. It also called the Monroe Piercing because it resembles the beauty mark that was made popular because of the famous Marilyn Monroe who had a mole on the side of the upper lip. It follows to say that the Monroe piercings are the most popular and well sought after side lip piercing. They are labret studs worn on the upper lip located on the same spot where Marilyn Monroe had her beauty mark or mole.

Although Side Lip Piercing can be made on any of the two sides of the upper lip, the one that is placed on the left side of the lip is the only one that can be called a Monroe, because it is made to emulate the birthmark on that part of the face. When the piercing has been made on the right side of the face it is no longer a Monroe but it is given another name taken after another mega famous movie star and singer called Madonna. The reason it is called a Madonna is because, the famous Madonna has her beauty spot or birthmark appearing on the right side of the upper lip.

The Side Lip Piercing whether a Monroe or a Madonna, depending on one's preference, can be made by generally piercing the side of the mouth with a smaller gauge labret which should be either a 16 gauge or an 18 gauge. Either can also be made by a piercing done with a barbell. The person making the piercing must mark the particular spot for either the Monroe or the Madonna with a permanent ink marker. Then the one getting the piercing is told to rinse the mouth first with a mouthwash which is of the medical or surgical kind. It sterilizes the mouth. The upper lip is then clamped to hold it in place before a hollow needle is passed through it. It is finished with a labret or barbell stud being placed in it. The labret or barbell is normally longer than the usual size one might prefer at first for the sake of giving it room to heal from the initial swelling.

A New Self Expression - Genital Piercing

A New Self Expression - Genital Piercing

Each era has its own special brand of self-expression, long hair; tattoos, heavy makeup, extremely short hair and body piercing have all spent time on the top of every parent's nightmare list. Today, it seems that genital piercing has entered the arena, though it is probably a bit more than a simple statement of rebellion especially when you consider that few people will ever see it. You may even be thinking about the pros and cons of this type of piercing yourself, if so you are in the right place.

Historic Significance

There are rumors a plenty about the origins of genital piercing there is little evidence that there is any truth to them. There are a few tribes that have practiced piercing male genitalia, but nipple piercing and other genital piercings are largely a western invention. The first genital piercings were done around the 19th century, with the Prince Albert emerging as the most popular. Many myths surround the this piercing, including reasons why Queen Victoria's husband would have needed this type of alteration. However, the veracity of the claims cannot be substantiated.

Around the 1970's the practice began to really gain prominence in the United States, first in various subcultures and within a short time in the mainstream. Today there are more and more parlors that will perform this type of piercing and even more ingenious methods of piercing.

Where

A good number of people will first get their nipples pierced, before moving south. However, there are just as many who never have any other type of piercing or body art performed. This leads to the question of why anyone would partake of piercing that particular area of the body. For a number of people the motivation is sexual. Your average married couple is simply looking for ways to spice up their love life. By all accounts this is a very good way to do just that, some women report their first ever orgasm after having the vaginal clitoral hood pierced. Of course, the availability of extra skin that will hold piercings has a lot to do with the location you choose.

Risk

Studying the risks associated with genital piercing is not an exact science, it is difficult to follow up and track potential side effects. However, as more people partake of this type of piercing the data will become clearer. As of today, the most well known side effect of genital piercing is secondary infection. This can often be prevented with good after care and appropriate hygiene. That does not mean you should treat the chance of infection lightly, infection can occur, spread rapidly and cause severe medical problems.

Nose Piercing Tips

Nose Piercing Tips

The first thing that is recommended is you are thinking about having your nose pierced is to find a professional with experience. You may come across random vendor at flea markets and the like, however choosing a person who has experience and in many states, the needed license for performing piercings is highly recommended. You may pay a bit more, but it will certain by worth it.

On e of the most important nose piercing tips is to choose which side of your nose you wish to have the piercing on. There is no particular meaning given to either side with one exception. In India, either the left or right side symbolizes which part of India you are from. In other countries it is simply a matter of preference. For those with other facial piercings, you may find it helpful to look in a mirror and see which side will best balance your other jewelry. For example, if you have your left eyebrow pierced, it may be a good idea to balance this out with a nose piercing on the right side.

Once you have decided on the side and have located a professional who is licensed and uses sterilized equipment, you will then choose the exact positioning. Many people who have this done report little to no pain.

In the scheme of things, the most important of nose piercing tips is to take proper care of both your nose and the jewelry during the healing process. Because the nose is made of cartilage, it can take quite a while to fully heal. Small amounts of fluids may discharge from the area and you will need to set aside time for at least two cleanings per day to keep the entire area clean and dry.

Nose piercings begin to heal at the surface and then slowly heal inward. For this reason, while it may appear healed when looking in a mirror after just a few days, your piercing will not be healed inside. The piercings should be cleaned with hot water and a mild soap. Antibiotic cream or solution is usually not necessary unless you have a confirmed infection. If soap seems to irritate your piercing, you can switch to just hot water with some salt mixed into it.

History of Piercing

History of Piercing

Around the world, people have viewed the human body as a unique canvas for decoration and embellishment. Throughout human history, body piercing has been practiced by many cultures. From septum piercing in New Guinea to navel piercing in ancient Egypt, piercing is an integral part of many culture's physical and spiritual identity.

Our earliest evidence of body piercing dates back to 9th century BC; a stone relief from Nimrud, Iraq shows a male with a pierced ear. Evidence isn't just limited to artistic depictions. The world's oldest mummified body, proven to be over 5,000 years old, had an ear piercing from 7-11 mm in diameter.

Cultural significance of piercings
The reasons for body piercings are as diverse as their cultures. Mayan nobleman performed ritual tongue piercing and bloodletting to facilitate their communication with gods. In Tibet, a particular gold earring worn in the left ear identifies a man as a high government official. New Guinea warriors wore large tusks through the septum to produce a fierce appearance.

Examples of cultural reasons behind piercing include:

- Indicate affiliation to a clan or tribe
- Indicate status, success, or social ranking
- Indicate a rite of passage
- Ward off evil and illness
- Attain magical powers
- Appear fierce to enemies
- Enhance sexual stimulation
- Enhance appearance/ attractiveness

Ear piercing
A woman from the Aleutian Islands had 10 sea lion whiskers pierced into each ear before she was given to her husband in marriage. Sea lion whiskers were valuable trophies that indicated successful hunting. The piercing indicated that she was marrying a good hunter.

Septum piercing
Septum piercing is quite popular among warrior cultures in Irian Jaya, New Guinea, and Solomon Island. Warriors wore tusks through their septum to appear more fierce and intimidating. In Iria Jaya, the most prestigious septum tusk was a large bone plug (from the leg bone of a pig) that could be as thick as 25mm!

Nose piercing
Nose piercing is a common sight in India today, but nose ornaments arrived in India only sometime in the 15th or 16th century. Although the most common type of nose piercing seen today is a stud, special mention should be made of the "bulak." This u-shaped ring is worn between the nostrils by local Dogra woman. Covering most of the cheek and mouth, it is the largest nose-ring worn in the country. Brides in North India also wear this type of nose ring- which must be lifted up to eat!

Labret piercing
Labret piercing was a common practice among the Mesoamerican people from 600-900 AD. They practiced ritual piercing of the bottom lip- up to 1 inch in diameter. These blood-letting ceremonies gave men a higher status within the community. By cutting the ear, they were opening it to hear the gods' revelations and by cutting the tongue, they would be able to communicate. An ornamental labret plug was worn after the ceremony. These were quite elaborate- solid gold carvings, jade with inlaid gold, and crystal with gold, bone, and turquoise.

Navel piercing
Navel piercing does not seem as common throughout history as nose, ear, or lip piercing.
It seems to be a relatively modern trend- popularized by Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington. Records of belly piercing do date back to ancient Egypt, where the royal family had pierced belly buttons and wore gold rings in their navels.

Body Piercing Problems

Body Piercing Problems

Body piercing is very popular among men and women. A lot of areas in the body are used for piercing like ear lobes, ear cartilage, nostrils, nose bridge, eyebrows, lips, cheeks, nipples, navels, and genitals. These are the most common areas used for piercing.

Most people who have body piercings do not develop any problems, but some do. When piercings get infected, it is a horrible sight, and sometimes, they smell awful, too.

The ears are the most common piercing site, especially among women. Earlobes heal relatively easy without any problems. Ear cartilage, on the other hand, takes longer to heal, harder to clean, and has the highest risk of getting infected. Because they take a longer time to heal, your chances of acquiring infectious diseases greatly increase.

Each of the body part that is used for piercings have their own healing time. Some heal longer than others. Aside from having their own healing time, they can also present a different set of potential problems. Home treatment of the wound may speed up the healing process and may prevent infections, but there is no guarantee. A dirty hand or poor hygiene may still cause problems to the wound.

The common problems that may develop from body piercing are as follows:

oInfection of the wound - the risk of infection increases if you have other health issues such as diabetes. Infection of the tongue or lips may cause speech, chewing, and/or swallowing problems or swelling that can impede the throat. Infection of a nipple may scar the breast tissue and limit the capability to breast feed.

oSplitting or tearing of the skin - this can trigger the formation of scar tissue and may cause permanent skin damage.

oAllergic reactions - some people develop allergies to a certain metal used in the jewelry. Make sure that you
use jewelry specifically designed for your piercing site. Use only non-allergenic jewelry. Other types of jewelry you should use include surgical stainless steel, platinum, gold, titanium, and niobium.

oProblems caused by the jewelry - jewelry in the mouth may cause cracking or chipping of the teeth, gum problems, and difficulty chewing or swallowing. Jewelry in the navel can get caught in clothing and rip the skin. Jewelry in the genital area can cause injury to you or your partner when having sex.

Those are just a few of the problems you might be facing when you have a body piercing. If the piercer is inexperienced, he can damage underlying blood vessels and nerves. Now, that is a high price to pay, just to look cool. Is it not? Whatever your reasons are for getting a body piercing, just make sure that you handle the wound with care. Bacteria thrive on open wounds, so be careful.

The best thing to do is to look for a certified professional body piercer; one who knows how to handle you and the situation with extra care.

Lip Piercing 101

Lip Piercing 101

Lip piercing is practiced by many ancient tribes. The Dogon tribe of Mali, for example, regards the piercing of the lip as a way of commemorating the way their ancestor spirit, Noomi, gave them the power of speech. In the society of the ancient Aztecs and Mayans, a man who has a lip piercing is a member of the higher caste and he usually wears jewelry made from gold and jade. Today, a lot of people, including some celebrities, wear lip rings because of the way it allows them to express themselves.

Although it may give you the bad girl or bad boy appeal that you would like to portray, do take note that going through lip piercing is no joke. It is a decision that involves facing risks and consequences that might cause you to regret your actions later. Also, you have to remember that a lip piercing isn't something that you can just remove after you have grown tired of it. So, if you're still up to getting a lip piercing, here are some things you need to take note of before going through it.

Who and Where?

Ask around and pick an artist who is well-recommended. Make sure that he has a certificate from the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). This is an organization of piercing artists that make safety rules that prevent you from incurring health risks due to piercing. Also, pick a piercing salon that is clean and has artists who sanitize their hands before doing a piercing. You should also make sure that they use sterilized needles in sealed packages and not a piercing gun. Remember that piercing guns cannot be sterilized and if they use one on you, you're bound to get an infection from your piercing.

The Placement

Since you will be living with it for the rest of your life, you should know where you want to have your lip piercing done. Putting a lip ring on your lower lip is very much recommended because it doesn't have any contact with your gums and wouldn't cause any damages in this area in the future.

You can also have a labret stud on the area below your lower lip. This is also called a labret. Because the flat disk is squeezed between the back of the lip and the gums, the placement of this lip piercing is very important because it can hurt your gums.

If you're feeling adventurous, it is also possible to put a labret stud above the upper lip. Because it is related to the placement of Marilyn Monroe's beauty mark, it is called a Monroe piercing. And, if you are a very daring person, you can also opt for Angelbites, which consists of two upper lip piercings on both sides of the lip. Only labret studs can be used for this type of lip piercing. Snakebites, on the other hand, are just like Angelbites. The difference is that Snakebites are found on the opposite sides of the lower lip and both rings and studs can be used for this type of lip piercing.

Before choosing any of these placements, it would be a good idea to imagine what it would be like to have them on your mouth. After all, you wouldn't want to get a lip piercing that would affect the way you speak, eat or drink.

Tragus Piercing

Tragus Piercing

This is the piercing of the small cartilage that is at the end of the ear tunnel. Though it is not as common as ear piercing, it has gained popularity over the past few years. What is done is that you go to a professional piercer and with a special piercing needle and scissors he gets your tragus pierced while you are either sitting or lying down. A small rubber is place at the other end of the tragus while it gets pierced. This part of the ear usually has some thick flesh and so a little bit of pressure is usually used to get the needle to the other end.

It is normally a painful process since bleeding is also involved but the pain gets away after a few days.The gauge of the needle that is used to get your tragus pierced is also very important as this will determine the size of rings, studs, labrets and barbells that you are going to put on thereafter. After this a special ring is then inserted into the hole and this will only be changed after it has healed.

You have to choose the jewelry carefully because you will have it on for quite some time about 8 weeks to even 3 months. You also have to take good care of your pierced tragus daily to ensure that it heals properly and failure to do this can make you get infections. You will have to clean it daily using saline solution or any other kind of a disinfectant solution as advised by your piercer. Put some solution on a small piece of cotton wool and clean it gently from the outside going to the inside and twist the jewelry ring a bit to ensure that solution gets into the hole. Do this with a clean hand to avoid any contact with bacteria.

You will also have to sleep on one side during this period to avoid getting hurt and also to ensure it heals within the appropriate time frame. You can get both of your traguses pierced or only one depending on your choice since different people have different tastes.

Tongue Piercing

Tongue Piercing

A tongue piercing is a type of body piercing that is normally done directly through the center of the tongue, and is one of most popular body piercing sites in the western world following the ear.

A tongue piercing is accomplished by first determining the placement of the piercing which is marked and a clamp is then applied. The first jewelry is usually longer than is ultimately required, which allows for swelling, which is normal after a piercing. Within 2 days following the piercing of the tongue it can swell to twice the size it originally was. This can be painful when eating and speaking, but it is not permanent. Piercers frequently recommend chewing on ice and drinking cold beverages in order to help reduce this swelling.

As a result of the tongue's exceptional healing ability, a tongue piercing will usually close rapidly. Some piercings will close up in a few hours while other holes that have been stretched larger may take a few days to close. The amount of time it takes for a piercing to heal differs greatly from one person to another. There are some people who have piercings that have larger stretched holes that are able to fit jewelry in their piercing sometimes after years. It is usually recommended that people who are not able to take care of their recent piercing avoid piercing procedures.

A traditional tongue piercing placement is in the center of the mouth along the midline of the tongue. It is frequently about 3/4 "back from the tip of the tongue. It is usually placed with the top a little further back than the bottom, which permits the top of the jewelry to lean back slightly and away from the teeth which puts it more towards the upper part of the palate since there is more room in the person's mouth there.

Long term or permanent tongue piercing has become extremely popular in modern western society. With high quality surgical steel readily available, barbell style jewelry is usually associated with the emergence of this piercing in the 1980s. It is also noteworthy that the this piercing is not specific to a particular gender and was not developed specifically for just a woman or a man. One of the most common names for tongue piercing jewelry is a tongue ring, which is a misnomer since tongue rings are rarely used in tongue piercings.

Beauty Piercing

Beauty Piercing

Piercing has been a trend since the ancient days when they were done in tribal cultures and from the time of mummies all the way to India and then since World War II, has made its way to the Western world, continuing to be one of the major trends of today.

Whether you want to pierce for beauty, for self expression, for conformity, or tradition, or even rebellion, piercing is an age old practice that continues to enchant people today. The most popular and common form of piercing is ear piercing. Women and men alike have been doing it since ancient times and continue to do it today. Many babies have their ears pierced early because it is a sign of feminine grace and elegance, just as it was during the Elizabethan era of England where women wore an earring in one ear as a sign of their ladylike elegance. Today, women still pierce their ears to wear earrings and to be feminine and fashionable while they stick with tradition. Many men pierce their ears, too, whether to make a fashionable statement or to express their wild side. Often men and women use plugs in their ears and stretch out the holes to make some kind of statement.

Another popular form of piercing is nose piercing. Done in many tribal cultures and in India and in the Middle East, nose piercing was a popular trend among many civilizations of people. Even tribal male leaders pierced their noses to display their wealth and power. Nowadays, it still remains popular in the Eastern world and remains a traditional sign of ladylike grace. Piercing of the lip and tongue are also ancient practices that have been around since olden times. Back then it was often done to stretch out the lips, whereas other tribes did them as cultural symbols and respectful gestures to the gods.

Many people prefer nipple, navel, or genital piercing, too, though there is no official record for its origins, it is still practiced. Piercing of all kinds grew popular in the West after WWII, and then gained mass appeal when it appeared in music videos and the media. People began to get and seek piercing afterwards.

If you are interested in any kind of piercing, then be sure to choose a place that is licensed and safe. Having needles stuck into your body is no joke, and can result in serious problems for you if the place is dirty and has unsanitary needles. You could contract diseases. Also, after you get a piercing, follow the instructions very specifically to avoid infection. That means do not stick in fake silver or gold, but use the real thing to keep the piercing area unaffected by dirt or debris or rust which would give you tetanus.

Piercing is a timeless tradition that people have been doing since ancient times and many people do it for a variety of reasons. You might want to do it so that you can wear earrings if you are a woman or a man. Piercing has become a popular form of individual expression as it allows for a person to choose the part of their body to mark with a symbol of sorts. Some people do it to reflect cultural practices done since the ancient times of their culture and even sometimes for religious purposes.

Ear Piercing Causes Eczema

Ear Piercing Causes Eczema

Ear piercing is very popular these days, this has been influenced a lot thanks to changing fashion statements. Ear piercing is expected to get much more popular. Atopic eczema has also become very common but very few studies have dealt with the idea that ear piercing itself could be responsible for causing eczema.

Ear piercing involves putting a hole in your ear and then putting a piece of metal through it. This leads to contact with heavy metals like nickel and cobalt. It is strictly advisable to do the piercing under perfectly hygienic conditions. Even after the piercing is finished, there are some precautions that you should follow.

Atopic eczema is triggered by certain allergens in affected people. An exposure to a certain material could trigger eczema, could a metal such as nickel trigger eczema?

Scientists have researched whether nickel can cause a trigger for atopic eczema. In an experiment on 960 young girls it is found that around 13% of those who got their ears pierced, went on to develop allergic skin reactions. Of the same sample, only 1% of those who did not get their ears pierced had eczema. Similarly, in an study on 520 young Swedish men doing compulsory military service, it is found that hypersensitivity to nickel and cobalt is higher (in 8% men) among those who got piercing. In contrast only 2.7% of those who did not get their ear pierced developed eczema. In another study on 424 Norwegian schoolchildren aged between 7-12 years, 89 children had their ears pierced and 79 developed skin allergies to metallic jewellery, which is a whopping 88% of those who had their ears pierced! These studies statistically relate ear piercing consisting of nickel and cobalt to atopic eczema, and establish the metals as allergens to a significant percentage of the population.

It is possible to protect yourself from allergic reactions, first you should start by visiting your doctor for an allergen test. If you discover that you are not allergic to nickel then it should be ok to go ahead and have your ears pierced.

Another less obvious reason for skin allergies after getting ear pierced might not actually be the metal, it could be the latex gloves that are worn by the person that pierces your ear. If you believe you are allergic to latex or rubber, then you should request that the person uses a pair of gloves made out of a different material. Since children have showed very high susceptibility towards possible nickel sensitization (88% as compared to 13% among adult men) it can be seen that children are much more sensitive, and so extreme care should be taken when considering piercing your child's ears. For people suffering from diabetes, epilepsy, hypertension, heart disease or hemophilia, it is important to seek your doctor's approval before even considering piercing your ears.

Good skin health is far more important than just making a fashion statement. After all a face full of rash doesn't make a good fashion statement anyway! With a little precaution and restraint it is possible to prevent developing atopic eczema.

An Introduction To Bottom Lip Piercing

An Introduction To Bottom Lip Piercing

Bottom lip piercing is a tradition practiced by several ancient groups of people. There was a tribe in Mali, for instance, who had once looked at piercing as one way to celebrate how their ancestral god had granted upon them the ability to speak for themselves. In the ancient civilizations of the Aztecs and the Mayans, a man who has his lips pierced is considered to be a part of the highest level of their society. These days however, men and women, especially artists, wear lip rings to express themselves.

However much bottom lip piercing may help you achieve, do put it in your mind that bottom lip and lip piercing in general is a very serious thing to do to yourself. When making your decision to go ahead with it, you have to consider the consequences and outcome that might make you think twice about getting pierced in the first place. Add the fact that the piercing is something that you can not easily take off once the novelty of the idea wears off. But even after these warnings you still would want to go ahead and have your lip - bottom or otherwise, pierced, do take note of the following before going ahead with your decision.

First, make sure that you ask around and eventually choose a piercing specialist who is well recommended, officially trained, experienced and trustworthy. It would not hurt to find out if he is a certified member of the APP or the Association of Professional Piercers. This means that he is aware and strictly follows safety and health guidance rules that prevents a customer from any infections or health risks. Also, make sure that you go to a piercing salon or clinic that is clean, properly sanitized and strictly follow sanitation guidelines with regards to equipment as well as needles among other things.

Considering the fact that you are going to be living with that bottom lip piercing for the rest of your days here on earth, you would have to be certain as to where you would want to have the piercing done. Having a bottom lip ring is ideal for those who wants to have their bottom lip pierced as this would have the least contact with your gums and would unlikely to cause any gum damage in the days to come. Or you can try having a labret stud put on your lower lip. Although this is something that you might want to consider rather carefully as this is the kind of jewelry that has flat disc at the back and may do damage to your gums.

While bottom lip piercing is certainly fashionable and unique, you have to be sure that you have thought about getting one very thoroughly and that you have imagined what it would be like to have one. Make sure though, that you get one properly and that you have indeed gone to an expert who knows what he is doing. You would not want to end up with a mouth infection or have trouble talking or even eating and drinking.

Ear Piercing - History and Types

Ear Piercing - History and Types

The history of ear piercing goes back to ancient Perspolis in Persia. It is recorded that there were illustrations of soldiers with earrings in the walls of this city. During Dark Ages earrings and other jewelry declined as almost all the populace was impoverished. After the rise of nations later jewelry including earrings was the sign of luxury and high status in society. During the Middle Ages gorgeous dresses and elaborate hairstyles were in fashion and earrings were not so popular. But a bit later when the hair was worn up and the collars became higher earrings got back their popularity. During the next centuries more and more skillful jewel experts appeared and new types of earrings were designed.

In the middle of 19th century it was popular to tied the hair behind the head covering the ears, hats were in fashion and there were no place for earrings. It was also the time when society and religious establishments associated earrings with excess, vanity and heathens and earrings lost their popularity. At the beginning of the 20th century non-pierced clip-on earrings appeared and simultaneously sailors began to wear earrings as the symbol of their adventures. In the sixties hippies and homosexuals were those who helped to rise the popularity of earrings, in the seventies punk rockers inspired the wearing of multiple earrings and in the eighties women began to wear earrings.

Nowadays ear piercing is the common type of body modification which is popular with men, women and children all over the world. Sometimes parents pierce the ears of their daughters even when they are only one year old.

There are various types of piercing and the most widespread is ear lobe piercing. It is the less painful type of ear piercings. Though the soft tissue of the lobe is the best place for quick painless piercing there are at least eight other places where ear can be pierced. The other popular types of ear piercing are vertical, industrial, helix, orbital and anti orbital piercings. Helix piercing is a piercing along the outside rim of the ear and though it is rather difficult to do it is still very popular nowadays. The other widespread type of ear piercing is industrial piercing that joins two holes in the ear with a long straight barbell and you can also wear two single barbells in these holes. Ear gauging is the other popular type of ear modification- a noticeable or even very large hole in the ear lobe looks up-to-date and unusual at the same time.

The healing process of ear piercing lasts for about two months and it is important to follow all recommendations that include keeping the wound clean, avoiding swimming, not keeping phones and other subjects close to the pierced ear.

The choice of ear piercing jewelry nowadays is very wide and there are many trusted on-line jewelry stores that offers high quality and stylish barbells, captive bead rings, ear studs, plugs and other attractive jewelry for your ear piercing. A variety of materials is also available nowadays- silver, gold, stainless steel, acrylics, natural materials such as wood, pearls, bone and horn. Ear piercing is not only the way to follow the fashion trends but the way to show your individuality and style.

Body Piercing - Everything You Always Wanted to Know

Body Piercing - Everything You Always Wanted to Know

Elaine Davidson wasn't content with holding the Guinness World Record for having the most piercings in 2000, when she was verified as having 462 piercings all over her body - including 192 just in her face. No, she went one step further, and in 2001 she broke her own record with 721 piercings in all.

But even that wasn't good enough for the Brazilian nurse, who claims she hates being pierced. Amazingly, as of February, 2009, Elaine was found to have a whopping 6,005 piercings, including more than 500 in her genitalia, both internally and externally. The total weight of all her piercings today is over six pounds of hardware - ensuring that she jingles when she walks, and sets off metal detectors in airports.

"I don't enjoy getting pierced, but to break the record you have to get to a high level," Elaine said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph from Edinburgh, Scotland as she helped open a new piercing studio. "My family don't even like tattoos or piercings. But I am happy. I decided to change myself and be me."

If you want to be you - or be like Elaine - you may be considering getting some part of your body pierced, be it your ears, your tongue or even your genitalia. But before you do, make sure you it's the right decision for you - and that you have the procedure carried out safely and correctly.

Many people are thrilled with the body piercings they get, believing they make them infinitely more attractive, both physically and aesthetically. But some people end up with a lot more than just a cute little stud in their belly button or clitoral hood - such as an infection, excessive bleeding, keloid scarring or even worse...

All types of piercing carry an inherent risk of disease if the equipment is not sterilized properly (see below), which can result in life-threatening illnesses such as Hepatitis B and C and HIV, as well as tuberculosis and syphilis. Piercings can also cause infection, sometimes a systemic one such as sepsis, as well as splitting of the skin and scarring. Allergies to specific types of jewelry can also be problematic.

Popular Piercings

Below are the most popular types of piercings explained, along with risks inherent to them:

Belly Button Piercing. The upper bend of the tummy is pierced with a needle. This can take up to one year to heal completely due to bending etc, so be patient. RISK: Jewelery can get caught on clothing and take even longer to heal, causing infection. Sometimes excessive bleeding and/or nerve damage can result.

Ear Piercing. The only piercing that can safely be done with a piercing gun. RISK: Allergies to certain jewelry can occur so only use stainless steel stud in the beginning, and make sure you follow after-care instructions carefully.

Mouth Piercing. Usually the lip area, either around the lip or on the lip itself. Takes about one month to heal. Piercings are given specific names, called bites, according to the location of the piercing on the lip. RISK: Can increase risk of periodontal, or gum, disease. Can also increase possibility of tooth chipping.

Nose Piercing. Nostril piercing is the most common, and takes second place in the piercing stakes after ears. Nasal septum and bridge piercings are considerably less common - and less attractive as well! RISK: having the wrong type of jewelry placed in your nose can cause pain. As the nose is full of bacteria, it's easy to get an infection. And there is also the danger you could inhale a stud into your lungs.

Eyebrow Piercing. Usually the piercing is at a right angle to your eyebrow line. Rings or barbells are used. RISK: If positioned wrongly can cut nerves in the face.

Cheek Piercing. Often called the Madonna, the Crawford and the Monroe, to look like the beauty spots or moles on these famous people. RISK: Cheek piercings can contribute to gum disease and infections are common.

Nipple Piercing. Suitable for both men and women, either one nipple or both. RISK: The nipple can harden and scar, which could eventually result in difficulties breastfeeding (if you're female, that is).

Female Genital Piercing. Several types are available, depending on the type of clitoris you have (hooded or one that sticks out) and if you want an internal or external piercing. RISK: Can cause condoms to split and increase risk of sexually-transmitted infection and pregnancy. Clitoral or triangle piercings are not always recommended as they can result in loss of clitoral sensation. Safer ones are labia and inner labia piercings, as well as the clitoral hood.

Male Genital Piercing. A plethora of male piercings exist, either through the head of the penis, the foreskin, at the back of the testicles, though the shaft etc. Ask and ye shall receive. RISK: Can cause condoms to split and increase risk of sexually-transmitted infection and pregnancy. Nerve damage can also occur, resulting in a loss of sensation in the penile area.

Guide to Proper Piercing

ALWAYS make sure the facility is licensed by the Board of Health as a piercing studio, that their credentials are up-to-date and that they are members of professional piercing organizations.

ALWAYS make sure the surroundings are clean and hygienic, that the equipment is up-to-date, and that staff are willing to answer all your questions courteously and knowledgeably. Tools should be sterilized in an autoclave, and spore testing carried out monthly, at least. The piercing area should be sterile and kept spotlessly clean following every piercing.

ALWAYS make sure sterile disposable gloves are worn throughout the entire procedure. Ask your piercer to don new gloves if he or she leaves the room to do something else.

ALWAYS make sure that jewelery made from non-corrosive metal is used for your initial piercing. Stainless steel is usually a good choice.

ALWAYS make sure you know about the right after-care procedures. You should be given material to take home with you and re-read, as often there is too much information to take in all at once. Following it to the letter is important.

ALWAYS make sure that if you are under 18 you have a parent or guardian with you if the law in your state requires you to be of a certain age to have a specific piercing carried out. Piercing studios that do not enforce state laws and ask for proof of age are not to be trusted.

Body piercing, in most cases, can be safe and worry-free. Most piercings can be reversed simply by removing the jewelry, although scarring may remain. If you decide this is the route for you, play it safe and choose a safe place. If you're not sure, leave. Don't gamble with your appearance - or your health.

Piercing Your Ears For The First Time

Piercing Your Ears For The First Time

The first time you get your ears pierced can be very stressful. Nobody enjoys having sharp needles pressed into their skin. Still, if you want to have incredible ears then you will have to get them pierced. So, let's talk about how to get ready for the first time you will have your ears pierced.

The most important thing is to realize that it will be a short and painless operation. Well, somewhat painless. It's like a small bee stinging your ear. That doesn't sound so bad, does it?

Some people will apply ice to their ears before they get the work done. Ice has a numbing affect because it is so cold. So, you should bring some ice to the piercing place in a little baggy. Just make sure that you do not overheat the bag, or the ice will turn into water. Water will not have the same results.

Once you get over the fact that this is not going to hurt, you will need to consider some other important things. First, when your ears are pierced you will have to wear your first set of earrings continuously for a long period of time. Because of this, you should pick out a pair of earrings that you will want to wear. I recommend going with a pair that isn't too noticeable. You don't want people to recognize you've been wearing the same set every day. So, go with something that looks nice, but won't be too memorable.

The next thing you will need to figure out is where you want to have the piercing done. Not everyone wants to get pierced on their earlobes. Some people like to get the tops of their ears pierces. You can also get your nose pierced, or even your belly button. These are all traditional places that people enjoy having piercings. Still, you should remember that some places of employment do not want their employees to have piercings all over their body. You should check with your boss before you have the work done.

After you decide what kind of earrings you are going to wear, and where you are going to get pierced, you will need to figure out where you will have the work done. I recommend going to a place that has a good reputation for even settings. If you are getting your ears done, then you will want both ears to be pierced at exactly the same place. Some piercing places are better at this than others. You want the work to be done by someone that knows what they are doing.

I hope that this guide has helped you plan you how you will get your ears pierced for the first time. I know that this can be a scary procedure, but it really doesn't need to be. It can be a lot of fun to wear earrings, and everyone has to go through this process before they can do that. So, you are kind of joining a club.

How To Get Started With Face Painting

How To Get Started With Face Painting

So you've decided you would like to learn how to paint faces. You want to see your painting bringing joy and delight to young children, maybe at your child's birthday party. Or maybe you want to be a professional face painter.

Face painting really can be a very fun and fulfilling job, but it can also be a lot of hard work.

But if you're a beginner, how do you get started? This is what I'm going to answer for you in this article.

One of the best ways of learning is to take a face painting class. It's hard to say where to find a face painting class near you. Sometimes you can take face and body painting classes at college. Sometimes you can get free face painting classes at certain events. If you were to search Google for "face painting class + your area" you may be able to find someone who can give you some tuition.

If you want to learn advanced face painting techniques, classes are one of the best ways of learning, especially if you want to improve your painting skills quickly.

If you can't find face painting classes in your area (they aren't always many around, so it's certainly no crime if you can't fine one) then you may like to learn from face painting instructional books.

If you search a popular book site like Amazon, you'll be able to find a whole host of books to do with face painting. Read the reviews to find out which is best suited for you.

Another good way for a beginner to learn face painting, is with instructional videos. The obvious benefit over books is that you can actually see how something is done in a video, as apposed to just reading about it.

But sometimes, if you've already got some face painting skills, all you need is a little experience to help you build your confidence.

Would you like to know the quickest way to get lots of practice?

It's simply this: Contact your local children's school and offer to do free face painting for an afternoon. Now you may get turned down... but most likely, they will be very keen to let you do this if you aren't charging anything. This is a powerful way to gain experience fast.

Simple and Contemporary Face Paint Designs

Simple and Contemporary Face Paint Designs

Painting is all about discovering the magic of colours, patterns and designs. Face painting is all about painting magic that can alter faces of people or children into something totally different from what they actually are.

Face painting has been a part of human culture since the evolution of mankind. Tribal groups introduced face painting and body painting to show their concern and faithfulness to a particular group. American Indians, the first inhabitants of the USA, also practiced face painting culture, for identification of the tribal group they belonged to.

In modern times, unions and associations groups had symbols on their faces, to show their union for a cause. Theatre actors often get their faces painted, as it is an occupational requirement. Artists and jokers use face painting designs to make their facial expressions more noticeable while performing on the stage. Sportsmen also colour their faces with face painting designs of the national flag or the colours of the team lucky charm. Every year in Europe, there is a body painting festival, and lots of people take part in face painting.

There are countless practical uses of face painting. In the army, commandos in the fields, often paint their faces with green, black or brown colours to camouflage themselves and dissolve in the landscape at some stages in stealth operations. Face painting designs are immensely admired by kids; they enjoy getting their faces painted at parks and fairs. Therefore, painting designs can be used for camouflage, for representing faithfulness and most importantly, for the sake of fun. Some of the most popular and simple face-painting designs that are fun to paint and carry around are as follows.

A cat, tiger or any cat like face-painting designs are extremely popular and quite simple to paint. First of all, you should decide the background colour, depending upon the type of feline face you are painting. Background should be consisting of colours like yellow, brown or orange. Among kids, Tiger faces are very much liked and appreciated. For making your face-painting prominent, you can make outline of eyes with black liners, nose and whiskers with black dots. If you are painting a tiger face then draw black stripes around the eyes, nose and face.

Clown face designs are the most popular face-painting design worldwide. First of all, give a full white wash to the face. Paint the nose red or stick a red round nose and outline the lips with a red outline to make a continuous smiling face. Last of all, colour the eyebrows and outline the eyes with a black eye liner. You can colour the cheeks with any colour that gets tinted on white. Painting can be further improved by trying out different colour combinations.

You can try out several other unusual face painting designs like the faces of comic book characters like Spiderman, batman or wolverine. You can also make scary faces like witch, warlock or a zombie. Animal Faces can be made like Chipmunks, Zebras, Parrots and other birds. You can also paint your face by abstract designs with splashes of colours, by making unique colour combinations.

These were some of the most popular designs, but one should always keep in mind the choices preferences of boys and girls. Girls are inclined to enjoy imaginative themes, such as the popular yet challenging designs of unicorns. They also prefer butterflies, fairies, flowers, ladybugs, rainbows, cats and other animals. Boys prefer designs, like spiders, skulls, robots, monsters, pirates, dinosaurs, snakes, bats, tigers etc.