Do Your Research Before Buying Belly Button Rings

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Julie_S._Montgomery]Julie S. Montgomery
Many women turn to belly button rings as a form of expression or simply to show off a nice body. If you are considering getting your belly pierced, there is a lot you should know. Even if you have made up your mind are going to move forward with it, doing as much research ahead of time and being as prepared as possible will help eliminate the piercing day jitters. You might know someone who has had the procedure done before and while talking to them might be a good way to get an idea of what will happen, keep in mind everyone's experience is different. One person might experience a great deal of pain while another may have only a little discomfort.
How much pain you end up experiencing throughout the healing process has a great deal to do with how well you take care of the piercing. If you take good care of it and clean it twice a day, chances are you avoid getting a painful infection. You will also want to invest in higher quality belly button rings to ensure that your body does not reject or become irritated by the metals used. It's best to avoid nickel as that is one seems to cause the most irritation among people. Many products will even be labeled as nickel free to help you identify which are safe to use.
The best way to be comfortable before you get the procedure done is to visit the piercing location. Don't be afraid to ask your piercing professional questions, no matter how dumb or trivial you may think them to be. Ask them if they have a favorite brand or place to shop for   rel=nofollow [http://www.bodybling.net/Body-Jewelry/Belly-Button-Rings]belly button rings to ensure you find a decent quality that won't cause problems later on.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-Your-Research-Before-Buying-Belly-Button-Rings&id=6013611] Do Your Research Before Buying Belly Button Rings

Compliment Your Summer Body With Belly Rings

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Julie_S._Montgomery]Julie S. Montgomery
With summer just around the corner, many women are preparing to debut their belly rings. If you spend your summer days at the beach or by the pool, you know how a little jewelry can really compliment that body you have been working on all year long. If you are very active in the summer, you will want to avoid jewelry that could easily get caught and pull. Dangling jewelry can also hurt you and push into you if your clothes are too tight. If you are new to wearing a piercing in your mid-section, it's best to start off with a simple stud to ensure your health and safety. Feel free to explore your full options once you feel more comfortable and your piercing has fully healed.
Choosing the right belly rings is crucial to maintaining a nice midriff. If you end up purchasing jewelry that is cheap or has bad metals such a nickel, your skin could become irritated and it could lead to an infection. This is why it is very important to understand what your jewelry is made with prior to purchasing it. Don't be afraid to go online to shop for this type of thing so you have the ability to really study things and understand your options.
If you do find your   rel=nofollow [http://www.bodybling.net/Body-Jewelry/Belly-Button-Rings]belly rings are causing problems in your piercing, the first thing you should do is take them out. Ensure that the area stays clean and free of any harmful metals. If the area turns red and starts leaking fluids, chances are you have an infection. If you can't seem to get rid of it on your own, you should not hesitate to go to the doctor. They should be able to help you get it cleared up within a few days. Before you know it you can be back on the beach.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Compliment-Your-Summer-Body-With-Belly-Rings&id=6013622] Compliment Your Summer Body With Belly Rings

Navel Piercing: Adding Sensuality to Your Beauty!

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ujwala_Bapat]Ujwala Bapat
Navel piercing is a relatively old in the world of piercing. This was once considered as a private place was piercing. Today, more adventurous have added a lot more body parts to their list of piercings, thereby making navel piercing relatively normal.
Does a pierced navel look more attractive?
It is not the navel that would look beautiful, here the entire area of your belly would start looking totally different after you have pierced it. Belly button is the very center of your body. During summer when you wear smaller and lighter clothes, it can become easily visible. For those who want to attract attention could use jewelry that definitely accentuate the way your stomach and belly area looks like.
For those who have slim waists will tend to gain a lot! A very slim waist does not become as attractive always. Putting on some jewelry will add some mystery as well as a lot of color, shine and sexiness to the belly thereby making it lovelier and more interesting. For those with toned bodies a lovely belly button ring would make you look sexier.
You can always own more than one ring. Basically, for those who would like to use some other jewelry in private and make a change according to outfits can do so easily. Navel piercing is easy to heal and at the same time, it is easier to maintain especially after change of season. You can quite easily remove these rings therefore, this does not lead to unnecessary pain or discomfort.
Summer time is the time to flaunt your body. This is also the season for vacationing and holidaying. Enjoying on the beach is imperative; you can attract most attention with body piercing jewelry which is both adventurous and cool. Age and sex are not the factors that determine whether or not you should wear navel rings.
There are a variety of jewelry you can wear for your navel. Wear rings, barbells, studs, etc. in your   rel=nofollow [http://piercing.internationalshoppee.com/]navel piercing. You can enjoy a frequent change of jewelry.
A wide range and choice of shopping in the jewelry range makes it easier to own what you dreamed of. You can always check out a wider range of products for gifting or shopping some of the most coveted stuff for lesser! [http://www.internationalshoppee.com]Enjoy!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Navel-Piercing:-Adding-Sensuality-to-Your-Beauty!&id=6006075] Navel Piercing: Adding Sensuality to Your Beauty!

Things To Know About Navel Piercing

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Darren_W_Chow]Darren W Chow
In the 1940's, movie producers were banned from showing belly buttons on the big screen. In order to get around this limitation, Hollywood actresses were actually made to wear gems or jewels in their navels so they don't actually show. This is practically about the time when navel piercing is said to have begun.
No one can exactly pin point where such piercing actually started, although others believed that the tradition began long ago in Rome, Greece, and Egypt. According to history, it was customary for these cultures to decorate their bodies with piercing and tattoos. Although cultures may have changed over time, the tradition of belly rings continues to be very popular nowadays.
The term navel piercing seems inappropriate to use since in reality, the pierced area is actually the skin directly above the navel and not the navel itself. Thus, a person can basically have a piercing done on the bottom and sides of the navel as he pleases. In order to allow the pierced area to heal easily, a standard barbell is generally used by piercers in piercing the belly button. Generally, belly buttons have their own special kind of barbells.
Even though navel piercings are generally considered safe, getting a piercing actually involves a certain degree of risk. Some of the most common side effects of a navel piercing include pain at the swelling site, scarring, infection, and swelling. These are practically some of the things that you should anticipate if you are planning to have a belly button.
Before getting a navel piercing, you should carefully think about it. Getting one does not only require you to be physically ready, but emotionally ready as well. More than anything else, you should seek for credible body piercers. Getting credible piercers might be a little costly but it is certainly worth every penny you pay compared to the risks that you might face in paying less. More than anything else, you have to make sure that the tools used in piercing are thoroughly sterilized in order to minimize infections and other risks.
Today, belly buttons are becoming more and more popular. Although a belly button piercing can take four months to one year to heal, many people would still want to have one. This is not very surprising though since navel piercings are considered beautiful and a great way of flaunting natural beauty and enhancing one's personal style.
Therefore if you are interested in getting a navel piercing, you should make sure you know all the risks involved and is willing to take it. Fortunately, there are a lot of piercing services that are offered online which makes it easier and more convenient for you to decide on the perfect navel piercing that you want for yourself.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Things-To-Know-About-Navel-Piercing&id=6042768] Things To Know About Navel Piercing

Are Piercings Attractive or a Huge Put Off?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Larry_K._Elrod]Larry K. Elrod
Are piercings attractive for men and women to wear, or are they merely annoying distractions from what a person's true appearance is. Nose and lip piercings are attributed a lot to the Gothic realms of society, but it is increasingly common nowadays for all members of society to don a stud somewhere on their body. In fact the more and more we venture into the time of free speech and liberation, people are beginning to run out of places to get piercings. A piercing on the ear lobe can be seen as quite classy but aside from that it is seen as a bit radical and alternative. Can these be seen as attractive?
I personally don't find any women attractive that have piercings in any other places other than on their ear lobe. For many however a tongue piercing can be particularly alluring, especially if the suitor is attractive. There are many women out there who do have a ridiculous amount of piercings, but if used in the correct way then there is definitely a market out there for piercings on women. The punk chick look is in, with the likes of soft rock singer in pink leading the way. Some piercings can promote promiscuity; a view is taken by some that if they are loose enough to mask their face with piercings then they may well be loose enough to sleep around. That is a very vague and inaccurate misconception however, because obviously what a woman has pierced says nothing about her morals and values.
Piercings are somewhat fashionable at the moment however, along with tattoos and the assumption that piercings will only become more common in modern society. This means that if more of us have piercings, then surely more of us are going to be finding people with piercings attractive. So even if there are some people who think piercings are hideous and aren't attractive to girls, we all have to acknowledge the fact that there are many girls who are attractive not only because of the way they look naturally, but the way in which they accessorize their piercings in order to look attractive. It will always divide opinion but and everybody has a different view of what is attractive so who are we to judge anybody for their taste. If they want their nipple pierced or even anywhere more radical, then that is their choice and there is someone out there who is looking just for that.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Are-Piercings-Attractive-or-a-Huge-Put-Off?&id=6094011] Are Piercings Attractive or a Huge Put Off?

Belly Piercing Jewelry - The Sexiest Piercing of All

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mike_Kliem]Mike Kliem
The navel is one of the most sensual and erogenous parts of your body and what better sight than glittering belly piercing jewelry teasing one from a well toned slender stomach. There was no sign of navel rings until 1994, when super model Christy Turlinton not only introduced but also immortalized the fashion of body piercing. She walked the ramp at a fashion show in London flaunting her bare midriff with a ring in the middle of her navel. Following her Naomi Campbell flaunted her bare midriff with a gold belly button ring.
there is a great variety of body jewelry available for navel piercing; surgical steel rings, 14k and 22k gold plated surgical steel, titanium rings, rings with charms on them and captive bead rings, barbells and labarets. You can also have crystal beads or gold plated beads as an extra feature on any of the available rings. And after the piercing is healed you can hang a charm off the ring or put a waist chain through it. Navel jewels can also be worn, they are like a bent barbell with a small ball on top and a larger ball on the bottom which has a gemstone set in it, the gemstone sits in your navel
the two most common designs for belly piercing jewelry are the belly ring and the belly bar. Piercing is done with either the rings or the curved bars. The curved bars have two balls at each end, to close the bars. Normally, these balls have inscriptions or pictures on them.
While selecting navel jewelery, two measurements should be kept in mind the width of a ring and the diameter of the bar, which refers to the length of the bar. Jewelery comes in varying sizes and thickness or the gauge of the piece. Thin jewelery will have larger gauge numbers and vice-versa. The typical size for a belly button ring is 14g 7/16' but now belly rings in any gauge and in any length from a quarter to one inch are freely available.
The most commonly used material is steel. Plain or surgical steel with acrylic or steel balls are used for piercing. The other choices in metal are gold 14 carat or 18 carat. Titanium and silver are all used for belly piercing jewelery. The use of nickel is not recommended.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Belly-Piercing-Jewelry---The-Sexiest-Piercing-of-All&id=5932472] Belly Piercing Jewelry - The Sexiest Piercing of All

5 Reasons Why Reverse Belly Button Rings Are Popular

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christine_Crotts]Christine Crotts
People who choose to wear rings in their belly button often forget that there is the option of wearing reverse belly button rings. The name comes from that fact that the ring is structured in such a way that it fits into the bottom of the belly piercing and hangs from the top. Apart from being fashionable the ring also has a lot of advantages which is apparent to its users once they wear it.
A majority of the popular belly rings that are presently available in the market are the top down belly button rings, dangle belly button rings and the playboy belly rings. These often come with various zodiac sign symbols and playboy tag attached to it for girls who want to display their sensual side as a wearer of the ring.
Nowadays diamond studded rings are also available for the rich and the famous in all well know and fashionable jewelery shops in town.
ADVANTAGES OF REVERSE BELLY BUTTON RINGS:
1. The primary advantage of a reverse belly ring is that it is considered much safer to wear in comparison to other standard rings. It is structurally designed in such a way that it makes the ring hard to get attached to clothing, which happens to other types of belly rings.
2. It is also an often occurrence that other sort of belly rings can get caught to a passing object or person and if it accidentally gets torn off it may cause severe pain to its user. Belly ring wearers are often aware and cautious of this scenario and want to avoid such painful incidents under all circumstances.
3. Reverse belly button rings also come in a number of fashionable shapes and sizes to suit the varied taste and style of its wearers. The most popular shapes include butterflies and flowers. If you are looking for something simpler you can go for bar shaped piercings which displays a smart and elegant look.
4. Whether you are looking for a trendy one or for a simple looking fashionable belly rings, reverse belly button rings are always there to serve you with a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Compared with standard rings, these reverse belly button rings have much more variety.
5. Another major advantage of the reverse belly rings is that the typically hanging look of the object makes it more fashionable to buy than the normal ordinary belly rings and if you haven't considered buying one yet it's time that you consider wearing one now.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Reasons-Why-Reverse-Belly-Button-Rings-Are-Popular&id=6172440] 5 Reasons Why Reverse Belly Button Rings Are Popular

13 Tips To Prevent Infections Of Your Snake Bite Piercing

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christine_Crotts]Christine Crotts
A vertical labret piercing, which is often called a snake bite piercing, involves two horizontal piercings on the opposite sides of the mouth which makes it looks like a snake bite.
Among all type of piercings lip piercing has become extremely popular and fashionable nowadays.
However it is extremely important to keep your lips clean with a snakebite piercing as it helps to prevent infections in the pierced area.
In order to keep your keep your lip piercing clean here are thirteen killer tips that may help you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
1. Make sure that you wash your hands clean of all contamination before you touch your pierced spot. If someone else touches it other than you make sure they wash their hands before touching your piercing.
2. If there is any inflammation after piercing be sure to take Ibuprofen with medical guidance to keep the swelling and tenderness at a bay and reduce the pain in the affected zone.
3. Consult your piercer and take Vitamin B along with zinc supplements before the piercing procedure and after the piercing to improve your healing.
4. Clean the pierced area with mild antibacterial non-perfumed soap and lukewarm water and rinse it with a cotton ball.
5. Gently remove any crusty build up that may have formed around the pierced area with warm water at least twice in a day.
6. Brush your teeth twice daily with a soft bristled toothbrush and medicated toothpaste containing low fluoride contents. Floss your teeth after brushing which helps to get rid of the bacterial formation inside the oral cavity.
7. Rinse your mouth with saltwater to speed up the snakebite piercings healing process.
8. Rotate your piercing jewelry at least twice a day so that it does not get stuck and make you land up with an improper healing of the pierced zone.
9. It's best to avoid drinking, eating or smoking within the first couple of hours after the piercing.
10. Sanitize your mouth after eating, smoking or drinking with a medicated oral sanitizer.
11. Completely avoid any sort of oral sex till the wound has healed completely.
12. Preferably eat ice creams, yogurts, cold foods or suck on chipped ice lollipop ice-cream or keep an ice block inside your mouth twice in a day for the first two weeks after piercing. It has been observed that cold things help to reduce pain and reduce the swellings after snakebite piercings.
13. Do not remove or try to replace the jewelry under any circumstances unless it is recommended by the piercer, as the pierced holes closes up very quickly and it becomes extremely painful to reinsert the jewelry in case of such occurrences.
BONUS TIP: Soaking your [http://www.designyourowntattoonow.com/articles/snakebite-piercings-6-simple-questions.html]snake bite piercing in saline solution twice a day will help keep the area clean and free of infection.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?13-Tips-To-Prevent-Infections-Of-Your-Snake-Bite-Piercing&id=6176777] 13 Tips To Prevent Infections Of Your Snake Bite Piercing

Tongue Piercing Aftercare - 13 Tips To Prevent Infection

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christine_Crotts]Christine Crotts
Tongue piercing has become extremely popular nowadays for quite a number of reasons which include pleasure enhancement, shock value and social appearances. If you desire to get your tongue pierced it is worth noting that you must do your research before doing so.
There are several important factors those that must be taken into account before getting your tongue pierced. Before you even step foot into the piercing shop you must have substantial knowledge about the aftercare that you will need to perform.
Here are a few tips that would make your piercing easier for you and get yourself healed up within the minimum possible time.
1. Primarily the most important factor in tongue piercing is that you must always get it done by a certified piercing professional since it reduces the risk by a great extent.
2. Since the tongue has one of the toughest muscles in your body there may be a little pain involved in tongue piercing procedure. You are advised to remain well prepared for that during the procedure and not to become unnecessarily paranoid because of the pain. Extraordinary stress and tension in such a case may make it hurt more.
3. In order to avoid infections make sure to use a clean and hygienic barbell while piercing your tongue.
4. Use long barbells as the tongue may get swollen after the piercing procedure. A long barbell always helps to accommodate the swelling.
5. For tongue piercing aftercare it is advisable to take in liquid diets for a few days until your tongue is completely healed of the punctured wound. Generally it takes about two weeks for a complete healing.
6. Frequent use of mouth wash kills the useful bacteria in our oral cavity like lingual antimicrobial peptide and ptyalin. Limit washing your mouth with mouthwash to no more than twice a day.
7. Remember to wash your hands with antibacterial soap as a part of tongue piercing aftercare before touching the piercing.
8. Consume cold water frequently to tackle the swelling of the tongue. You may also crush some ice cubes and put them inside your mouth around the pierced area.
9. Avoid eating hard food objects like chocolates and chips. Instead try to eat ice cream in greater quantity.
10. Try to regularly rotate the barbell.
11. Check that the barbell remains tightened before going off to sleep as you may swallow a loose barbell or may get stuck inside your throat.
12. Do not indulge in any kind of oral sex and continue with all your tongue piercing aftercare until the piercing has got itself completely healed.
13. Avoid swimming or smoking until the piercing wounded has been fully healed.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Tongue-Piercing-Aftercare---13-Tips-To-Prevent-Infection&id=6215847] Tongue Piercing Aftercare - 13 Tips To Prevent Infection

How to Carry Out Ear Lobe Stretching

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mark_Z_Wilson]Mark Z Wilson
Knowing how to carry out ear lobe stretching properly can help save you from a great deal of pain and grief, because if carried out the wrong way, stretching earlobes can damage your ears.
Ear lobe stretching, also known as ear lobe gauging or earlobe stretching, is a very old practice used by old civilizations as a status symbol or for religious reasons. It was not just restricted to earlobes, and was applied to lips, tongues and other parts of the body, sometimes to monumental levels. The same basic technique is used in each case, irrespective of the part of the body concerned.
Most ear lobe stretching, or gauging, is followed by ear jewelry designed to fit the expanded hole in the lobe. These can be traditional earrings, hanging decorations or even flesh tunnels designed to emphasis the hole through the ear lobe. These can be made of plastic or metal, and often gold since it is a non-allergenic metal.
The first stage is to have your ears pierced in the normal away, although if you intend to stretch the piercing then it is strongly advised that you have the initial piercing carried out by a professional who can pierce your ear to 16 gauge, or 1.2-1.3 mm. The actual millimeter equivalents of the various gauging can vary between sources, but most non-pros can pierce to gauge 20 - 18 (0.8 - 1.0 mm). Needle piercing is preferred to a gun if you intend stretching it.
Gauging drops with increasing hole diameter, so the higher the g number, the smaller the ear piercing. It is very important that your piercing has healed before you start ear lobe stretching, and also that each stage has healed (3 weeks- 3 months according to the person) before going on to the next stage. Never skip sizes, but go up in size (down in gauge) from one level to the next.
Get your tools together, because without the right stretching tools you will make a total mess of it. Never use plastic or wood that can hold bacteria. Surgical steel is best, followed by gold and so on. It must be metal - if you can. If you can, get the tapers autoclaved by a tattoo salon then placed in a clean wrap for you take home. Otherwise boil them first. You should wash the taper with disinfectant before use, and then rub it over with a lubricant such as emu oil or jojoba oil - or anything water based. Vaseline and other oil-based lubricants can store germs, so don't use these.
Here are the steps:
Preparation
First have a shower or wash your ears with warm water. This makes them softer and helps prevent tearing. Then wash your hands and earlobe with an anti-bacterial soap - preferably not perfumed. Smear the antiseptic over the taper and then you are all set to start.
Ear Lobe Stretching Methods
There are many methods you can use, such as tapering, Teflon taping, weights and scalpeling that involves cutting out the larger hole with a scalpel, but it is not recommended that you try that yourself! The old method, used by Africans for their ears and lips, involves hanging a weight form the piercing and stretching the hole mechanically. Again not recommended!
The best way for you to use yourself is tapering. There are three basic ways of doing this, but the principle is the same with each: you insert the thin end of the taper into your healed piercing and then work the taper through until the thicker end is reached. There are now three possibilities for tapered ear lobe stretching:
Insertion Taper: This is about 3 inches long, and is gradually inserted into the ear. The earring or other jewelry is inserted right at the back (thicker) of the end of the taper, and then all are pushed right through. The taper comes out and the ring with the larger pin is in your ear.
Taper Spike: This is inserted in the same way as the insertion taper, only the jewelry doesn't follow. The spike is retained in the hole with elastic bands until it has healed and then the next size is inserted - and so on until the required gauge has been reached.
Taper Ring: The earring itself has a tapered spike that is inserted in the same as above, and then fixed as normal.
Teflon: Basically you add a layer or two of Teflon tape to your ear jewelry and force it into your piercing. Wait a few weeks and then do the same again and so on. It works eventually, but is not as guaranteed as the tapering methods to reach any specific size, and is basically a simple DIY method. This could be tried if you can't afford the tapers, and not subject to bacterial infection as the other types of polymers or plastics.
You can also use the dead stretching method, involving simply forcing the larger ear jewelry into your smaller piercing. This can hurt and is not recommended, although many use it. It can go wrong if it causes bleeding.
After-Care of Ear Lobe Stretching
Irrespective of the method used, the ear lobe should be washed with anti-bacterial soap after each stretching. Sea salt can be used to keep the piercing clean at a high concentration (about 3 tablespoons in sufficient water to soak your ear lobe in it). Clean it frequently until fully healed before carrying on with the next gauge. Never use any alcohol-based or peroxide-based antiseptic because they can destroy white blood cells and dehydrate the cells around the piercing.
Stick to these rules and you should be able to carry out your own ear lobe stretching and get the result that you want. One important thing to remember: this should not hurt much, and should not bleed. In either of these cases stop, wait until your piercing has healed and try again.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Carry-Out-Ear-Lobe-Stretching&id=6235319] How to Carry Out Ear Lobe Stretching

Some Tips on Stretching Earlobes

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mark_Z_Wilson]Mark Z Wilson
Stretching earlobes is becoming increasingly more popular as normal body piercings and cartilage piercings are becoming commonplace. Young people want to look different to their peers, and one to do this in a visible way is to increase the diameter of their piercings to hold increasing larger forms of jewelry. Ears are among the most visible, and the most suited to such decorations as thick studs and flesh tunnels.
One problem with respect to stretching earlobes is that it is recommended that you do it yourself, since only you know when you are not hurting - once it begins to become particularly sore, an earlobe gauging should be stopped, and held until either the pain stops or the piercing is properly healed.
Piercing earlobes is a standard technique that even amateurs can do (though not recommended) but stretching earlobes must be done either by a professional who fully understands the problems involved, or by yourself because only you know how much pain you are experiencing.
Here are some tips on stretching earlobes: they do not include the actual stretching other than a brief resume on the basic technique, but are intended principally to keep your earlobes healthy and clean during the procedure.
When Stretching Earlobes is Safe
Your earlobes are safe to stretch only once the original piercing has fully healed, and the same is true of each stage when stretching them. Stretching earlobes is also known a 'gauging' due to the terminology used in measuring the sizes of the hole through your lobe.
You would generally begin with a 0.8 mm to 1.0 mm, which are respectively 20 gauge - or 20g - and 18g. A professional can use a needle to give you a 16g hole which is ideal to start off with. This is about 1.2 mm - 1.3 mm. You can however, also commence gauging using a 16g taper with a 20g hole.
Gauge Sizes
Although a professional needle piercing is best for stretching earlobes a gun will do, but the hole will likely not be as straight as a with needle. Begin with the next size below that of your piercing. If you are not sure what that is, then you should be OK to start with a 16g taper. Basically, stretching is carried out using a tapered needle, one end starting at the size of your current piercing, and the other end one size above.
This is where it can get confusing, because for some reason gauges reduce with increasing diameter, and also do so in steps of 2 - so they are always even. Thus, if you start with a 16g as you should do, the thicker end will be 14g. Simple insert the narrow end into your piercing and work it through until the thicker end just enters your ear.
Taper Options
Now, you have three options: with an insertion taper, you will place the pin of a 14g earring, or some other jewelry, against the end of the 14g end as it is pushed through, and then follow the pin through and fix it as normal. Another form of smaller rod, known as a spike, is designed just to stay there until you are ready for the next size, and a third type is ear jewelry with a tapered pin. Simply insert the pin and you are set until it has healed.
The first option is best because the jewelry pin is the same diameter all the way, while tapered jewelry is thicker at one end and thinner at the other, so your hole may heal at different widths front to back.
Tips on Stretching Earlobes
However, this is not about the mechanics, but about how to care for your earlobes and for yourself, so here are some important tips on stretching earlobes:
1. Do not start until your piercing has healed, including any previous earlobe stretching carried out. Otherwise it will be too painful and can become infected.
2. Have a shower before starting - the warm water will soften you ears and will help prevent tearing of the skin that can lead to infection farther down the road.
3. Buy a non-scented anti-bacterial soap and clean your earlobes with it before and after gauging. 4. Use a solution of 3 tablespoons sea salt in enough water to dissolve it, and use that to soak your earlobes with. Doing this daily should prevent any infection that could ruin the stretching.
5. Never use plastic, silicone or double flared plugs for new stretches - gold, platinum, stainless steel, surgical steel or glass are suitable. Silver is OK, and anti-bacterial, but it can tarnish.
6. Turn the insert daily to prevent sticking or crusting - after a shower is best.
7. Never try to accelerate the process by missing a size.
8. Keep in mind that once you reach about 2g stretching earlobes is liable to be a permanent change, so you will always have to wear something in your ear
If you follow these tips on stretching earlobes, you should find it to be a fairly simple procedure. It might be slightly painful, but no more than that, and it is stressed that if it is, and if you see bleeding, then stop, insert your original stud and wait until your piercing has healed completely. This can take up to 3 months, and you may have a wait of 3 weeks to 3 months between earlobe stretching steps.
More tips and information on stretching and gauging your ear lobes can be found on Mark's website [http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk]Flesh Tunnel where you will also find a selection of [http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk/ear-stretchers-tools.html]Ear Stretchers and some great ear jewelry.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Some-Tips-on-Stretching-Earlobes&id=6235350] Some Tips on Stretching Earlobes

Nose Screws - One Option To Consider At The Piercing Shop

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christine_Crotts]Christine Crotts
The nose screw is very small jewelery which is normally made out of bent metal and can be placed through an already pierced hole which may be on either side of the nose. It is generally worn by woman of all ages.
Nose screws are generally embedded with gemstones or other ornamentations to make them look even more attractive.
Though initially for the beginners it can be a daunting task to insert it the nose, a piercing technician can easily demonstrate the insertion and the removal technique of this fashion wear.

1. DESCRIPTION OF NOSE SCREW
A nose screw is one of various types of jewelery used for piercing of the nose. While one side of the jewelery is a ball embedded with some finial or gemstones, the other end is tapered which helps the lead end to make way through the piercing. It is essential that this jewelery must be made out of hypo-allergenic material such as gold, silver, platinum, surgical grade stainless steel and sometimes even of glass.
2. VARIOUS STYLES OF NOSE SCREWS
Generally these screws are available in three unique styles. The most popular of this jewelery type is the straight one, which is generally described as a small piece of metal which is of an "L" bent. However, even though not so popular nowadays, it can also be found in semi-curved "C" shapes like that of a corkscrew, consisting of both right and left bends.
3. SIZING OF THE NOSE SCREW
Nose screws can be of various sizes. It may be sometimes tailored made or found readily available in the jewelery shops in various thickness or gauges which normally ranges from 13-21 gauge and from top to bottom it is generally 4-9 mm, in its length.
4. HISTORY OF THE NOSE SCREW
Piercing of the nose has remained a part of ornamentation of the face since the ancient times. It is an old tradition and has often been seen with both men and women in the ancient days in the African countries and especially for women in India. The act of nose piercing has also been seen with the Biblical characters as old as 2nd century BC.
However with the advent of the modern-day hippie culture, nose piercing became very popular in the Western countries during the 1960's and has still remained in fashion with almost all fashionable European woman as of now.
5. FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Nose piercing is generally performed with a piercing gun or with the help of a sterilized surgical needle. The act of piercing is mostly done with the help of trained personals to make the nose piercing precise and also painless. Once the piercing is completed, the piercer inserts the nose screw which is not replaced until the piercing in the nose has got itself healed. For once it is removed while the piercing is still raw; it becomes difficult to get back the nose screws down through the pierced hole once again. It generally takes about three to four days to get the nose healed and back in its shape.
These types of piercings may not appeal to you, but with this information you may now be able to decide if this is what you want to get when you step into the piercing shop.
BONUS: An article further examining [http://www.designyourowntattoonow.com/articles/nose-screws-5-questions-answered.html]nose screws has been written by Christine Crotts. This is one of many articles about piercing and tattoos that Christine has written, including how to [http://www.designyourowntattoonow.com]design your own tattoo.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Nose-Screws---One-Option-To-Consider-At-The-Piercing-Shop&id=6239627] Nose Screws - One Option To Consider At The Piercing Shop

Arabic Mehndi Designs for Wedding

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Fareeha_Arif]Fareeha Arif
Mehndi or Henna is used for weddings and traditional functions in South East Asia as temporary Henna tattoos and patterns. The henna tattoos are much smaller tattoo designs such as a heart or a bird on the arm or shoulders, but the traditional Arabic mehndi designs are usually adopted by women on weddings and traditional holidays such as Eids. The Arabic mehndi designs are quite unique and can be distinguished by their intricate designs.
In South East Asia there is a separate wedding function called mehndi where there are dances, songs and the bride gets imprinted with mehndi designs. Traditionally a bride gets henna designs on her hands, arms and feet. The purpose of these designs is to make the bride look pretty. There are countless types of designs from the completely heavy up to the forearm designs to the minimum and low patterned designs.
The good thing about the design is that you can make it look good with just about any way you go, from loops and swirls to flower patterns and even simple line designing. Sometimes people go by starting from the little finger and working their way to the forearm leaving the rest of the fingers blank. Some brides prefer small and simple designs on their feet while others want heavy patterns till their ankles. It is all about what the bride wants and how creative the artist can be. Other than the bride, the close friends and relatives also put design their hands with the henna although they are usually not as heavy as the bride's design.
  rel=nofollow [http://www.arabicmehndidesigns.in/arabic-mehndi-designs/interest-towards-design-for-mehndi/]Mehndi designs are also used by little girls on Eids, Diwalis and different traditional functions. The weddings are usually seen with little girls and all the females wanting to get their hands decorated with different designs on their hands and arms. There are many catalogues also available with the most popular Arabic mehndi designs such as florals and small designs that people can copy if they like.
The art of mehndi designing is something that anyone can master with a bit of practice and can create new designs according to their liking. The good thing about henna designs is that anything will eventually look good if the designs complement each other, such as floral would go well with vine like designs while some people prefer random patterns. Arabic designs usually end in a narrowing pattern along the forearm. So no matter what the occasion mehndi designs can easily be used to add to the beauty of young women.
Hi, this is Fareeha Arif, student of ACCA. I have great interest in computer field as well as field of science and technology, also I'm a creative and unique content writer.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Arabic-Mehndi-Designs-for-Wedding&id=6245437] Arabic Mehndi Designs for Wedding

Earlobe Stretching - Earlobe Gauging The Safe Way

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mark_Z_Wilson]Mark Z Wilson
It could be argued that earlobe stretching has been in fashion for millennia since it has been common in many civilizations for thousands of years. Some don't just leave it there, and have made stretching of lips and even the fleshy parts of nose into an art form. However, in Western civilization today, it is the next logical step after tragus and other forms of cartilage piercing have become commonplace.
In earlobe stretching, or earlobe gauging as it is technically known, the original ear piercing is allowed to fully heal while remaining open, and then increased in diameter, or gauge, in small increments, each step being permitted to heal before continuing with the next.
The 'gauge' reference begins at the highest figure, 20g, for the smallest size hole, 0.8 mm and goes all the way down to 00g, or 9 - 10 mm. So as the diameter of the piercing increases, the gauge drops, and after 00g any further increase is expressed in the diameter of the pin, the step after 00g being 11 mm.  So, increasing the size of the ear piercing is referred to as 'gauging down'.
So how is earlobe stretching carried out in practice, and must it be carried out by a professional? In fact, gauging earlobes is not difficult, and you can do it yourself, or have a friend do it for you. However, there are some rules that you must obey strictly, or you could end up damaging your ears. Here are the basic procedures involved in stretching your earlobes.
1. Cleanliness
It is very important to keep your earlobes and hands clean when doing this so as to avoid infection.  First wash your ears and your hands with antibacterial soap - preferably the non-perfumed type. Then soften your lobes a bit by soaking them in warm water.
2.  Lubrication
It will make it easier to insert the taper if you first lubricate it.  Use a water-based or emulsified oil, such as jojoba oil or emu oil, and smear it over the taper. Never use a petroleum based oil such a petrolatum, or Vaseline, because that can harbor germs.
3.  The Taper
The normal way to increase the diameter of your piercing is insert a taper that increases in diameter from one gauge to the next. You should begin with the thin end being no greater than your existing piercing diameter and the thicker end no more one that one step lower, e.g. from  16g to 14g. For some reason gauge seizes go down in steps of 2, so they are always even.
You have a number of possible choices in the design of the taper.  An 'insertion taper' is about 3 inches long, tapering from your normal size up to the next, and as you slowly work it through your ear piercing you follow it up with your choice of ear jewelry, also lubricated, right behind it so it is practically touching the wide end of the taper when it enters you ear lobe. Thus the new size ear jewelry enters the piercing easily right behind the taper.
A 'taper spike' is shorter, and intended to stay in the earlobe, secured by elastic bands, until the expansion has healed. It is inserted in the same way as the insertion taper, but there is no need for the ear jewelry.  Finally, a 'taper ring' is ear jewelry with a tapered pin that works the same as the taper spike, only it is more decorative.
Wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap immediately after completion. In each of these cases, the piercing should be left until it has fully healed before going to the next gauge down, or next size up. The procedure should not be excessively painful, and there should be no bleeding. It may not feel comfortable while you are doing it, but it should be bearable. If the pain is severe, or if bleeding occurs, stop immediately and wait until your piercing has thoroughly healed before trying again.
Earlobe stretching can be uncomfortable for a day or two, and also while sleeping, so you might want to consider doing both earlobes at the same time.  Gauging earlobes looks cool when it has been completed, but it takes a long time to get to those really large piercings with the big hollow rings or flesh tunnels through your lobes. Nevertheless, it is not difficult to do if you are patient and allow everything to heal up between stages, and keep everything thoroughly clean.
More information on earlobe stretching safety can be found on [http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk]Flesh Tunnel where you a selection of [http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk/ear-stretchers-tools.html]Ear Stretching Tools and some great funky ear jewelry and flesh tunnels are also on offer.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Earlobe-Stretching---Earlobe-Gauging-The-Safe-Way&id=6253591] Earlobe Stretching - Earlobe Gauging The Safe Way

Tips on Stretching Piercings and Gauging Earlobes

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mark_Z_Wilson]Mark Z Wilson
The following tips on stretching piercings are specifically aimed at gauging earlobes, where earlobe piercings can be enlarged to very large sizes to incorporate many different types of ear jewelry including awesome flesh tunnels.
Stretching piercings has been popular in many civilizations throughout history, taking many forms from gauging earlobes to stretching labret and septum piercings. In the very early periods of history the materials used were wood, stone, bone, horn, shells, claws and talons, shaped and carved to facilitate stretching piercings.
The oldest known incidence of humans gauging earlobes was discovered in 1991, in a glacier in the Otztal Alps between Italy and Austria, where a 5,300 year-old mummified body was found with tattoos and an earlobe piercing of between 7 mm and 11 mm diameter. Although the method used was known for definite, this may have been carried out by a method known as dead stretching, where progressively larger ear jewelry is forced through the hole that gradually increases in diameter.
Preparation
In preparation for gauging, make sure that you have a good anti-bacterial soap without perfume. Then you will need a sea salt solution - make it using three tablespoons salt in just enough water to dissolve it, and at least enough to bathe your earlobe in. Never use hydrogen or any other peroxide as antiseptic - the soap and salt solution are enough.
You will also need some warm water to bathe your ear with before each phase of ear stretching, or you could alternative have a warm shower first. This softens the ear and helps prevent tearing of the skin/scar that could lead to bleeding.
Finally, you will need some lubricant: avoid Vaseline or any other mineral oil or petroleum-based lubricant. Most tips on stretching piercings recommend emu oil and jojoba, each of which offers gentle antiseptic and skin conditioning properties while acting as a perfectly adequate lubricant.
Gauging Earlobes
When stretching piercings, the two recommended methods are the taper method and the Teflon method. The taper method involves inserting a tapered rod or pin into the piercing, the narrow end being of the same gauge as the piercing, and the broader end one gauge down. The size of the taper is that of the desired gauge of piercing. So if your piercing is 16g, the taper will be a 14g taper, ranging from 16g to 14g. These are equivalent to 1.2 mm to 1.6 mm.
Never use a taper any more than one step down. However, since piercing gauges are always even numbers, one step down is 16g to 14g or 12g to 10g. Also, as the gauge figures drop, the actual diameter increases. So while 16g is 1.2 mm, 10g is 2.4 mm.
There are a number of different types of taper, including a tapered pin on ear jewelry, so you simply insert ear jewelry tapering from your current gauge to the new one. The problem here is that a fully tapered pin will not stretch your ears evenly - the pin has to be of the same diameter all the way through, or your piercing might also be stretched with a taper.
To overcome that, you can use an insertion rod, which is a tapered rod of about 3 inches. After warming your ears with the warm water or shower, and washing them with anti-bacterial soap, apply the lubricant to the taper and slowly work it through. Once it reaches the thicker end, follow it through with ear jewelry of the new size, and you are done. Wipe off excess lubricant and clean the ear with anti-bacterial soap and then some of the salt solution.
An even safer way is to wind a layer of non-adhesive Teflon tape round the pin of your ear jewelry and push it through the lobe. If you can see any space at all when you pull on the ring, then you can safely do this. Wait until the ear has accepted it then do it again, and so on until you have reached the new size, when you can use larger ear jewelry.
If there has been any severe pain or the piercing bleeds, then you must stop immediately and allow the piercing to heal properly before trying again. If you try stretching piercings too soon, before they have fully healed, then you can tear the skin and even have a blowout, both of which will make it difficult to stretch again.
Gauging Earlobes: After-Care
After-care when gauging earlobes is fairly straightforward. It should not be so much a matter of tending after a piercing until it heals, but more keeping it clean, and turning the new sized jewelry now and again. You are waiting until the ear has accepted the new size of hole permanently so that you can perhaps change the hole diameter once more. The stretched skin has to be allowed to thicken and get harder - give about three times longer than your original piercing took to heal. If you want to use a flesh tunnel, then you can continue stretching piercings until the diameter reaches an appreciable size.
Done properly, and following the above tips, stretching piercings is safe and relatively easy to do. Many extend the diameter of their piercings this way, and gauging earlobes is likely the most popular form of pierce stretching carried out at the moment. Take your time - waiting is difficult, but if your ear is not ready for the next stretching it will likely be damaged.
More tips on stretching piercings can be found on [http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk]Flesh Tunnel where you will also find a selection of [http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk/ear-stretchers-tools.html]Ear Stretching Tools and some great ear jewelry and flesh tunnels.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-on-Stretching-Piercings-and-Gauging-Earlobes&id=6253600] Tips on Stretching Piercings and Gauging Earlobes

Gauging Ears With Stretched Piercings

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mark_Z_Wilson]Mark Z Wilson
Stretch piercings in your ear lobes can be obtained by gauging ears to a specific piercing size, either in one go or by means of several successive earlobe stretchings. A lot depends on how large you want your piercing to be, and anything that one gauge more than the last will involve more than one stretching.
Gauging ears is carried out using 'gauge numbers' that refer to a specific diameter of hole. For example, gauge 20 is written as 20g, and that refers to a piercing of 0.8 mm in diameter. 18g refers to a piercing of 1 mm in diameter, so as the gauge numbers drop then the diameter increases. Also, gauges drop in twos, so that there are no odd gauge numbers. Thus, the sequence goes: 20g, 18g, 16g, 14g and so on to 00g. Therefore one gauge step down is from one even number to the next and from a lower piercing diameter to a higher.
When gauging ears you should stretch piercings by only one gauge step. So, if you want to change from 16g to 14 g (1.2 mm to 1.6 mm) you can do so in one step. However, if you wanted to go from a 16g to an 8g (1.2 mm to 3.2 mm) you would have to do that in four steps, involving four stretched piercings, each of one gauge level.
When you have your earlobes pierced with the intention of increasing the gauging to a fairly high diameter for some gorgeous large-diameter bars you have seen or even a cool flesh tunnel, then first consider the initial diameter - the greater the initial diameter then the fewer ear lobe stretching steps you will have to undergo to reach your preferred diameter. Do not have your ears pierced in a shopping mall with a gun because these generally pierce at 20g or 18g at the most.
Start With a Professional Piercing
Have the initial ear lobe piercing carried out by a professional using a needle. It is well worth the extra expense, and a pro will pierce your earlobes to 16g, thus saving yourself a whole step of gauging ears to your target size. Let the professional know your intention and you will be given some expert advice, and you might even agree to have the pro do the gauging for you.
It is possible for people to do their own stretched piercings themselves, and most do to be honest, but only once they are certain that the initial piercing has completely healed. If you begin too soon you might blow out the piercing or split the skin, and any attempts to gauge your ears after that might be impossible. Gauging ears is a skill that has to be learned, so follow all the advice you find if you want to be able to wear these fabulous barbells you have seen.
It is also essential to wait until each stretching has properly settled, the skin thickening and hardening properly, before going onto the next gauge. This will take about 3 times the time for the initial piercing to heal, but don't rush it.
Ear Jewelry: When Gauging Ears and After
The ear jewelry available for stretched piercings is fabulous. When choosing the jewelry to wear during the process of gauging ears you should keep potential infection and allergies in mind, and surgical stainless steel and titanium are best. However, once you have reached your target gauge and your stretched piercings have fully healed, you have a wonderful world of amazing jewelry in materials too brittle to be used in high gauge pins or barbells.
You can use bone, horn, wood, stone and even amber and glass, many of which also help the piercing to stay clean and not get clogged with oils from your skin. You can also use metal and acrylic ear jewelry in many shapes and sizes. Many are happy with large studs, while others prefer large diameter hoops, barbells and regular earrings. Others love to wear solid cylindrical plugs, either flared or held by o-rings and ear weights made of any material under the sun, though silver, bronze, brass and copper are common. The really wealthy have theirs made in solid gold.
Flesh Tunnels Are Popular
An alternative to the regular type of ear jewelry is type of hollow plug known as a flesh tunnel. These are particularly used for the larger diameter stretched piercings, and when gauging ears this is often the ultimate objective. Flesh tunnels are available in many different materials and are held in place in much the same way as the plugs: with flares, o-rings or with a screw on back piece. Some people have beaded or other forms of decorative elements threaded through their flesh tunnels, and they are frequently worn as a mark of just how far a person has managed to go with their stretched piercings.
Gauging ears with stretched piercings is therefore carried out by people both for their decorative effect and as a means of displaying their ear stretching skills. Whatever your reason is, keep in mind the gauge of your initial piercing and that everything involved in gauging ears must be sterilized and kept clean and free from germs. Make sure each stage is fully healed before starting the next, and you should have no real problems.
More information on gauging ears with stretched piercings can be found on [http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk]Flesh Tunnel where you will also find [http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk/ear-stretchers-tools.html]Ear Stretching Tools to help you do it yourself, plus and some funky flesh tunnels and ear jewelry
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Gauging-Ears-With-Stretched-Piercings&id=6253627] Gauging Ears With Stretched Piercings

Body Piercings and Regret

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kyle_E_Johnson]Kyle E Johnson
Body piercing is when a hole is made in your skin or through a part of your body so you can add a piece of jewelry for decoration. Body piercings have developed into an art form, and they are popular among many different cultures and societies today. Some of the most common piercings today are the navel, eyebrows, ears, and tongue. The less popular are male and female genital piercings, nipples, and septum. These maybe less popular than the others but they are still being done.
Piercings on your ear lobes usually take about 6-8 weeks to heal. However, piercings on the side of your ear (cartilage) can take anywhere from 4 months to 1 year to heal. I got my cartilage piercings 1 year and 4 months ago. My sister wanted them for her birthday but did not want to do it alone.
For more than a year I suffered with the sea salt soaks and running them under hot water in the shower. The sea salt soaks were per the instructions of the piercer. No matter what I did my ears were consistently sore and infected from these piercings. They were supposed to take up to a year to heal, but I was still dealing the same problems sixteen months later. For this reason I took my piercings out, I felt I gave them more than a fair chance to heal.
Your piercings will know that you are stressed before you do. Having your body pierced other than your earlobes are like having a child to take care of. If you don't do what you are supposed to do when you are supposed to do it, they are screaming in protest.
If you are still convinced that getting a body piercing is the right thing for you, do your homework. Check out all the risks related to the type of piercing that you are getting. Then if you still want to proceed, check out the piercing studios. They are usually located with tattoo shops. Interview your piercer, make sure they have been trained and have adequate experience.
I love the look of the piercing in the upper ear cartilage but it is definitely not worth the work. I highly recommend against getting any body piercing if you don't have the time or are extremely sensitive to piercings. I have problems with my regular earlobe piercings and should have known that I would have problems with the others as well.
Kyle Johnson
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Body-Piercings-and-Regret&id=6378417] Body Piercings and Regret

Understanding The Pain of Body Piercing

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mark_Z_Wilson]Mark Z Wilson
Many people are concerned about the pain when considering body piercings, but the information below should ease your worries and let you know what to expect.
Body piercing has been carried out worldwide ever since people had the tools to carry it out, its roots often lying in ritual and early religion. However, it has also been a seen as a beautifying process, and even today piercing is carried out in modern society both for personal adornment and as a form of ritual. Although it has always been commonplace, particular with respect to ear piercing in civilized society, piercing the body has recent become even more popular in modern civilizations. One of the issues with body piercing is the level of pain to expect, and how this varies between the different types of piercing.
The pain you feel during the piercing itself is related to the type of tissue involved. A fleshy earlobe is easy to penetrate and is generally less painful that a jab from your doctor or nurse. The pain level is slight - the same as a rose thorn in fact. However, if you want a tragus piercing or one of any other cartilage tissue such as the top part of your ear, then it will be more painful because the tissue is not so easily penetrated. However, let's face it: if the pain was significant and unbearable, such body piercings would not be as popular as they are. The same applies to the tongue, nipple and genitals.
Although the pain is brief, you could suffer from the continuous rubbing of the piercing against your clothing or other areas of the skin. This is particularly true of areas such as the genitals and the belly button - if any jewellery there catches your clothes and the stud or ring pulled is out it could lead to the piercing having to be abandoned (plus excruciating pain!). You should therefore be careful of the adornments you use: studs, for example, will be less likely to catch on clothing than rings.
Infection is another problem you may face that could lead to pain. A tongue piercing, for example, is not as easy to keep as germ-free as one in your ear - this might seem difficult to believe but it is a fact. Your mouth is generally full of germs. It is important that you have the work carried out professionally and not by an amateur or 'friend of a relative'. Professionals know the dangers of infection and can advise you on how to avoid such infection. It is very important to follow the cleaning advice you are given exactly, because many piercings are carried out in areas of your body prone to bacterial activity.
No body piercings are completely pain free. The pain involved ranges from the slight sting of an earlobe or eyebrow piercing to the more significant hurt caused by piercing tough cartilage tissue and muscles such as your tongue. None of this pain, however, is so bad as to dissuade people from having it done. The pain you feel can easily be predicted according to the feel of the tissue: if it feels soft, such as your ear lobe, then the pain will be slight, but if it feels hard, such as the cartilage of the hard parts of your ears, then it will likely hurt more. It also follows that the more sensitive areas of your body, such as labial or tongue piercings, will be more painful due to the higher concentration of nerves in these particular parts of your body.
Your pain tolerance might be higher or lower, but you can make that choice yourself and avoid piercing the more sensitive parts of your body. Generally, though, the actual pain experienced during the procedure itself is short-lived and believed by most to be worth it. It is the afterward that you must take care of, and ensure that you avoid post-piercing infection. Do that and your piercing will be successful with the minimum of personal pain and stress.
More information on stretching and gauging ear lobes is available from Mark's website [http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk]Flesh Tunnel where you will also find a selection of [http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk/ear-stretchers-tools.html]diamond flesh tunnels and some wonderful ear jewellery.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Understanding-The-Pain-of-Body-Piercing&id=6454615] Understanding The Pain of Body Piercing

Safety Precautions To Take When Getting A Nose Piercing

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Darren_W_Chow]Darren W Chow
Getting a nose piercing can be an exciting time for self expression. If you are considering having this work done, then you should pay particularly close attention to safety precautions. The last thing you want to have to deal with is a nose piercing bump or nose piercing scar. These can become unsightly and can take attention away from the desired effect of the piercing itself. While there are many people out there, who may be willing to do the work for you on the cheap, your first commitment must be to quality and not to cost. After all, a bump or a scar can be a hard thing to conceal or get rid of, and you may never be able to do it fully. So instead, take heed of the following safety precautions, and your venture into piercing will be a healthy and successful one.
1. Always go with reputation
Most people think with their wallets instead of their brains when it comes to getting their nose piercings done. This is a huge mistake that can lead you into the arms of some pretty shaky practitioners. You should instead decide to check out the practitioner's reputation before moving forward. Does he have adequate licensing? Are his facilities clean? What do other customers have to say about him? All of these things can usually be discovered through an Internet search or by asking around all the various people that have had dealings with him in your community. Once you are certain of the reputation, then and only then should your mind move toward cost.
2. Cleanliness is next to safety
There are some things that you can do - that you have to do - if you hope to avoid any painful or embarrassing bumps and abrasions. First of all, make sure that you wash the piercing, keeping it clean regularly. The initial irritation of the skin as well as the facial oils that you emit on a regular basis can lead to inflammation and other complications with your nose piercing. Aside from this, you should also make sure to keep the jewelry itself clean and free from hazards.
3. Careful of allergens
Before you decide to get your piercing, make sure that your skin does not have any allergies to certain materials. Not everything will play nice with your skin once inserted, and it is up to you to ensure your own safety and comfort beforehand.
As you get ready for your nose piercing adventure, make sure that you follow all the steps above. A bad piercing can affect your health, your social standing and even your job. So get your ducks in a row ahead of time, and ensure that yours is a safe one.
If you have a [http://www.piercing-tips.com/nose-piercing-bump/]Nose piercing bump or a [http://www.piercing-tips.com/nose-piercing-scar/]Nose piercing scar that is bothering you, then we may have a solution. Visit our site to learn more details.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Safety-Precautions-To-Take-When-Getting-A-Nose-Piercing&id=6502508] Safety Precautions To Take When Getting A Nose Piercing

Cartilage Piercing Is a Popular Form of Ear Piercing

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mark_Z_Wilson]Mark Z Wilson
Normal ear lobe piercing has been popular for many decades in various civilizations, if not for centuries. Using pierced earlobes to hold decorations such as earrings and danglers is the most common form of body jewellery after finger rings, although it has lately become fashionable to use other parts of the ear, or even of the body, in order to be different. The tragus was the obvious candidate for this, and tragus piercings have risen in popularity over the past several years.
What is Cartilage Piercing?
Cartilage is constructed, not just of skin and flesh as your earlobes are, but also of a tough connective tissue intended to offer structure to features in your body. Your joints use cartilage to protect the bones from abrasion as they rub together, and your rib cage contains a great deal of cartilage tissue. With respect to your face, your nose is mainly cartilage, as is the main structure of your ear which is becoming increasingly popular for this type of decoration.
Forms of Cartilage Piercing
Cartilage is more difficult to pierce than the soft tissue of an ear lobe, and special care should be taken when it is carried out. There are several forms of cartilage piercing that are commonly used, these being:
Helix
Your helix is the outside edge of the ear, which curls back to form a sound channel, directing sound round into the main part of your middle ear. A standard helix will penetrate the ear once while an industrial piercing will penetrate it twice.
Conch
The conch gets its name from the seashell it resembles. It is the central cartilaginous area of your ear, and fairly easy to pierce. If you decide to have conch rings, they are fairly difficult to match to each other.
Tragus Piercing
A pierced tragus is another common form of cartilage piercing. The tragus is the triangular nub of cartilage close to your cheekbone and slightly above earlobe. This is quite a thick piece of cartilage, which is perhaps why it has only relatively recent become popular as an alternative to other parts of the ear. It is commonly decorated with rings, barbells and tragus bars.
Pain of Cartilage Piercing
The pain involved in having cartilage pierced depends on the location, the diameter of the jewellery and whether the tissue is pierced once or twice. Orbital and industrial styles are double pierced, and are more painful than single. Even if you don't feel a lot during the process itself, you will know about it during healing - but it's worth it.
Cartilage Healing
The time taken to heal again depends on where it is and how large the hole is. To facilitate healing, your jewellery must be sterile or bacterial infection will hold up the healing process. You can expect to wait anything from 2 months to a year for a cartilage piercing to heal completely, and it is important that you keep the jewellery in while it is healing - it can be taken out, for only for a few minutes or so to thoroughly wash and disinfect the wound.
A teaspoon of salt dissolved in a small cup of warm water is good for washing your ears, and you could also use a commercial solution such as H2Ocean.
Other Advice
Cartilage piercing should be carried out with a needle, and by a professionally trained piercer. A gun can cause great damage to cartilage and bad scarring. Never try it yourself, but go to a professional body piercer who should be professionally trained.
Mark Wilson continues to promote good hygiene throughout the body piercing industry from his website [http://fleshtunnel.co.uk]Flesh Tunnel, where in addition to advice of hygiene and an excellent selection of body piercing jewellery, he also offers a unique range of [http://fleshtunnel.co.uk]unusual flesh tunnels.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Cartilage-Piercing-Is-a-Popular-Form-of-Ear-Piercing&id=6565381] Cartilage Piercing Is a Popular Form of Ear Piercing

The History and Culture of Stretched Ears

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mark_Z_Wilson]Mark Z Wilson
People have been decorating and making changes to the appearance of their bodies since recorded history began. This has taken many forms through the ages, such as tattooing, piercing, stretching, scarring, branding, muscle sculpture, hair styling and many more, and for almost as many different reasons.
The three major purposes of these forms of body modification have historically been tribal (to display allegiance to one tribe or group of people), in war (to scare the enemy and distinguish friend from foe), and for fashion and perceived beauty. Ear stretching has been popular for centuries, but this popularity has increased in Western culture in recent years.
For some, there is a profound spirituality in the protracted process of stretching ears, while for others it is fun and more involved than simple ear piercing, and the fact that fewer people do it adds to its appeal. Others have their own reasons, but irrespective of these, stretched ears have always been part of human history and will continue to be so.
Reasons For Stretching Ears
Just as with other forms of body modification or enhancement, people have historically stretched their ears for a number of reasons. For some cultures, this represented a coming of age, while for others it was carried out to enhance beauty or sexuality. Throughout the ages it has been used both for religious reasons and to protect the subject from witchcraft or evil. Ear stretching is still carried out all over the world for a variety of reasons, including those mentioned above.
If you travel to Africa, you will find that stretched ears are common among many indigenous peoples, including the Maasia in east Africa, the Mursi in Ethiopia, and it is also carried out in some Asian countries such as Thailand. In South America, stretched ears are common amongst the Huaorami of the Amazon Basin, but you generally need go no further than your own hometown to see some excellent examples of ear stretching. Stretched piercings and flesh tunnels are now a common form of ear adornment for Western youth.
Icemen and Pharaohs
One of the more famous examples from history is �tzi the Iceman, a 5,300 year-old mummified body found in the Alps between Austria and Italy. In addition to several tattoos, �tzi had an ear stretched to around 7 mm - 11 mm diameter. The giant Easter Island statues display stretched ear lobes, the likely reason for them being known as 'Long Ears'. The story goes that the statues were carved in honour of the original inhabitants of the island representing them with the earlobe stretchings that were part of their culture. When a different tribe arrived on the island, they were known as 'Short Ears', and were forced into slavery by the Long Ears. Eventually there were more Short Ears than Long Ears, and the latter were overthrown and the statues toppled over.
In Egypt, the boy king Tutankhamen is represented as having stretched ears, and his famous golden death mask features holes that can take 10 mm diameter bars. The processes used to stretch these famous sets of ears are not known, because there are many techniques that can be used. It is likely that primitive stretchings were carried out using wooden plugs or bamboo, and although a few people like to return to these early methods, they are not recommended today for health reasons.
Stretching Ears is Not Reversible
If you are interested in stretched ears, there are certain factors of which you should be aware. The first is that it is generally permanent. Once stretched, your ears stay that way. The holes do not heal over like a normal ear piercing, so make sure that you are happy with having stretched ears for the rest of your life. There is time at the beginning to stop and allow your ears to heal back to normal, but once the diameter reached 10-12 mm, it is too late and the hole will not close up. Another is that it takes time and patience. You do not visit a piercer and come out after an hour or two with stretched ears!
If you have decided that you want it done, you are advised to have the procedure carried out professionally. Yes, you can go it alone, but a professional will provide you with the best results, and it will also be safer. It will be quicker if your ears are already pierced, because otherwise you will need that done first and then wait up to 8 weeks for it to heal. Then you can start of the stretching, or gauging as it is often referred to.
That is because the diameter of the needles used is referred to as their 'gauge'. The gauge of a needle drops as the diameter increases, so that an 18-gauge needle is small - in fact, that's the gauge of an average initial piercing. Once you reach a 2 gauge, the diameter is that of a pencil and so on down. An 11 mm hole is 000-gauge (actually 11.11 mm or 7/16 inch).
Ear Stretching Should Not Be Rushed
As already explained, ear stretching is a slow process, and you should never try to rush it. If you try to rush, it will likely take longer eventually because unless the ear has time to get used to each lower gauge it won't heal properly. You might then have to start all over again. Gauged ears should not bleed and there is distinct procedure to follow. Fundamentally, you increase the diameter of the piercing in small steps, allowing healing between each step. A common way to achieve this is to use an insertion taper, where one end of the taper is the same diameter as your existing hole, and the other side is of larger diameter.
This can be in the form of a stud that you wear until you are ready for the next size up. The next stud will have one end at the current diameter and the other at the lower gauge (larger diameter). That is pushed through and secured, and you wear that until the next insertion, and so on. If you keep your ears and jewellery clean and sterilized between sessions using anti-bacterial soap or saline solution then you should heal fine between each session - allow about two weeks between sessions.
Take the Advice of the Pros
It is very important to follow the advice of the professionals, and do not try to cut corners. Many people have ruined their ears by failing to be patient, so don't let that be you. Follow cleaning instructions to the letter, both during and after the entire stretching process. There are many different types of ear jewellery available for stretched ears, including flesh tunnels, bars and rings.
There is also a wide choice of materials, from wood or plastic to gold and platinum. Many prefer glass while others find Teflon best, particularly if they suffer allergies. Niobium, surgical stainless steel and titanium are also popular materials for stretched ear jewellery.
Keep in mind that not all can be worn indefinitely, particularly the porous materials such as wood, shell and some plastics that can harbour bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Such jewellery should be regularly removed and thoroughly cleaned and sterilized. Ear stretching sets you apart from the usual crowd, and can be a very distinctive form of ornamentation. It is something that few people regret having done.
It is important that you fully understand what [http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk]flesh tunnels uk are and the implications of ear gauging. More information on ear stretching is available from [http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk]http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk, where you will find all you need to know plus a fabulous range of gorgeous ear jewellery.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-History-and-Culture-of-Stretched-Ears&id=6662820] The History and Culture of Stretched Ears

Eyebrow Piercing - The Most Popular Types

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Garry_J]Garry J
Our eyes are among the most significant areas on the human body. Of course, an excellent means to underline the eyes is through various kinds of piercings. Whereas other types of face piercings are getting more accepted, eyebrow piercing is already a leader and still originating new styles in body piercing
According to the position it has got, eyebrow piercing can be classified into several types.
� Horizontal eyebrow piercing is horizontally located above the eyebrow, following its line. The extraordinary look of this piercing can add to the shape of your eyebrow. Jewelry options that will suit this kind of piercing include barbells, curved barbells, banana bells as well as bio-plast barbells.
� Bridge piercing represents an alternative to nose piercing. It's the portion of skin between the top of your nose and your eyes which is pierced. Yet, this is not the best variant if you've got a tight skin in the area because it will dry and flake away.
� Anti-eyebrow piercing is performed slightly below the inferior eye orbit, right on the upper cheekbone. As well as the two preceding types, this one is executed exactly underneath your skin, without even touching your facial muscles or bones.
� A variant of the common eyebrow piercing is the spiral eyebrow. The difference between them is the spiral eyebrow type consists of two or three successive holes. Afterward, a spiral-shaped piece jewel is passed through all these holes.
� The T eyebrow piercing represents a typical vertical and a horizontal piercing. These are executed in immediate closeness to one another so as to create the shape of the letter "T".
� When two or more types of piercing are combined, this is labeled as combination or multiple eyebrow piercing.
How to Choose   rel=nofollow [http://qpiercing.com/eyebrow-piercing/index.html]Eyebrow Body Jewelry
It's your personal choice as for what angle of your brow you'd like to have pierced. The truth is any puncture requires the same efforts for healing. The eyebrow body piercing is normally made according to the marks, upper and lower. It's a known fact that horizontal piercings are usually difficult to deal with, but an expert is able to perform this kind of operation. As soon as you decide on what type of eyebrow body piercing you will have, tell the master about your choice. An experienced specialist who has got a clear notion of the brow anatomy will correctly select the position so as to avoid grazing your nerve-endings.
Visit the Body Jewelry Shop qpiercing.com. We sell retail and wholesale high quality [http://qpiercing.com]body jewelry at good prices. At qpiercing.com you can find lip rings, tongue rings, belly button rings, ear plugs and ear tunnels, ear rings, piercing tools & piercing supplies and many more
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Eyebrow-Piercing---The-Most-Popular-Types&id=6665467] Eyebrow Piercing - The Most Popular Types

Lip Piercing - The Most Popular Types

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Garry_J]Garry J
Presently, there are various means of self-expression. Someone tries to wear an eccentric outfit. Someone else goes for a less usual haircut. Yet an additional way to express your personality is by means of lip piercing. The reason for this, above all, is the fact that our lips are probably the most expressive area on human face. Next, lip piercing is truly considered to be the easiest and the safest kind of piercing, since there are no major blood vessels located in human lips.
Although it is termed as lip piercing, it's not necessarily located on the lip itself, and can be found anywhere around the mouth. According to the specific position they occupy or graphic images they are associated with, types of lip piercing are named as follows:
� Monroe - located on the upper lip, exactly where Marilyn Monroe had her beauty spot.
� Madonna - this is just on the opposed side of Monroe piercing, named after Madonna's birthmark.
� Angelbites - these represent two piercings on the opposite sides of the upper lip.
� Snakebites - similar to Angelbites, but these are located on both sides of the lower lip.
� Medusa - considered being the real top labret piercing since it crosses the middle of the upper lip.
� Dahlia - another piercing executed on the upper lip, near the crease of the mouth.
� Philtrum - very similar to Medusa, refers to upper lip piercing.
� Cleft - is found on the portion between the edges of the top lip.
� Canine bites - located namely on the lip area. These are comparatively few in number if related to other types which have been previously mentioned.
How to Choose
The major thing you need to do even before you start choosing the preferable position for your piercing is trying to figure out the sensation of having these   rel=nofollow [http://qpiercing.com/lip-piercing/index.html]lip rings or studs inside your mouth. If you manage to understand what it will be like, then chances are that your lip piercing won't influence the way you eat, drink or talk.
Lower lip is much more suggested for piercing for the reason that it doesn't directly communicate with the gums. Thus you can be sure the area will be out of any danger. However, in case you take the decision to dedicate both sides of your upper lip to piercing, you should better use labret studs alone. Check out for the materials these are made of. For instance, it's great to have labret studs made of 18 carat gold, niobium, titanium, or surgical steel. What's more, check out that the jewels you choose for lip piercing are unproblematic to take out.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Lip-Piercing---The-Most-Popular-Types&id=6673318] Lip Piercing - The Most Popular Types

Navel Piercing Types

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Garry_J]Garry J
Centuries ago, Egyptians used to adorn themselves with different forms of body piercings. As for navel piercing, only members of the royal family were allowed to do that. Anyone else who attempted to pierce one's navel could be sentenced to death. Modern times have been more tolerant, that is why the interest in navel piercing broke out with a new force during the 80's and 90's of the previous century.
These days, increasingly more people are having a navel piercing done. And of course, the reasons for having this kind of piercing differ from those of ancient times. Someone gets it for the look. Someone else wants to have a secret spot to show only to special people. If you already have your own reasons for it, it's time to think about the type to choose.
There are some different modes of navel piercing to select from. Some of them depend on how big in size your belly is and whether your navel is placed inward or outward. According to navel location, the piercing is called "innie" or "outie." Navel piercings are also performed on the top, bottom, or sides of the navel.
� The most largely accepted type of navel piercing is the "innie". It's located just above the navel plug. When correctly performed, it looks great, especially on a well-shaped abdomen. If you're not endowed with the proper anatomy, your piercing may also be torn through the skin in case it's too low-settled.
� The "outie" piercing is located leftward from your belly-button. It's a rather complicated kind of navel piercing since a lot of blood vessels are concentrated inside and around this plug. On account of this, blood loss may be more abundant. As well risks of getting infected are higher.
� Upper rim is the standard kind of piercing, which is performed at the top of the navel ring.
� Lower rim is done at the bottom side of the   rel=nofollow [http://qpiercing.com/belly-button-rings/index.html]belly button ring.
� Sides are generally called the piercings which are located on belly-button sides. These can be either left or right side, anywhere among the top and bottom sides of the navel ring.
It's possible to have up to four piercings done to your navel. However, it doesn't mean you can do them all at once. In such cases you get exposed to greater risks as well as more profuse bleeding. The best idea is having one navel piercing done at a time, wait for it to heal, and then think about another one.
Visit the Body Jewelry Shop qpiercing.com. We sell retail and wholesale high quality [http://qpiercing.com]body jewelry at good prices. At qpiercing.com you can find lip rings, tongue rings, belly button rings, ear plugs and ear tunnels, ear rings, piercing tools & piercing supplies and many more
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Navel-Piercing-Types&id=6671836] Navel Piercing Types