This entry is about the infamous tongue ring. This is one that I haven’t tried myself, and don’t plan to. It’s just one of those piercings that makes me shudder when I think of getting it done.

There are several different versions of the tongue ring, all of which look interesting (albeit creepy).

This is your standard tongue piercing. It is placed in the center and there is only one piece of jewelry.

This is the same thing, only with multiple piercings going down the center.

These are called venoms. The BME Encyclopedia describes them as “side-by-side off-centre tongue piercings, named after the placement of a snake’s fangs.” Their counterparts on the lip are called snakebites.

And some people just want them all!

Although I wouldn’t want one myself, I do find them fascinating.

I enjoyed this article on the septum piercing. The facts are straight-forward and accurate, and presented in a way everyone can understand.

I’ve never seen anybody in person with this type of implant, but I’m sure many of you have seen the “Cat Man” on television. You know, the guy with solid tattoos on his skin, implants in his upper lip, and whiskers?

Image courtesy of flickr.com

This is pretty much what he did to get that cat-muzzle look.

While I give kudos to these people for being different, I’m also sort of grossed out. I don’t find it at all attractive and I’m willing to bet it would be hard to find someone who does.

This is a new use for tattoos that I’d never even considered, but I must admit it’s a good idea. However, I was shocked to read that a tattoo artist feared for his life.

Never did I think that tattoos would come into play in the war in Iraq!

The idea of removable tattoos sounds bizarre to me, but I guess it would be a good thing for people who choose their tattoos too hastily. However, even with this new option on the horizon, I think people should allow themselves a sufficient amount of time to think about what they really want.

National Geographic has a good web page that explains what scarification is, where it came from, and how it’s done, right here.

I think this would be so much more painful than getting a tattoo! I’d rather have a needle stuck into my skin than be branded like a cow. Nevertheless, it is unique and I respect that.

What does it feel like?
The feeling of getting a tattoo is completely unlike any other kind of pain, even piercings. Some people describe it similar to getting snapped with a rubber band repeatedly. I think that’s the best way to describe it as it’s very difficult to say the feeling in words.

Will it bleed?
Yes, most tattoos DO bleed while you’re getting them done. However, it’s not like you’re going to see blood running down your skin. It mixes in with the fresh ink and the tattoo artist wipes it off as he/she is working. The tattoo may ooze for a while after it’s done but it should stop shortly.

How do I care for my tattoo after it’s done?
Your tattoo artist will most likely give you a special ointment to coat lightly on your tattoo. If you happen to not receive any, you can go to the baby section at Walmart and get some A&D Ointment. It’s a diaper rash ointment but doubles as a skin protectant, and it’s basically the same thing the artist will give you. You’ll want to put just enough on so that your skin looks shiny. For the first day or two, your tattoo should be covered up because it will still be very sensitive. After that, take the bandage off and let it get some fresh air. You can keep putting the ointment on for up to 2 weeks if necessary.

What are some do’s and don’ts for tattoos?
DO wash your tattoo lightly with anti-bacterial, non-scented soap when you shower.
DO wear light clothing for the first couple of days to cut down on irritation.

DON’T shower or bathe in extremely hot water. It will fade your tattoo.
DON’T expose your tattoo to sunlight while it’s still new. If this is impossible, put high-SPF sunscreen on it.
DON’T pick at the scabs. This is supposed to happen and if you pick them off, you will pick a layer of ink off as well.
DON’T peel off dry skin. This is also supposed to happen. It’s just your skin healing.

Will I need a touch-up?
This depends usually on what color of ink you have. The colors that normally need touch-ups are red, yellow, and black. Fortunately, touch-ups are not needed frequently and they are much cheaper than the actual tattoo.

Can I use my own design?
You sure can. Bring in your drawing and your tattoo artist will transfer it to your skin. They may even pay you for the rights to your design.

What if I change my mind?
Unfortunately for some, tattooing is not as changeable as piercings. You can cover up old tattoos, but it’s extremely painful, difficult, costly, and time-consuming to get your tattoo lasered off. This is why I suggest you think carefully before you get something done, and consider having it done on a place you can cover up.

Will it hurt?
Of course it will hurt, it’s a needle going through flesh. To what extent it hurts, however, usually depends on the person. If you’re able to get your ears pierced without a flinch, body piercings shouldn’t be too difficult. But if you get squeamish at the site of blood, you may have a rough time.

Frankly, getting my septum pierced was the worst pain I’ve ever been through. Thankfully though, it’s one of those pains that goes away soon and you forget about it. The sharp pain leaves as soon as the piercing is finished, and it’s all tenderness after that.

Will it bleed?
Again, this depends on the person. If you know you’re prone to bleeding, expect it! In any case, the bleeding normally isn’t that bad and it will stop as soon as the blood clots.

Some good tips for minimizing bleeding:
Be calm! A fast heart rate will only make your blood pump faster and you will be more anxious.
Never drink alcohol before going in for a piercing. Alcohol thins the blood, and it will cause you to bleed more and for a longer time.
Aspirin has the same effects as alcohol in that it thins the blood, so don’t take that either.
If you are diabetic, it body modification may not be for you, and in fact most professionals will not pierce diabetics because they do not heal as quickly and the piercing may not heal properly.
If you think you’ll be especially squeamish, try eating something 2-4 hours before the piercing. This will keep your blood sugar high enough to prevent you from fainting.

How long will it take to heal?
Usually it takes 4-8 weeks for your piercing to completely heal. If you take proper care of it, it could possibly heal faster, as was the case with my septum. In one week I was able to change the jewelry, and it was fully healed in less than two weeks. However, you’ll not want to change your jewelry until it’s completely healed.

How do I tell if it’s infected?
This depends on the person. There are many different symptoms.
Usually the most noticeable is tenderness.
If you can sniff your piercing, try it. If it smells funny, it’s probably infected.
You could also get “the crusties,” which is just dried pus. Or you could also get the normal kind of pus, which is a little grosser.
You could also get cracking, bleeding, or oozing. If you’re having trouble taking care of it yourself, don’t hesitate to contact the person who did it for you. It’s their job to know!

How do I clean it?
Often times professionals will tell you to clean your hands and apply an anti-bacterial, non-lathering soap like Spectro-Jel. However, my tried-and-true method is this:

1. Make sure your hands are clean!
2. Rinse your piercing with warm water.
3. Now mix Epsom salts with warm water and stir until dissolved.
4. Dip a Q-Tip into the salt water and rub it around your piercing. If you want, you can gently move the jewelry around to get the mixture inside.
5. Rinse with warm water again, and let air-dry.

I think this is why my piercing healed so quickly. It also fights infections! I cannot stress enough, be careful with infections, especially the septum. There is an artery that directly connects the septum to the brain, leaving an open passage for infection. People have died from this! Luckily, it’s pretty hard to get an infected septum if you’re taking care of it properly. I’ve only had one infection, and my method got rid of it within days.

In what cases should I NOT get a piercing?
As I already explained, most piercers will not do their work on diabetics. They also have the right to refuse customers with AIDS, HIV, and Hepatitis B and C.

Will it look good?
This is a completely personal thing. You have to decide whether you like it or not. After all, it’s on your body, and you will be the one who sees it the most. You have to be willing to take care of it and keep it healthy. The great thing about piercings is that if you end up not liking it, you can always take it out and let it heal back up.

For my 16th birthday, I begged my mother to let me get a piercing. She decided the only one she would allow was the eyebrow, so that’s what I got. It didn’t hurt much. By that time I was used to needles, because in my younger years I had a lot of bloodwork done, and I already had 9 piercings in my ears, including the cartilage. So I was accustomed to that kind of pain and it didn’t bother me. I didn’t even flinch. Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of it because that was before I got a digital camera.

I loved it…for about 3 months. And then it started to reject. If you don’t know what that means, it’s when your skin “realized” that there’s a foreign object in there and it tries to push it out. It usually happens with surface piercings; piercings that basically sit on top of the skin as opposed to through it. I went to the parlor and the guy thought that if I got it done deeper, it would stay. After 2 weeks of healing, I went back and got it redone. That last for about a month and it started to reject again. I took it out and gave it up. Now I have a lovely scar on my eyebrow, but I can’t complain because it goes with the territory.

The next year, on my 17th birthday, my mom took me to get my first tattoo. On one condition: My dad couldn’t know. He’s vehemently against tattoos and any kind of body modification. That day, I experienced a new kind of pain. The feeling of a needle drilling into your skin for 30+ minutes isn’t exactly pleasant, but I feel that it’s worth it. I got my first tattoo done on my lower back and here it is.

Everyone should have seen the next year coming, because it was my 18th birthday, and I could legally get whatever kind of body art I wanted! This was a double-mod year for me.

I’d been contemplating a certain design for quite a while. It was more painful than the first, but it’s my favorite. I got it done on my right shoulder blade. A tip to anyone interested in getting a tattoo: Red ink is the most expensive! This is a bit smaller than the palm of my hand and it cost me $100. My mother hates it, but I think it fits my personality and so does everyone else I know. A little bit girly, a little bit morbid.

Ever since I gave up my eyebrow piercing, I’d been wanting a new one. The one I had my eye on for a long time was the septum. Yes, this is what you often see cartoons of bulls wearing. That part right between your nostrils. Sounds painful? You’d be correct. But that’s part of what attracted me to it, because it wasn’t something you saw every day. I only knew one person at the time who had it done, and that was my boyfriend. He went to a professional to get his done, and it seemed the man had no clue what he was doing. He had to run the needle through 3 times because he couldn’t get it right, and by the end, my poor Andy was vomiting blood because it ran down his throat.

Frankly, it scared me to death. I didn’t want to go through that, so I decided not to get it. But then Andy started learning how to pierce from someone who’d been trained by a professional. He wanted to do my septum, but I wouldn’t let him since he’d never done it before. And then I watched him do his friend’s septum, and it turned out perfectly. It didn’t bleed, and it grew in straight.

So I let him do mine. A lot of people will say that letting an amateur pierce you is a stupid thing to do, and this is true most of the time. However, I had more confidence in my “amateur” boyfriend than I did in the “professional” who pierced him. I waited until I observed him doing it properly, and only then did I allow him to do it. There was no bleeding. Of course it hurt, but could you imagine a needle going through that part of your nose? It’s said to be the most painful of any facial piercing.

I’m extremely happy with the results. When I got pierced, it was a 16 gauge (relatively small). I have since stretched it to a 14 gauge and I’m considering stretching it again to a 12.

The septum is a great piercing for anybody who is not allowed to have them at work. Whenever I’m headed to work (and usually to class also), I flip it up inside my nose and you would never know it’s there.

I would love to get a new piercing, but my job won’t allow it, and I’m too chicken (and too germophobic) to get anything done below my face. I’ve also been thinking about getting a new tattoo, but I have yet to decide on a design. I’ve been drawing tattoo designs for a while now, and I would love to get my own work done. I’m sure you’ll all find out when it does happen!

Body piercings can be almost (if not more) intimidating than tattoos. Most people – women at least – have had their ears pierced. However, most would still cringe at the thought of having a needle shoved through any other part of their face. Body piercings have gained popularity in the last ten to twenty years, but they have been a part of many cultures throughout time.

The oldest pierced individual ever found was a 5,000 year old mummy who had plugs in his ears. It is a widely-known fact that ancient Egyptians loved to adorn their bodies with jewelry. Certain types of body peircings were even restricted to the royal family only, and anyone else could be executed for it.

The Romans often pierced their nipples as a sign of strength and dedication. Even Julius Caesar had pierced nipples.

Some American Indians, the Aztecs, and the Maya pierced their tongues as a part of their religious rituals. They also pierced their septums (the chunk of cartilage between your nostrils) to make themselves look more intimidating towards their enemies.

In South and Central America, women with pierced lips were seen as more attractive.

And then the Dark Ages came. The Catholic church said that piercings were sinful, and the popularity died down. However, they returned with the Renaissance.

In modern times in the Western world, body piercings have usually been limited to the ears. Then the “hippies” came along with their nose piercings (which had previously been worn mostly in India). In the 1980s and 90s, piercings of all kinds became popular, and remain so to this day.

So there is the history, but the question remains. Why? Perhaps it has the same reasons as tattoos. People like to express themselves and try to be unique. There are so many different kinds of piercings to do so with, and more continue being discovered. The feeling of getting a piercing is completely different from a tattoo; some say the two aren’t even comparable. The pain may be more intense, but it’s over with sooner and it quickly numbs down to sheer sensitivity.

Some people use body piercings to enhance their features, while others simply strive to obtain as many piercings as possible.

So that’s that, now let’s get to the interesting stuff!