Hip Piercing Informations

Many people are looking for new and exciting ways to adorn their bodies with cosmetic jewelry. Recently, surface piercings have become more popular than ever. One specific variety involving this method of skin puncture is the hip piercing.

A hip piercing is located on the pelvic region of the wearer. Part of the jewelry is fitted under the surface of the skin right above the pelvic hip bones. After a hole is punctured by means of a dermal punch and taper process or a surgical needle, a barbell is set beneath the surface. The top metal posts of the jewelry are attached and screwed into the barbell post and left to sit on the surface adorning the skin. Some piercers recommend forgoing the classic needle in this style of piercing, as surface piercings have a better chance of lasting and healing properly with the dermal punch. Ultimately it depends on your piercer and what he or she feels confident about performing. This style of piercing is usually done in pairs since the wearer usually opts for the same piercing above each pelvic bone for symmetry and aesthetic appeal.

The name ‘hip piercing’ is kind of misleading as the piercing is not really on your hips but instead place on your stomach just above your hips. Typically surface barbells are used for hip piercings but tygon jewelry has also been known to be used during the healing process to reduce stress.

A hip piercing is, of course, a surface piercing and careful consideration should be given to any surface piercing. Surface piercings have a high rate of rejection and the slightest trauma can start the rejection process at any time, even years after the piercing has healed. I could ramble on and elaborate more on surface piercings, but I already wrote a detailed article on surface piercings.

Procedure and Aftercare of Hip Surface Piercing

Hip Piercing Procedure

When you decide to get a hip piercing make sure that is is performed by an experienced piercing artist. Do not perform this procedure at home because you might risk hurting yourself, scarring and infection. Make sure your piercing is made of titanium or surgical steel just because they are considered to be the best.

As is the case with many surface piercings, the hip piercing can be met with rejection by the wearer’s body. Treating the item as a foreign and unwelcome intrusion in the natural biology of the skin, many people have not been able to keep a lasting hip piercing for more than a few months. The body heals itself and subsequently pushes and moves the metal jewelry towards the foremost surface of the epidermis, creating a less appealing and undesirable look. Also, there is usually some permanent scarring following the procedure. In order to determine what your chances of rejection are with this style of body art, sit down for a consultation with an experienced professional piercer.

Hip Piercing Aftercare

Although, the migration and rejection rate is very high and the overall healing permanence and tendency of a hip surface piercing is extremely low, you can keep your hip surface piercing for a longer period of time, by following and maintaining proper care. You might have heard many different aftercare instructions from different piercer or from friends. However, they all follow this same basic aftercare instructions. Read on and learn the basic important aftercare tips for hip surface piercings.

• Clean your new piercing with a sea salt mix or a saline solution for at least two times daily.
• Avoid using antibacterial soap such as Dial, because it contain harsh chemicals that can irritate the piercing and increase the risk of infection. Saline solution is considered as the best and safest for surface piercings.
• To make a sea salt mix or saline solution, you need to mix non-iodized sea salt with warm water. Make sure that you don’t used table salt or rock salt.
• Avoid using too much of sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt in 8 ounces of luke warm water will be fine.
• Pour the diluted sea salt or saline into a disposal cup and carefully invert it over the piercing. Continue to place the cup over the piercing, soaked for minimum 10 minutes.

For the first few weeks after the piercing, you need to clean the piercing with a saline solution for at least two times a day, then later reduce it to once per day. Continue cleaning the piercing until the wound has healed completely.

How to Heal Bump on Cartilage Piercing?

Usually bumps on cartilage piercing are formed during the healing process. Many people observed bumps on cartilage piercing during the healing process, even after it healed completely. Boil is the most common type of piercing that is noticed during the healing time, that is immediately after piercing. These boils are very painful and may secrete pus or blood as well.

If a person exerts more pressure on the piercing while sleeping or by wearing an inappropriate jewelry, bump may develop near the piercing. This is referred to as hypotrophic scarring. It has the color of your skin and is not much painful. However, the most severe type of bump on cartilage piercing is keloid. Keloids are scarred tissues that are formed because of too much tissue repair. Although anyone may get a keloid on cartilage piercing, dark skinned people, particularly African-Americans are more susceptible to it. These keloids may be detected easily as they are darker than the actual skin color.

As you identify the type of bump on cartilage piercing, it is easy to find the treatment for it. Infected bumps on cartilage piercing such as hypotrophic scarring and boils may be treated using some home remedies. Following are some simple home remedies for treating cartilage piercing bumps.

• Sea salt soaks: This is the best way to get rid of bump on cartilage piercing. In a clean bowl, take 8 ounces of warm water and add ¼ tablespoon of sea salt. After dissolving the salt completely, taste it with your finger. Make sure that it is not saltier than your tears. After this, you may either soak the cotton ball in it and apply it on the piercing or just pour solution on it. Let sea salt water solution to remain on the bump for about 5 – 10 minutes and later rinse properly to remove excess salt. This must be repeated once or twice a day to get rid of bumps. Crusts may form if you use this remedy on boils. In such case, ensure that you remove crusts using cotton swabs.
• Chamomile Tea: Though salt soaks are effective in treating bumps on cartilage piercing behind nose or ear, sometimes, some bumps may be stubborn. In such cases, you can also use chamomile tea to treat bumps. For this, you must soak tea bags in hot water for 1 – 2 minutes and then place it over the piercing. Repeat the process when the chamomile tea bag becomes cold. This must be done for about 10 – 15 minutes. This compress must be practiced once or twice a day to achieve best results.
• Aspirin: This is another remedy to treat cartilage piercing bumps. Take an aspirin tablet and crush it. Place the powder in a clean bowl and add little amount of water. Mix it well until it becomes paste. Apply this mixture on the bumps and also on the surrounding area. This must be practiced twice or thrice a day to reduce the bump on cartilage piercing. This is so because skin absorbs aspirin thoroughly and opens up the blood vessels, subsequently enhances the process of healing.

Besides the home remedies for treating bump on cartilage piercing, sometimes you can also treat bumps by changing the jewelry. However, one should not change the jewelry of cartilage piercing by oneself if it is infected. Always consult the piercer or the physician while changing the jewelry. Remember that keloids cannot be treated with the above home remedies. Most of the times, surgery is required to remove the keloids. Thus, if you think the bump on the cartilage piercing is keloid, it is must to consult the physician immediately to recommend you about the appropriate treatments.

Tips to Change a Labret Piercing Jewelry

Body piercers will insert the jewelry into the new labret piercings which is large enough for letting it to swell during the healing time of about 6 – 8 weeks. Most of the swelling in the labret piercing ceases after 2 – 3 weeks. You can change the jewelry only after swelling reduces. Try to avoid wearing jewelry of large circumference or long jewelry because it causes problems to the gums and teeth from the contact with metal. In order to avoid this and to choose proper jewelry, below lines give information on how to change a labret piercing.

Following are some tips to change a labret piercing jewelry:

1. Before touching the labret jewelry, wash your hands thoroughly. Ask the body piercer for the length or circumference and gauge of the labret ring prior to purchasing the jewelry from the piercer. Hence, it is good to know the appropriate size for the piercing. Remember that jewelry for piercing cannot be after purchasing it.

2. Determine what kind of labret jewelry is in the piercing. Circular barbells, flat-back labret studs and captive bead rings are the appropriate jewelry for the labret piercing. Circular barbells have a horseshoe shape that has two beads which screw on and off the open ends. Captive bead rings are hoops that contain a bead to hold it with pressure. Flat-back studs have 3 parts – a ball which is visible on the external side of the lip, a post in the piercing channel and disk which lies flat on the internal side of the lip.

3. Use an antiseptic lotion to rinse the mouth.

4. Next remove the piercing jewelry. For circular barbell, hold it on the curved section of post. Turn one of the beads to left till the threads are exposed bead comes off the post. Now pull the barbell out of the mouth by holding other bead on piercing jewelry.

For the flat-back studs, hold the back disk in the mouth while turning the ball to the left. As the ball becomes loose, you can see threads on the ball. Now completely remove the ball from post. Pull the post from the piercing from inside the mouth using your fingers to grip the disk.

For captive beads, use your thumb to push out the bead . Slightly tilt the ring such that one side of bead opening can be visible. Push the ring up and down to remove it from the jewelry.

5. Insert the new labret jewelry into the piercing. Reverse the process of removing the jewelry for new labret jewelry. After inserting the jewelry, tighten the beads to make sure that the ball or beads will not fall off.

Jewelry for Navel Piercing

Several types of navel piercings exist. A standard navel piercing is one which is done on the upper lip of the belly button. Inverse navel piercing also exists which is done on the lower lip of the belly button. In horizontal navel piercings, jewelry does not pass through the lip of the belly button, rather it lies horizontally above the navel lip. Lastly, multi navel piercings or navel projects include more than a single piercing in and around the belly button.

Navel jewelry afflicts the healing of the piercing, hence select the jewelry carefully. Rings and barbells are the most common shapes of belly button piercing jewelry. Other shapes like twists are also good for a better healed piercing, because of the pressure they may exert on your piercing. Appropriate jewelry materials for belly button jewelry include glass, niobium, titanium or 316-LVM stainless steel. Silver and gold contain nickel for strength but they may cause irritation. A body piercer measures the belly button for selecting the appropriate diameter or length of the belly button piercing jewelry.

Symptoms and Care of Cartilage Piercing Infection

Symptoms:

• You may experience severe pain, redness and swelling in and around the piercing site.
• Often, very often, a white fluid drains out of piercing. This must not be mistaken with pus, because it is lymphatic fluid that acts like a cleanser for dirt and bacteria.
• After a few days, yellowish crust forms, indicating that the piercing has started healing. However, it cannot be with every piercing.
• If proper care is not taken while piercing, it can lead to infections or if you do not take proper aftercare instructions, infections may develop.
• Infections are characterized with pus formation, bleeding, throbbing pain and bumps on piercing. Sometimes, piercing may produce foul smell.

Care:
A professional piercer must advise a person about proper piercing care. He must execute some precautionary steps while piercing. He must use sterilized instruments and wear clean gloves while piercing. Apart from these, a person who gets his ear pierced must follow the following steps to avoid cartilage infection.

• Do not touch cartilage piercing with the naked hands. Dirty hands is the access point for bacteria to enter the piercing.
• Use a disinfectant soap to wash the hands properly.
• Never play with piercing jewelry. Fingering the piercing jewelry with dirty hands cause infection.
• While putting on clothes, take proper care of piercing.
• Use an antiseptic lotion to clean the piercing twice a day, till it heals completely. You can soak jewelry in alcohol solution for disinfecting it.
• Never apply hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil or alcohol directly on piercing.
• Don’t change the jewelry frequently in the initial months.
• Always keep your hair clean and do not keep the public telephone receiver on the ear directly.

Cartilage Piercing Guides

Procedure of Cartilage Piercing

• Wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap
• Wet the piercing with water
• After putting few drops of anti-bacterial soap on the piercing, work them into a lather using a cotton bud.
• Loosen any crusted discharge and remove it from the jewelry and skin using a cotton bud.
• Leave the antibacterial soap on the piercing for 2 minutes while rotating the jewelry back and forth. This helps the disinfectant penetrate the piercing.
• Rinse the piercing with water, and air dry it. Do not try to dry with a towel, because it may carry bacteria and cause infection.

Cartilage Piercing Healing

• Generally it takes 3-12 months of time for healing, depending on the extent of piercing
• Don’t touch your cartilage piercings with unwashed hands. Also, don’t let others touch till it is completely healed.
• Clean your piercing only once daily, till the piercing is completely healed.
• Using antibacterial soap, which contains chloroxylenol or triclosan, to clean your cartilage piercing
• Wash and dry you hair before the piercing, and also later after the piercing.
• Don’t use Betadine, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol swabs or tea tree oil to clean your cartilage piercing.
• Sometimes an infection may cause pain, redness and unusual discharge. In such cases consult your physician for the required treatment.
• Vitamin C and Zinc can help in healing the infections.
• Don’t change the jewelry till the piercing is healed.

Detriments of cartilage piercing
The primary detriments of cartilage piercing are:

• Infection: The infection happens from different sources. The person might get infection from unhygienic earrings and from the environment you choose for piercing.
• Scarring: Scarring happen when tissues in the piercing area are affected. The person might get a ridge or a bump on the area when it is done wrongly.

Risk involved in cartilage gun
The person who is getting a cartilage piercing might not prefer a cartilage gun to pierce the ear. This might take a long time to heal. It might also create prolonged pain and scarring. This happens because the guns are not meant to pierce the cartilage. So it might upset the cartilage and create difficulties.

Facial Piercings List

The following is a list of facial piercings which are commonly seen nowadays. Even you must have seen them on your friends and are longing for the same, but aren't sure of how to get them. This popular facial piercings list will provide you with all the information you need.

Eyebrow Piercing: Eyebrow piercing is on top of the facial piercings list because, it is the most common and popular facial piercing. An eyebrow piercing catches one's attention immediately. This is the latest fashion of attracting attention to your eyes! Eyebrow piercing is said to have been first done by an American tattooist. You can experiment a lot with eyebrow piercing as the position of the stud is not fixed. You can have it anywhere on the brow. There are three types of eyebrow piercings: horizontal eyebrow piercing, vertical eyebrow piercing and anti-eyebrow piercing. Out of these, horizontal eyebrow piercing is most common. Anti-eyebrow is not exactly on the eyebrow, it is positioned around the eyebrow. Eyebrow piercing generally takes six to eight weeks to heal. These have to be done by a sterilized piercing needle only. Barbells, rings, and hoops are common eyebrow piercing jewelry. Hoops are more popular with girls, while guys tend to prefer barbells.

Ear Piercing: Earlier, ear piercing was popular only with girls. But now, it has also become quite common with guys. You can have a variety of ear piercings as there are more than 10 different types of ear piercings! Here is a list of some of the common ear piercings:

• Ear Lobe Piercing: Ear lobe piercing is extremely common and has been prevalent since centuries. Ear lobe piercing can be done on both ears or one ear. Healing time for ear lobe piercing is six to eight weeks. The latest trend in ear lobe piercing is gauging your piercing. The term gauging refers to stretching of the ear lobe to put heavy earrings. Larger the gauge, smaller the number. For example, a 5 gauge is bigger in size than a 10 gauge.
• Helix Piercing: Helix piercing is done on the outer ridge, on the upper part of the ear (generally the cartilage). Helix piercing can take six to eight months to heal. Helix piercing should be done only with a piercing needle. Twelve to fourteen gauge jewelry is ideal.
• Industrial Piercing: Piercing done on the upper part of the ear, from one cartilage to the other, is called industrial piercing. Four to eight months are required for an industrial piercing to heal. It can be quite painful, so extra care has to be taken. Do not use any cheap industrial piercing jewelry, use good sterilized jewelry so as to avoid ear infections. Fourteen gauge jewelry is recommended. Read more on industrial piercing care.
• Rook Piercing: Rook piercing is done in the inner upper part of the ear, namely the anti-helix. Rook piercing can hurt a lot as the flesh at the anti-helix is thick. Rook piercing takes four to nine months to heal. Sixteen gauge jewelry should be worn in this piercing.
• Daith Piercing: For daith piercing, the inner cartilage, below the rook, is pierced. Daith piercing is uncommon. The healing time for daith piercing may vary from three to eight months. Sixteen gauge jewelry is the ideal jewelry for daith piercing.
• Tragus Piercing: Tragus piercing is placed on the outer ear, below the daith piercing. Tragus piercing is done opposite the ear canal (the place which supports a ear phone!) Jewelry of sixteen gauge is advisable. Tragus piercings take about two months to one year to heal.
• Anti-Tragus Piercing: Anti-tragus piercing is done opposite the tragus, the cartilage inside the ear just above the ear lobe. It is a rare kind of piercing. Anti-tragus piercings can take about a year to heal. Proper care should be taken or like other ear piercing infections, you could have an anti-tragus piercing infection.
• Conch Piercing: Conch piercing got it's name from the conch shell. This piercing is done in two locations, namely, inner conch and outer conch. The outer conch is done on the outer rim of the ear, above the ear lobe. The difference between anti-tragus and outer conch is that conch piercing is done on the cartilage outside the ear, unlike the anti-tragus. Inner conch is above the anti-tragus. It takes a year for conch piercings to heal. Light jewelry should be worn in conch piercings.

Nose Piercing: Nose piercings are one of the most common facial piercings. Especially in some of the Asian countries, nose piercing is regarded as a part of tradition. A nose piercing is located in the middle of the nostril. Both the nostrils can be pierced. Healing time for nose piercings range from about three to six months. Nostril piercing has to be cleaned regularly as there are very high chances of an infection. For nose jewelry, you can try rings or studs.

Lip Piercings: Monroe and Medusa are two different lip piercings. Monroe, as the name suggests, is named after the gorgeous Marilyn Monroe's famous beauty spot! Monroe piercing is done on the the upper lip. It is also called Crawford piercing (after Cindy Crawford). Monroe piercing is less risky compared to other piercings, and also takes less time to heal. Fourteen to eighteen gauge labret can be worn in a Monroe piercing. Monroe piercings take six to eight weeks to heal. Monroe piercing is getting famous with guys as well, with celebrities like Trace Cyrus and Travis McCoy getting Monroe piercings! Medusa piercings are located exactly above the upper lip, below the septum. It takes about six to eleven weeks for a Medusa piercing to heal. The next common facial piercing is labret piercing. Labret piercing is done below the lower lip, mostly in the center, though it can also be off center. Labret piercing is located just opposite the medusa piercing, and so the same amount of care and healing time is required for labret piercing. Labret stud is the most common jewelry used for both these piercings. Lowbret is another lip piercing which is done far below the lip. Generally studs are used for lowbrets.

Face Piercing Informations

Techniques and methods of face piercings

• The following are the most common facial piercing techniques and procedures
• Piercing that are undertaken by experts involve the use of an exceedingly pointed hollow surgical needle similar to the ones employed for giving drips or blood.
• This implies that for the majority of facial piercing the needle is pierced in an instant and the degree of uneasiness is minimal.
• As has been observed people react to different body piercing in different ways.
• Some are often extremely distressed with certain piercing and may lose consciousness in the process.
• Others may throw up and there are others still who might not be affected at all by the seemingly painful procedure.

Risks of face piercings

There are certain risks associated with facial piercing and these shouldn’t be taken lightly. The common facial piercing risks are:

• Infection: In the absence of adequate care, infection can result in scarring and even blood poisoning.
• Allergic Reaction: Some people are allergic to particular metals and only realize this during piercing and have a serious reaction to the jewellery. The inflammation, coupled with problems in breathing can result in hospitalization.
• Nerve Damage: If a piercing isn’t positioned cautiously, it can penetrate a nerve, detaching it and making the adjoining area devoid of any sensation.

Face piercing after care

• You must at all times make it a point to keep your hands clean prior to touching your piercing.
• You need to do this to ensure that your hands are not the source of contamination for the area that has been ierced.

The use of sterile cotton, cotton gauze or other disinfected material should be used for cleaning from the second night onwards. You should exercise caution while removing any trickle from the skin in the vicinity of the pierced area. If the piercing has become loose and can be twisted with relative ease, clean the different sections at a time, while rotating it through the pierced area. This has to be done to ensure that the entire surface of the piercing has been properly cleaned.

Healing after face piercing

• The curing of an ordinary wound and the healing of a facial piercing is significantly dissimilar.
• For a normal wound the body simply has to restore and rejoin the injured tissue, but with facial piercing, this process is made difficult by the presence of an unfamiliar substance, the jewellery.
• A facial piercing can take a number of weeks or even months to heal. The healing process commences soon after the piercing is done, with the cells moving from the border of the wound together until they join.

Areas of Face Piercing:
Face piercing can be done at the ear, chin, cheek, brow, lip, nostril, septum, tongue, and mandible. Some of the styles of face piercings available are madonna, monroe, labret, medusa, bridge and jungle.

Selecting the Right Piercing Studio:
Before going for face piercing, selecting the right piercing studio is important. Select the studio only if you are completely satisfied. Following are the tips to find the best piercing studio:

• If your friends who had a safe piercing, enquire about the piercing studio where they had the piercing. Make the list of studios available.
• Visit the studios personally to get a good idea about them
• The studio should have a clean appearance and should have up-to date health certificate
• The needles used for face piercing should be disposable to minimize the risk of infection
• Other equipment should be sterilized using an autoclave – which is a heat sterilization machine
• The employees should be trained. They should be willing to answer your doubts.

Certain jewelry such as nickel and brass can trigger allergies. Signs of allergies are redness, hives, itching and blistering. If you have allergies to any metal, choose hypoallergenic jewelry or metals such as stainless steel to have a safe piercing.

Facial Piercing Meanings

Face piercings are generally related to noses and lips. However there are several types of facial piercings that are popular at present Facial piercings tend to have greater possibilities of rejection or developing scar tissue since a number of them affect areas of flat skin, in what is known as “surface” piercings.

Surface piercings are marked by extremely high rate of rejection as the skin doesn’t have adequate slack and the piercing jewelry exerts pressure on the tissue. Additionally, any infection to these face piercings is likely to affect vital parts and can easily spread to the blood; hence proper healing care after face piercing is needed.

Facial piercings can be done on the various areas like forehead, temple, bridge of nose, nostril, septum, cheeks, labrets/lips, lowbrets, scrumper, and mandible.

Procedure and Aftercare Eyebrow Piercings

Procedure:
A needle is sterilized with by rubbing alcohol initially. It is held with the clean rubber gloves and allowed it to dry. The piercing area is wiped off with rubbing alcohol and any hair strand which might there must be pulled back or removed. Now, the skin is shifted and is maneuvered with fingers such that the needle may be pushed straight into the skin on other side. If the person is ready, then needle is pushed firmly and quickly to the other side. Needle is removed by the piercer and jewelry is pushed into the piercing. Finally, the area around the piercing is cleaned thoroughly with soap and water.

Aftercare:
Fortunately, this piercing does not get irritated easily and thus, it is one of the safest piercings. Unfortunately, this piercing hurts while it is being pierced. But it is not that important, the important part is its aftercare. Following things must be kept in mind regarding the piercing on eyebrow:

• The healing time of eyebrow piercing is about 6 – 8 weeks.
• The most important thing about the piercing is it must be cleaned every day.
• Make a salt solution and soak a cotton ball in it. Apply this cotton ball on the piercing to dissolve any crust.
• Make sure that you clean your hands with antibacterial soap before touching.
• Do not use anything that contains alcohol, betadine or hydrogen peroxide to the piercing.
• Do not wear any makeup on or near the piercing until it heals completely.
• If you have a barbell, use a soft toothbrush to remove any crusting.
• When your piercing is new, do not handle, twist or swim the piercing to avoid irritation.
• Remember to sleep on other side of the piercing. This avoids infection and snagging of ring.
• If you have any infection, consult the piercer immediately.
• The aftercare regime must be followed until the piercing heals fully.

Assorted Types of Lip Piercing

Types of Lip Piercing:
Piercings on lip can be kept anywhere round the mouth. Following are some types of lip piercings:

1. Lip ring: This is a ring which passes through bottom of the lip. This can be off-centered or centered. This piercing is preferred by many wannabe hunks.

2. Vertical labret: This passes through the lower lip, which is parallel to the tissue. The bar has a very slight curve. It can be seen both below the lower lip and in between the upper and lower lips.

3. Labret: Usually, it refers to a single piercing on the lower lip. Also labrets can be done in pairs, generally on either side of the center. This can be done in the center too. If you wish to choose metal labret stud, you may use other metals and ends. These studs are available in titanium, gold and steel. These can be fixed with balls, gemstone ends or spikes. You may also get acrylic or stone balls or the novelty shapes, such as gold bunny.

4. Horizontal lip piercing: This is rare lip piercing. This is a horizontal bar, generally through the lip’s red part and generally on the lower lip.

5. Snakebites: These are observed on opposite sides of lower lip and both studs and rings can be used as a jewelry for this.

6. Angel bites: Choose this type of piercing if you wish try an adventerous look. This contains a couple of upper lip piercings on either sides of lip. Labret studs can only be used for this lip piercing.

7. Filtrum piercing: This is labret piercing on the upper lip.

8. Monroe piercing: These are labret studs adorned on upper lip where some celebrities like Marilyn Monroe had made a beauty mark. This labret jewelry is commonly used for labret piercing in the middle, just above the chin.

9. Spider bites: This piercing type is done on the lower lip on opposite sides of mouth.

Types of Labret Piercing Jewelry

Here are some of the jewelry options of labret piercing:

Labret Stud:
This is the most common jewelry used for labret piercing. Labret stud has a straight shaft which is attached to a flat disc on one end and a bead on the other end. When fixed, the flat disc sits inside the mouth and the round bead is visible outside. 16 gauge or 14 gauge labret stud is used for this piercing.

Labret Spike:
This is similar to a labret stud, except that instead of a round bead, this jewelry has a spiked bead. The spiked bead is a variation of the normal stud and looks stylish.

Captive Bead Ring: A captive bead ring is also popular jewelry used for labret piercing. This has a ring with bead in between.

Labret retainers:
Labret retainers have the shape of a labret stud, but they are transparent. They are used to hide the piercing. Some of the retainers are also of flesh-colored, which helps to keep the piercing discreet

Various materials such as titanium, stainless steel, niobium are used for labret piercing jewelry. To prevent damage to the gums, you can also choose jewelry made of bioplast, glass, wood or acrylic.

With various labret piercing jewelry, you would have a lot of options to choose from. So, do discuss with your piercer about the jewelry type which would best suit you.

Cartilage Piercing Jewelry Informations

Here are the most popular cartilage piercing jewelry options:

. Antitragus
. Conch, also popular as Shell piercing
. Daith
. Helix and Top Ear
. Rook and Snug
. Tragus
. Vertical Lobe

Suitable Types for Cartilage Piercing Jewelry:

Captured bead rings
These are cheaper than barbells. To remove or replace the bead you need special pilers, especially in case of thicker gauge jewelry. You are advised to avoid sleepers with sharp edges because the joint may damage your piercing.

Barbells
It’s better to go for internally threaded barbells. If the bar is externally threaded, make sure the threads are not exposed.

Studs
Studs are a better choice providing there is sufficient room to expose the piercing when cleaning.

-Suitable Sizes for Cartilage Piercing:
Use only 18 gauge or heavier jewelry. Smaller gauges migrate out through your skin.

-Suitable Materials for cartilage piercing:
. Surgical Stainless Steel, titanium, 18 carat gold, niobium, PTFE

. Don’t use 9ct gold, silver or gold plated jewelry for cartilage piercing, because these can stain the tissues permanently. Before the piercing is healed the gold plating will wear off the jewelry.

When to Change Cartilage Piercing Jewelry? If you change your jewelry during the healing period, you may damage your piercing. You have to take the help of a professional piercer, if you change the jewelry before healing. After the piercing is healed, you can do it by yourself.

How to Hide a Tongue Piercing

Having a tongue piercing has become somewhat of a norm. However, employers often request that their employees not have visible piercings. Instead of taking the jewelry out and letting the tongue piercing close, many people have chosen to hide the fact that they have such a piercing. Hiding the fact that you have your tongue pierced is pretty easy.

• Speak with your employer about the company's rules on body jewelry. Some companies are more lax on their rules than others.
• Go to your local body jewelry shop and purchase a retainer for your piercing. Retainers are clear, usually plastic pieces of jewellery that are used to retain piercings when it is not possible to wear regular jewelry.
• Wear the retainer when you are at work. The clear jewelry makes it possible for you to both keep your piercing and follow the rules set by your employer.
• Use your normal jewelry when you are not at work. Retainers are not designed to be used permanently.

Corset Piercing Instructions

A corset piercing consists of a series of piercings done in two rows, usually done down the back, arm, leg and occasionally the female genitals. The corset piercing is laced with a piece of ribbon to give it the appearance of being an actual corset. Usually a corset piercing is done for aesthetic reasons as opposed to being a permanent piercing.

Corset Piercing Instructions

• Research corset piercings extensively.
• Talk to your piercer to see if she does this kind of piercing. If she is not comfortable with it, ask her to recommend other piercers who are comfortable doing a corset piercing.
• Make an appointment to get your piercing done once you have settled on a piercer. You might want to set it up for a day you can take off work because you are going to be sore after you have been pierced.
• Arrive at your appointment a few minutes early so that you can fill out any paperwork that is needed.
• Follow any and all aftercare instructions your piercer gives you. If any questions or problems arise, contact the person who pierced you.

Care Tips for a Corset Piercing

Care Tips

• Attending care for a corset piercing varies whether or not the piercing is still in, or freshly taken out, so if the piercing is still in make sure that the area around each piercing is free of scabbing and dried blood. Utilize a Q-tip dipped hydrogen peroxide to clean the area. Dab the topical ointment around each piercing.
• Removal of the piercing can result in bleeding and possible bruising. Apply firm pressure with the gauze to each removed piercing to cease blood flow, if necessary. Wipe entire area with hydrogen peroxide to remove any residue, dried blood and to disinfect.
• Spray the sea salt liquid thoroughly over entire back area, until dripping, as this calms the pierced area and reduces itching and irritation. Wait until dry. Repeat this step two to three times a day, every day, for at least a week to soothe the formerly pierced area, encourage healing and prevent scarring.
• Apply the topical cream or gel when necessary (i.e. crustiness around the pierced area, swelling, excessive itchiness).
• Wait at least a month before having the corset piercing procedure the next time in order to fully heal.

How to Hide a Labret Piercing

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• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Carefully spray your labret piercing once using a spray bottle filled with water. This will allow you to remove the body jewelry with ease and will prevent tearing of the delicate skin that is around the pierced hole.
• Put the old labret piercing into a safe and clean place. Usually a jewelry box is a good place for it, but you can also put it in a resealable plastic bag if you simply cannot find an appropriate place that is clean.
• Remove the clear labret piercing retainer from its packaging and lay it onto a clean surface.
• Pour out the water that is in the spray bottle and refill it with warm water.
• Add sea salt to the bottle and shake it to ensure that most of the salt has dissolved.
• Spray the clear labret retainer liberally with the salt mixture; also spray the hole in which the retainer will go.
• Unscrew the tip of the retainer and gently place the main part of the jewelry into your piercing and screw on the top of the retainer.

Clean Self-Pierced Labret Piercings

A labret is an accessory worn in a pierced hole around the lips and is commonly found in cultures throughout the world. The most popular labret piercings are directly above the upper lip, directly below the lower lip, and beneath either edge of the lower lip. Whether you pierced your lip yourself or had it professionally done, it is important to keep your labret piercing consistently clean. Use this guide to clean your labret piercings, and consult your personal physician immediately if they become infected.

How to Clean Self-Pierced Labret

1. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after touching and cleaning your labret piercing.
2. Soak the piercing with saline solution once a day to avoid skin discoloration and remove buildup. Soak a cotton swab with saline solution to clean the pierced surface.
3. Rinse mouth with salt water or alcohol-free antibacterial mouth rinse after every meal.
4. Use dental floss to remove plaque buildup on the end of your labret jewelry.
5. Do not share lipstick or lip balm when you have a labret piercing. Apply it directly from the tube instead of using your finger, to keep the piercing clean.

How to Clean Nose Piercings

Nose piercing is one of the more common forms of body art. There are several types of nose piercing, including nostril piercing, nasal septum piercing, which refers to the area between the nostril, and bridge piercing, which refers to the skin at the top of your nose, near the eyes. Evidence of nose piercing dates back to Old Testament Biblical times. As with any piercing, one should take special care to make sure it is taken care of and cleaned properly, to help keep the risk of risk of infection to a minimum.

The following is How to Clean Nose Piercings

1. Clean the piercing every day using an antibacterial soap, or a sea salt and water solution. Remove any crusting that forms around the jewelry by gently cleaning with a cotton ball soaked in the salt water solution. Do not use iodized salt, which could be harmful to the healing skin tissue. Gently pat the area dry with a soft tissue or paper towel after cleaning.
2. Apply a small amount of lavender oil to the area that has been pierced after cleaning to help promote healing.
3. Avoid using alcohol, peroxide, betadine or tea tree oil to clean the pierced area. Although these products do disinfect they are harsh to your healing flesh.
4. Do not remove your jewelry while your piercing is still healing. Always make sure that your hands are clean before touching the area.

Hiding and Unhiding Septum Piercing

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You may consider a septum piercing, which you can hide during the healing period and after. Leaving your jewelry out of your septum piercing can cause the piercing to shrink or completely close, but there are several different types of jewelry for septum piercings and some are suitable for wearing inside your nostrils to help conceal your septum piercing.

1. Ask your piercer to pierce your septum with a retainer or circular barbell. Septum retainers are surgical steel and have the color of silver. The retainer is shaped similar to a staple, with the horizontal end inside the septum piercing channel and the two sides of the jewelry hang down in front of the nostrils. A circular barbell is U-shaped, with a bead on each end. The piercer will open the space in between the sides of the jewelry to fit inside your nostrils.
2. Wash your hands with soap and water. Avoid touching any surface or skin to prevent transferring dirt or bacteria to your septum jewelry and piercing. Dry your hands with a paper towel and dispose of the towel in the trash. If you are wearing a circular barbell, tighten the beads on the ends by turning the beads to the right.
3. Open your mouth as wide as possible. Curl your upper lip over your top row of teeth. Making these motions with mouth will cause your septum to stretch and become thinner in the center of your nostrils. Push the visible ends of your septum piercing jewelry up and into your nostrils. Relax your face and observe that no part of the septum jewelry is visible.

How to Pierce Your Septum

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1. Get pierced during the right season. If you're prone to colds in the winter, wait until winter is over to get your piercing. If you're prone to allergies, wait until the allergy season is over. Sneezing can irritate or dislodge a new piercing.
2. Locate a piercer you're comfortable with. Because the septum piercing is so common, any reputable piercing studio can do it well.
3. Discuss your jewelry needs with the piercer. Circular barbells and captive bead rings are two common pieces of jewelry for a septum piercing. However, if you need to be able to hide your piercing, consider a septum retainer for your first piece of jewelry.
4. Allow the piercer to clean the inside of your nose and feel your septum for the correct placement of the jewelry. She may next put clamps in place, or she may do the piercing without clamps.
5. Take a deep breath as your piercer prepares to move the needle through your septum. Let it out as slowly as you can as you get pierced.
6. Ensure that the jewelry hangs straight as your piercing heals, adjusting it slightly if you notice it becoming crooked. Use salt water soaks to help speed the healing process.

Types of Ear Piercings

Following are some types of ear piercings:

1. Anti-Tragus Piercing: This is a raised cartilage fold which sits on outer side of ear, just above the ear lobe and opposite to tragus. Most people cannot try anti tragus piercing because of its size. It is very small, but one can use micro jewelry particularly ball closure rings. It takes 8 – 16 weeks to heal.
2. Helix Piercing: This is second most common ear piercing type. This is located on upper cartilage. This piercing can be down either with a cuff style, a hoop or a stud. Healing time for this piercing type is 6 – 8 months.
3. Auricle Piercing: Auricle piercing is the cartilage rim which rubs along the edge/side of outer part of ear. This is the most common ear piercing type. Ball closure rings suit this best. Healing time for auricle piercing is 2 – 3 weeks.
4. Conch Piercing: Conch is the largest cartilage which comprises of the back side of ear. Ball closure rings with larger diameter suit this type of piercing. You may go in outer conch piercings and inner conch piercings. It takes 8 – 16 weeks to heal completely.
5. Daith Piercing: Daith is the crux of helix. This is the cartilage fold which sits under the rook and very close to ear canal. You must choose micro ball closure rings for this type of piercing. Daith piercing needs 8 – 16 weeks to heal.
6. Industrial Piercing: This is the most craziest type of ear piercing. Industrial piercings is 2 or more separate rim piercings which are joined by a barbell. It is utmost important to take care of industrial piercing. It takes 8 – 16 weeks to heal this piercings.
7. Orbital Piercings: Orbital piercings is a type of piercing which enters and exits the same ear part. Actually it is made up of 2 piercing holes, with 1 ball closure ring passing through both the piercings. This can be placed anywhere in the ear, but often they are located in ear lobe or helix. Healing time for orbital piercing is 8 – 16 weeks.
8. Lobe Piercing: this is another most common type of ear piercing. Every girl might have done this in their childhood. This can be the best type of ear piercing for men too. Ear lobe is is the fleshy tissue which hangs at the bottom of your ear. Blood circulation is more in this part. While going for lobe piercing, ensure that piercing is at the centre of the lobe. Any sort of accessories suit this type of piercing. Healing time for this piercing is 6 – 10 weeks.
9. Pinna Piercing: Pinna piercing is located on the rim of the cartilage along the upper part of the ear. One of the most popular pinna piercing type is the forward pinna piercing. It takes 8 – 16 weeks to heal pinna piercing.
10. Rook Piercing: Rook is the upper most fold of the cartilage, below the helix. Rook piercing needs micro jewelry as the fold is very small. It needs 8 – 16 weeks to heal completely.
11. Scaffold Piercing: In this type of piercing, two or more separate rims are joined by one barbell. Healing time for scaffold piercing is 8 – 16 weeks.
12. Snug Piercing: This is situated at the inner cartilage, half way f\down from the external rim of the ear and above the anti tragus. Micro jewelry particularly curved barbells are preferred for this snug piercing. It takes about 8 – 16 weeks to heal.
13. Tragus Piercing: Tragus is the toughest fold of cartilage which sticks out away from the ear. You can choose vertical tragus piercing also. It takes 8 – 16 weeks for healing tragus piercing.
14. Transverse Lobe Piercing: This type of piercing includes transverse piercing on the ear lobe together with a curved barbell. 6 – 10 weeks are required for healing transverse lobe piercing.
15. Dermal Punch: Usually it is done at the back of the ear. Actually, it punches out a ear piece from piercing. They are located at the flat area of the ear. This piercing is more popular with men compared with women. It takes 6 – 10 weeks to heal completely.
16. Ear weaving: This is the most sexiest type of ear piercing. It involves the usage f helical accessories along the pinna. Ear weaving needs 8 – 16 weeks to heal.

Eyebrow Piercing Barbell

An eyebrow piercing is done through the eyebrow, vertically. It usually lies at a 40 degree angle to the eyebrow. For this piercing, jewelry such as captive bead ring or barbells are used. However, barbells are more popular as they look stylish and bold. Barbells of thickness 12 gauge to 18 gauge are used for this piercing.

Eyebrow Piercing Barbell

Barbells for eyebrow piercing can be of the following types:

1. Straight barbell
2. Curved barbell
3. Twisted barbells
4. Spiked barbells

The thickness of the barbell can be 12 gauge, 14 gauge, 16 gauge, or 18 gauge. Generally, straight barbells are used. These barbells have a shaft with two rounded beads on either ends. Similarly, curved barbells are curved at a certain angle. Spiked barbells have a conical bead instead of the rounded ones.

The metals for the eyebrow piercing barbell can be stainless steel, chromium or niobium. Avoid using barbells made of nickel as they can trigger an allergy.

Barbell Retainer

Some of the barbells are transparent and are made to hide the piercing. These barbells are made of bioplast or acrylic. The barbell retainers should be used only after the piercing is healed.

Eyebrow piercing is done using the standard clamp and pierce fashion. Initially, the piercer would mark the spots on the eyebrow. After this, the area is clamped and the piercer would insert a needle. Now, the barbell is inserted and fixed.

As there are many choices for the eyebrow piercing barbells, choose the one which best suits you. Choosing reliable materials such as stainless steel, niobium or chromium is recommended.

Popular Style of Nipple Piercing Jewelry

If you have your nipples pierced, make sure that you treat it with care and style it with the best nipple jewelry or ring. While many people are aware that there are various designs, types and colors of earrings or for ear lobe piercing, not many people are familiar with the various designs of nipple piercing jewelry. There are various types of nipple jewelry, including circular barbells, ball closure rings and straight barbells. So, that one can choose the best or the one which suits on each personality. Here are some of the most popular styles of nipple piercing jewelry.

Nipple Bars


One of the most popular type of nipple piercing jewelry is Nipple Bars. These nipple bars come in a wide range of materials, colors and styles. However, choose surgical grade steel, flexible Bioflex and colorful titanium nipple bars for sensitive or the initial nipple piercing.
surgical Grade steel nipple-piercing-bar Titanium darkblue nipple barsilver adjustable nipple-bar

Nipple Rings

There are a huge range of nipple rings. So, you can make the best of your nipple piercings by changing different styles of nipple rings according to your dress and personality. There are three main types of nipple piercing rings. They are circular barbells, smooth segment rings and ball closure rings.

Each type of these nipple rings will give you a trendy and different look. Circular barbells comes in a very different and funky designs which gives the wearer a unique and funky look. Ball closure rings come in a very simple design yet very attractive and give the classic look, while smooth segment rings create a seamless look.

Nipple Shields


Nipple shields are a great way to make a fashion statement. So, if you are planning to flaunt your new brand nipple piercing, you may like to go for this nipple piercing shield. They are very comfortable to wear and simply gives a stunning look. These shields come in stylish titanium, sterling silver and black-line designs.

Tongue Piercing Aftercare Tips

Healing after Tongue Piercing

It takes around 2 weeks to heal tongue piercing. Usually it is difficult to develop any infection as saliva contains anti-bacterial enzymes. Overuse of mouthwashes with astringent may neutralize these enzymes hence turning the tongue brown or green. If it occurs it is advised to reduce the mouthwash quantity you are using. You would observe slight swelling on the day of piercing, but the worst swelling would appear between 2-6 days after piercing. During this time you would find your tongue to be very uncoordinated and may also find difficulty while talking.

Aftercare for Tongue Piercing

1. For the first 3-5 days you are advised to eat soft and mashed food. Best food for you would be juices, shakes and yogurts. You can also take vitamin supplements to boost up your immune system. Baby food is the best choice during this phase.
2. Once you start with solid food eating, be careful that you don’t bite the long barbell. There are chances of barbell biting which may result in chipping or splitting of your tooth. So be careful while eating solid food.
3. You can try using anti-inflammatory or anti-bacterial throat lozenges after meals or several times a day. These would help in faster healing of your tongue.
4. It is advisable to rinse your mouth with warm salty water after meals or many a times in a day. This would promote the healing process.
5. Eat lot of cold foods like frozen yogurts, ice creams, small ice blocks or crushed ice this would help you in pain and swelling reduction.
6. It is better to change from longer barbell to shorter stem after at least 10 days to avoid your tongue to swell up again.
7. Use a soft tooth brush to remove plaque formed on the jewelry during the healing phase.
8. Once in a week with clean hands check that the jewelry is screwed up tight.
9. Every morning first drink chilled water; this would help in alleviating your swelling.
10. Don’t talk much in your initial days of piercing as excess movement may cause the barbell to wound your tongue.
11. During the healing phase avoid taking hot foods like soup, coffee or tea; this would increase your pain. Try and avoid spicy food as this main increase swelling.
12. Avoid playing with the piercing during the initial phase of healing as this may delay the healing process and may also lead to scar formation.
13. Do not replace the jewelry during the healing phase as reinsertion of the jewelry might be painful.
14. Do not remove the jewelry as the hole closes quickly.
15. Do not put dirty things in your mouth like pens or fingernails.
16. Refrain yourself from oral sex for the initial 15 days, including kissing your partner.

Tongue Piercing Informations

Tongue piercing is the most common and popular form of piercing. In fact it is not a new practice. It is being practiced since ages. Tongue piercing was a common ritual among people of ancient Aztecs and Mayas of Central America. Haida, Kwakiutul, and Tlinglit tribes who belong to American Northwest also used to practice tongue piercing. In their rituals they used to pierce the tongue to draw blood to propitiate the gods.

Procedure of Tongue Piercing

Tongue piercing is not a painful task as tongue is a striated muscle, so the needle just slips in between these striations. The tongue do swells up after piercing but regains its original form after few days. Tongue is first pierced with the long barbell; after the swelling subsides it is replaced by a proper size barbell. Usually tongue has a dimple in the front region and it is considered to be the perfect place for piercing. After piercing you won’t be able to talk or eat solid food properly for some days. This sometimes may lead to short time depressions. You need to plan your tongue piercing time according to your job requirements, big weekends or vacations.

Tongue Piercing Jewelry

Barbell is the most common type of jewelry used for tongue piercing. These barbells are available in colored plastic, gold plated surgical steel and surgical steel. After the tongue is healed, the long barbell can be replaced by small balls, tongue retainers or labret studs. There is a large variety of jewelry options for tongue piercing. You can go for jewelry like large or small balls in gemstone, UV that glows in the dark, glitter, colored Acrylic, surgical steel and gold plated surgical steel. If you want to hide your tongue piercing then you can try flat top, painted in flesh colored.

Nipple Piercing Guide

Techniques

1. Piercing that are undertaken by experts involve the use of an exceedingly pointed hollow surgical needle similar to the ones employed for giving drips or blood.
2. This implies that for the majority of nipple piercing the needle is pierced in an instant and the degree of uneasiness is minimal.

Risks

There are a number of risks that are associated with naval piercing. The risks involved are mentioned below.

1. Infection: In the absence of adequate care, infection can result in scarring and even blood poisoning.
2. Allergic Reaction: Some people are allergic to particular metals and only realize this during piercing and have a serious reaction to the jewelry.
3. Nerve Damage: If a piercing isn’t positioned cautiously, it can penetrate a nerve, detaching it and making the adjoining area devoid of any sensation.

Aftercare

You must at all times make it a point to keep your hands clean prior to touching your nipple piercing. You need to do this to ensure that your hands are not the source of contamination for the area that has been pierced. The use of sterile cotton, cotton gauze or other disinfected material should be used for cleaning from the second night onwards.

Healing

For women who opt for nipple piercing, healing period runs six to twelve months. This is a crucial piercing, regarded as a deep tissue injury in technical term. The piercing heals from the external limits back towards the middle and can frequently take a great deal of time to become properly established.

Techniques and Healing after Eyebrow Piercing

Techniques of eyebrow piercing

Below are the various commonly used eyebrow piercing techniques and procedures

• Eyebrow piercing is performed by creating an opening with the help of a hollow medical needle.
• The needle is put into the part of the body being pierced, but it does not penetrate all the way through.
• When it is in the eyebrow, the jewelry to be worn in the piercing initially is shoved through the opening, trailing the rear of the needle.

Healing after eyebrow piercing

• Generally eyebrow piercings take 6-8 weeks for healing, but can give rise to irritation, frequently by careless touches on the part of the bearer.
• This can lead to a much longer healing period or can cause migration.
• Makeup or other beauty products that are used on the face can also be a source of irritation for piercing or result in infection.

Risks of Eyebrow Piercing

The following are common eyebrow piercing risks

• Infection: In the absence of adequate care, infection can result in scarring and even blood poisoning.
• Allergic Reaction: Some people are allergic to particular metals and only realize this during piercing and have a serious reaction to the jewellery. The inflammation, coupled with problems in breathing can result in hospitalization.
• Nerve Damage: If a piercing isn’t positioned cautiously, it can penetrate a nerve, detaching it and making the adjoining area devoid of any sensation.

Nose Piercing Aftercare Tips

Aftercare Tips

You must at all times make it a point to keep your hands clean prior to touching your nose piercing. You need to do this to ensure that your hands are not the source of contamination for the area that has been pierced. The use of sterile cotton, cotton gauze or other disinfected material should be used for cleaning from the second night onwards.

Healing Nose Piercing

The curing of an ordinary wound and the healing of a nose piercing is significantly dissimilar. For a normal wound the body simply has to restore and rejoin the injured tissue, but with nose piercing, this process is made difficult by the presence of an unfamiliar substance, the jewelry.

The healing period for nostril and septum piercings can take between six and twelve weeks.