Piercings are a relatively common type of accessory to add to your overall style and fashion. Simple ear piercings don’t take long to heal, are simple to perform by a certified professional, and can add a lot of options for you to customize your outfit with. However, many people have started to look beyond ear piercings, moving on to body piercings to be more expressive with their fashion sense.
Body piercings have been around for a long time, dating back to ancient civilizations that used body piercings as a symbol of wealth, status or even to express religious beliefs. More recently, they’ve been used as a form of artistic expression and rebellion. Now that they’ve become more mainstream, it’s common to see them used as fashion accessories instead of a storied symbol.
So without further ado, here’s a brief yet comprehensive guide on piercings to help you learn more about the many options you have.
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Facial
Arguably the most common piercings. Could involve eyebrows, nose, lips and ears. These are very fashionable and eye-catching due to their placement, but there is the potential for infection or rejection of the piercing if done by an inexperienced piercer.
Tragus
Tragus piercing is similar to a regular ear piercing, but it’s done on the small piece of cartilage that is next to your ear. It takes a relatively long time to heal but is often safe and a little more unique than a traditional ear piercing.
Belly Button or Navel
A rather discreet piercing popular among younger women. Piercings around the navel take a while to heal and it’s important to plan ahead with clothing to ensure nothing snags against your body jewellery. However, it can be a fashionable location to have a piercing.
Tongue
Tongue piercings are becoming more popular due to how quickly they heal. They’re very discreet but could open up your mouth to infection due to the germs that could live on your piercing. It involves a bit of maintenance to clean and prevent this from happening, and metal piercings or tongue rings can damage your teeth in some circumstances.
Nipple
Nipple piercings are popular with both men and women. They can often take months to heal and may lead to difficulty breastfeeding in women. They also make the nipples more pronounced and it’s generally not something you do for fashion purposes. You can learn more here if you’re interested in nipple piercings or are considering it.
Surface
Surface piercings include less-common areas of the body. This can include areas such as your forehead, between the eyes, or even your neck. These areas will commonly be rejected and are difficult to pierce, so it’s something you absolutely must commit to.
Before doing any piercing, it’s important to pick a piercer that has been licensed and has a good track record to avoid the possibility of catching an infection. Remember that your piercer will be opening up your skin with a sharp tool, so it’s important to trust them completely before you let them permanently modify your body. Piercings aren’t easy to reverse, so make sure you commit to your decision and do plenty of research!