People have been piercing, stretching and tattooing their bodies for thousands of years and for many different reasons. Many people see body modification as a means of artistic self-expression, or as a way to denote religious and cultural loyalties and affiliations. The Japanese have used tattoos for spiritual and artistic purposes since at least 10,000 B.C. and perfected many traditional methods that are still used to this day. Whether you want to pierce your ear as a declaration of independence or commemorate a significant event with a tattoo, here's what you'll need to know.
Piercings
There's really no limit to the areas of the body you can pierce. The ears, nose and navel all are traditionally popular spots for piercing, while more adventurous types may want a septum, labret, or even nipple piercing. Just keep in mind that different piercings require different aftercare methods, and some may lead to scarring and/or decreased sensitivity.
Body piercing jewelry comes in several different size gauges. And remember, the bigger the number, the smaller the jewelry.
* 14 is the most common size and mainly used in navel and ear piercings.
* 16 and 18 gauges are smaller and better suited for eyebrow piercings.
* 18 and 20 gauges are best suited for nose piercings, as they are quite small and leave virtually invisible holes.
* Stretched ears can accommodate gauges anywhere from a size 6 to a double 00. Stretched ears are a permanent modification and usually require surgery to restore to a normal size.
Aftercare
Tattoos
The practice of injecting ink under the skin has been around for thousands of years, so that bluebird chest banner is part of a long history of decorative body arts. Not sure sure you want to take the plunge with a needle? Try some of these temporary alternatives.
