The (experienced) People Vs. the Law

If you can tell one thing about me from this blog, it is that I am a firm supporter of the APP (Association of Professional Piercers).  This has it's perks and it's downfalls in the position that I am in.  It is great because it allows me to give out great advice to people in regards to their piercing, whether healed, healing, or not done yet.  The drawbacks is that not everyone cares about getting or giving safe piercings.  Many of the steps that the APP requires a piercer to take to be certified strike people and piercers alike as inconvenient or unnecessary and they opt to not follow through with them.  One of the biggest arguments I hear is: "If the shop is open, it has to be doing everything right."  This couldn't be more wrong, just because the shop is following all of the legal standards does not mean that they are doing everything to ensure you are getting a safe piercing.  All of the laws regarding piercings were established by government officials.  Now I don't know about you, but if I am looking for piercing advice I am not writing to my governor or state representative.  It's just someone writing rules about something they know nothing about.  I am sure they consulted doctors but piercing is completely different, please understand I am by no means trying to downplay the knowledge or intelligence of our doctors.  However, it would be the same as asking a bone specialist for detailed safety information on heart surgery, some parts would be accurate, but they wouldn't know everything.
All that to say, your choice on a shop and your piercing aftercare should not be made based on money or convenience, it should be based on skill and proper technique.  Get pierced by an APP certified piercer and don't rush or neglect the healing process. 
Until next time,
Miles...

Put the gun down!

Why to not get pierced with a piercing gun:

1. Cross contamination - Would you let a doctor reach into that red box of used, contaminated syringes, wipe it off with an antiseptic wipe and give you a shot with it?  No way in hell!  You have no idea who the person was before you, and even if you did you still wouldn't want to share a needle with anyone.  If you said yes, then stop reading now because there is no help for you.  It's the same thing with piercing guns.  The section of the gun that is pressed against your ear receives a healthy dose of blood spray when the piercing is done.  Because they are made with plastic they cannot be sanitized with an autoclave, all the piercers really do is wipe it down with an antiseptic wipe which does not kill blood borne pathogens such as Hepatitis or HIV.  Not really the things I want to introduce a fresh opening in my body to.
2. Lack of training - The main place you will run into the use of piercing guns will be at chain beauty stores and at the mall.  Claire's is a popular store that offers gun piercings (often on babies too young to walk), and you can find testimonial after testimonial online of previous employees who admit to at lest been given a booklet on how to do it, and at best, two weeks of training on a stuffed animal.  Someone once said that their supervisor told them to just practice on their friends till they got it down. Combining these 'professionals' with an unreliable, unsanitary piercing tool doesn't seem like the best idea.
3. Tissue damage - When you pierce your ears with a needle (as it should be done) you are using a very sharp hollow needle which slices the skin smoothly and makes room for everything that will soon replace the needle.  With the gun, there is no smooth piercing, it's a harsh, traumatic experience.  The gun doesn't have a needle, it simply forces the rounded end of the stud through your ear, ripping the tissues apart to make way for the jewelry.  Try to imagine the difference between a doctor performing surgery with a scalpel or a butter knife.  Once the bar tears through your ear, your body will respond by having the injured area swell up to protect it, but unfortunately the jewelry is then capped off with the backing, pinching the already tender skin and preventing the proper swelling.  My sister actually had this done years ago.  Because her ear was so damaged and was not able to properly swell up, her ear actually swelled around the front of the stud and over the course of the next year it slowly pushed it all the way out the back. 
4. Poorly designed - Because the gun was designed for the simplest of minds to use, it doesn't have much in the area of calibration.  Meaning it will work the exact same for thin ear lobes as well as really thick lobes.  The problem is that not all skin is the same, so it may completely puncture one persons ear lobe, it might not be powerful enough to drive it all the way through another.  This means a half pierced lobe which leaves three options: hand pushing the jewelry the rest of the way through the ear, pulling it out and re-piercing it (the chances of hitting the same hole again are very slim), or just taking it out entirely.

So please, for your own sake or for the sake of your kids, go to an APP Certified piercer it's worth the few bucks more you will be spending to get it done right.

Till next time,
Miles...

The History of Nose Piercings

While there are numerous ways to pierce your nose, as shown in my last entry, most of those piercings are relatively new.  The standard nose piercing and septum piercing do not fall into this category however.  The standard nose piercing can be traced back over 4,000 years somewhere in the Middle East.  It is referenced in the Bible, Genesis 24:22 "Then at last, when the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets for her wrists." Speaking of a servant giving a golden nose ring and bracelets as gifts to a woman for her help in watering his camels. 
The practice can also be followed throughout the history of India and Nepal.  Indian women traditionally had their left nostril pierced to help make childbirth easier as Ayurvedic medicine associates that position with the female reproductive organs.  It also acted as a homage paid to Parvathi, the goddess of marriage in the 16th century.
The septum piercing may not have been around as long as the nostril piercing, but it holds quite the global popularity.  It's popularity has been brought about by the many African  and Native American tribes.  However, New Guinea is possibly the most famous for septum piercings, especially the Kangi.  They began piercing the septum as a coming of age ritual for young men.  They would begin the ritual by blackening the face with charcoal, plucking out all the hair on the head keeping only a small tuft, then finally pierce it using a bat bone and sweet potato. 
Hopefully this gave you some insight on the background of nose piercings.  If you have any questions or anything to add feel free to do so in the comments. 

Till next time,
Miles...

Types of Nose Piercings

Other than the ear, the nose is home to the most common piercing.  However, many people aren't aware, that there are many ways to pierce the nose.  Some of these you have seen, others probably not.  www.wickedbodyjewelz.com carries the jewelry to .  All piercings are pictured below the list.

1. Nostril Piercing - One of the most common body piercings, the nostril piercing has many options. Starting with a single small hole with an 18g Small Stud or Captive Hoop, to multiple holes and Hoops or even stretched to large gauges and Plugs. 
2. Septum Piercing - Often referred to as the Bull Ring, this piercing is done through the septum or center divider in your nose.  It is usually done through the small amount of skin in front of the cartilage wall, though it can be done through the cartilage as well.  This too is usually seen with smaller jewelry, such as a 14g Horseshoe or a 14g Captive Hoop, however people also stretch this piercing to fit larger Barbells or Plugs through it which can couple up with the Septril Piercing.
3. Septril Piercing - Sometimes referred to as the Jungle Piercing, this piercing is definitely going to bring some second even third glances.  It can be pierced two different ways.  The first, which requires a stretched Septum Piercing, is done through the bottom wall of the septum piercing and passes out downward through the bottom/front of the nose.  The second uses a slightly curved barbell with a flat end at one side and a ball at the other.  The piercing goes in through the side wall of the septum and curves downward to come out the bottom/front of the nose.  Both give the effect of a small ball or jewel sitting along the bottom edge of the skin of the septum.  Because this is an uncommon and somewhat specialized piercing, we suggest using only jewelry given to you by the piercer doing this.
4. Nose Tip Piercings - This spot is actually home to a few different piercings which I will explain:
   
   • Nasal Tip Piercing - Also known as a Vertical Nose Tip Piercing or the Rhino, this piercing can either start from the inner nostril and go out the tip of the nose, or have the entrance and exit hole be on the tip of the nose.
   • Austin Bar Piercing - Also known as a Horizontal Nose Tip Piercing, this piercing goes through the point of the nose without passing through the septum or show in the nostrils either.
5. Nasallang Piercing - Another uncommon piercing, this would be the nose equivalent to an industrial ear piercing as it passes through three separate holes.  This goes through the Nostril, passes through the Septum Cartilage, and then back out the other Nostril.  Though it could be done as three separate piercings, it is commonly done with one needle and replaced with an Industrial Barbell.  
6. Bridge Piercing - Though it is becoming more and more popular, this is still an uncommon piercing.  Passing horizontally through the fleshy part at the top of the nose between the eyes.  Usually leaving the balls of the barbell sitting flush against the piercing.  Usually a Barbell is worn but if it is a shallow piercing, some use a small Captive Hoop or 'D' Ring.
7. Vertical Bridge Piercing - Often referred to as the Third Eye Piercing or Unicorn Piercing, is a surface piercing set vertically between the eyes.  Usually using a Curved Barbell or with a Surface Bar.

 Till next time
Miles...

Double Nostril Piercing

Septum Piercing (with two Nostril Piercings)

Septril Piercing

Vertical Nose Tip Piercing (Rhino Piercing)

Nasallang Piercing

Bridge Piercing

Vertical Bridge Piercing (Third Eye/Unicorn)

Dermal Anchors...WTF?

For sometime now I have had a fascination with dermal anchors, however when I bring it up to my friends and co-workers I am often met with a confused look.  Even after I explain it to them they still don't really get it.  So I figure it would be a good idea to do a post about it.
A dermal implants is known by a few different names: Microdermal, surface anchor, or dermal anchor.  It is simply a flat plate sitting beneath the skin with a single exit hole for a barbell post, so it looks as though the jewelery is screwed directly into the body.
There are two widely used methods (not saying there are only two ways to do it, just two very popular methods) that are done to create the anchor.

1. Needle: The first method is done with a standard hollow point needle (usually a 10 gauge).  It is done very similar to a standard surface piercing though it is much faster. 
   
   
   • The entry is marked
   • The needle is then pushed through at a downward angle a few millimeters
   • The long end of the anchor is then pushed into the hole
   • Finally the short end is tucked in the hole as well
   This way works, however the chance of rejection is higher due to the fact that you have an angled hole in your skin which is a fairly straight path for the body to push it back out.
2. Punch and Taper: The second method uses a 1.5mm dermal punch instead of a needle and is rather fast in both the piercing and healing process.
   
   
   • The entry is marked
   • The skin is pinched
   • The dermal anchor is pressed in straight down making a hole perpendicular to the skin ending where the epidermis meets the dermis
   • The anchor is then inserted down then when it reaches the end of the hole, turned inward slightly separating the epidermis and the dermis
   The rejection rate of this method is at a surprisingly low < 2%.  The main reason is the angle of the hole, since the hole matches the shape of the anchor perfectly it does not require your body to contour to the jewelry, so your body just heals around it.

The healing process, as with any other piercing varies from artist to artist but are very similar to surface piercings.  Keep the area clean, dry, and free of irritants.  Healing time 1-3 months.

Until next time,
Miles...

New Week, New Jewelry #1

So we began carrying some amazing stone plugs, they are available in sizes 10g - 9/16".  We are hoping to get larger sizes soon (at least I am).  They are made very sturdy and the best part is since they are all stone, no pattern is the same so each piece is completely unique.  We have them in the following stones:

• Carnelian
• Fossil Insect Jasper
• Sodalite
• Green Aventurine
• Picture Jasper (shown)
• Imitation Turquoise
• Black Obsidian
• British Columbian Jade
• Lapis Lazuli
• Tiger Eye
• Imitation Malachite 

Find your size and check them out here!

Who am I?

With the millions of blogs being written in everyday I find it very difficult to take someone seriously when all I see is a decorative website, lots of text, and the occasional picture.  There's something about seeing who is writing what you are reading, and knowing something about them.  That being said, this blog I will be talking about myself and why I am here talking about body piercings and jewelry.  I find it much easier to list out the basics then go into more detail at the bottom so here it goes:

Keeping with the holiday times.

Name: Miles R.

Birthday: 12/03/1984

Hometown: Los Angeles

Life Goals: I have a list of about 30 major goals I wish to accomplish in my lifetime, however, the first I wish to focus on is opening a burger joint in Southern California.

Piercings: Right now I have Both lobes pierced and stretched to 3/4" and a 10g septum.  In the past I've had my lip done three times, a double monroe, and a transverse lobe.  As for future piercings I've been looking into getting a dermal anchor and a medusa. 

Tattoos: I'm sort of a large work in progress, at the moment I have a half done back piece, both sleeves started, rib piece on my right ribs almost done, lip, right butt cheek, left outer and inner ankle, right shin, both feet, and my finger webs.  Hopefully in the near future I can finish what I started.

Hobbies: I'm very into video games, hiking, body piercings and tattoos, burgers, web and graphic design, and traveling/exploring.  I don't like to turn down new experiences unless it's absolutely necessary.

Education: After I finished high school, I went on to do almost two years of college up in Oregon till I realized it wasn't for me.  So I came back to Southern California and taught myself web and graphic design.  Once I did that, tons of doors opened up for me, one of which eventually led me here.

Family: I was the first and only child between my parents.  They split up and from that I have a half sister on my mom's side and an adopted brother also on my mom's side.

Other than that, I have always been obsessed with the obscure and odd.  It was that love that brought me to body piercings and tattoos.  While in Oregon I became good friends with an APP certified piercer who would try out new ideas on me and taught me a lot about proper care and techniques.  Using his knowledge and my own ability to be self taught I began researching the proper way of piercing and aftercare.  In no way am I a pro and I will never claim that, however I feel I have knowledge in this area that I wish I would have had in the past.  Therefor I write here in order to help others that may just be starting out with body piercings and tattoos.  I might teach at times but I will forever be a student.

Till next time,

Miles...