Body Piercing News

The shop I work for is a bit of an oddity – we not only pierce and tattoo people but we also sell the supplies and piercing kits to do it yourself.  I get hit up all the time with the same question: Can you teach yourself to body pierce or tattoo?  Well, there isn’t really a clear answer on that one.  It really depends on YOU.  I mean, either you are a smart, self-motivated perfectionist (like me ) or you aren’t, and if you aren’t, I suggest you don’t quit that lawn-mowing job just yet.

I began my career buying a starter body piercing kit online that had videos and information on how to get registered with the health department.  I began poking myself first, and then talked a few of my loved ones into being guinea pigs.  Even though I didn’t know what I was doing yet, word got out and before I knew it I had everybody and their sister coming at me for piercings.  (FYI: You’ll find there’s never a shortage of takers in this world when the word ‘free’ is involved – and with the country’s economy on it’s ass, there’s more out there than ever that will let you practice on them.)  Once I got the hang of it I apprenticed myself at a shop and put the fine-tuning on the now world-famous Pokee technique.  About the only people that are going to tell you that you can’t do it yourself are the guys that see you as a threat to their livelihoods – they would rather have you doing shit work for free at their shops, sweeping floors, getting donuts, making coffee and cleaning up bloody messes, rather than doing what you should be doing with your time – piercing.  Even if you don’t mind being exploited like a sweat shop suzy and get an apprenticeship, you’ll still need to get your own starter body piercing kit so you’ll have the right equipment for the job. (Click on the link to go to the one I got mine at.)

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

That’s all I got for now,

Pokee

Is This Pokee?

Body piercing has evolved into a mainstream form of self expression.  People of all ages are getting body piercings as often (or more often) than any other form of body art.  The average body art enthusiast often has more piercings than tattoos or any other form of personal adornment.  But with the increase in popularity of piercing, has also come a demand for qualified body artists that has led to an overabundance of people piercing that have no business doing so.  Many novice piercers believe incorrectly that just because they have multiple body piercings that they are qualified to pierce others.  This is an unfortunate and dangerous trend that is resulting in more instances of infections and injuries.

A professionally registered and trained body art technician knows the questions that need to be asked prior to a procedure.  Along with proper pre-procedure and post-piercing aftercare information, your piercer should be asking you most or all of the following questions: are you pregnant, do you take medication for seizures, are you prone to fainting, have you eating anything recently, are you on blood thinning medication or intoxicated, to name a few.  If you are getting a body piercing (or tattoo) and you are not being asked these questions, you should leave immediately.  Not only is your body artist putting you in danger by not asking you these questions, but probably cutting corners in other areas such as sterility of body piercing supplies or in other ways that can jeopardize you.  Remember, always ask to see your piercer’s county health department permit and current blood-borne pathogen certification before you get started.  You should never get a piercing from someone that makes you feel uneasy, or who is evasive when asked those questions.  A legitimate body artists will be glad to answer any question you have because he/she has nothing to hide.

In the never-ending race to impress other people, sometimes one can take a good idea too far.  This photo is of a self-professed former geek, who after a few dozen facial tattoos, piercings and stretchings, now believes to be a card-carrying member of Club Cool.  The problem with such excess (espeically tattoos on the neck and face) is that they tend to attract the attention of law-enforcement, and have the opposite effect on potential employers.  What do you think?  Is this guy Cool or Fool?

While most body piercings are reversible (except micro-dermals and hyper-stretching), tattoos are permanent.  Make sure you give very careful thought to anything you undertake and that you seek the services of a licensed and trained body artist who uses sterile body piercing supplies at all times.

Before ten years ago, most body piercings were performed by tattoo artists.  This was due to the fact that up until then, body piercing was not nearly as popular as it is today.  Back then, there was no such thing as a body piercing specialist, nor had the term ‘master body piercer’ been coined.  Piercing was a trade that was passed down by tattoo artists and done out of necessity when things got slow in a shop.  Because piercing requires no artistic ability, tattoo artists look at piercing differently from tattooing – a mundane task that is much less profitable than their true love, tattooing.

The past five or six years has seen an explosion in body piercing.  Piercing has been embraced by everyone of all ages, races, and most religions no longer forbid piercing.  (Ironically, the bible discusses piercings in the Old Testament and how common they were in those times!)  Now people want choices in how (and whom) they are pierced by, and because of this factor a new trade has been born; the dedicated body piercer.  A dedicated body piercer is someone who has devoted themselves to only body piercing and the mastery of that.  They may or may not have background as a tattoo artist, but their appearance may be ‘ordinary’ and unoffensive.  A great number of people that are having their first body piercings done would rather purchase a body piercing kit (and do it themselves) than go into a tattoo shop full of ex-cons that ooze arrogance and attitude.  The proof of this is the explosion of companies now offering home piercing kits.  Most parents would prefer their daughters to get  pierced by someone that looks and acts closer to a mother or father than the typical tattoo artist.  Also, people are becoming aware of the vast differences between body artists that have current permits to pierce from the health department as opposed to renegade body artists that do not.  If you are fortunate enough to have a dedicated master body piercer in your city make sure you support them with your business.  You can still go to the tattoo shop for your tattoos but the best body piercings are always going to be performed by someone who specializes in piercing.

If you are an apprentice tattoo artist (either self-taught or working at a shop), you will eventually need to purchase your own tattooing equipment.  A tattoo kit can accomplish this for you, since a tattoo kit includes a tattoo machine, power supply, clip cord,  and foot pedal, plus other items you might need depending upon the price.

Similar to a starter body piercing kit, a tattoo kit should also include sterile tattoo needles, inks, ink cup holders, some practice skin, transfer paper, rubber bands, nipples and basic hardware.  If you are lucky, your tattoo kit will include instructions or a cd with flash designs you can print from your computer.  Some tattoo kits include streaming how-to videos or other instructional aids.  For quality tattoo kits and supplies click on the link in this article.

For many years, people assumed tattooing was just a fad, destined to become a thing of the past.  Now, tattoos have established themselves as ‘mainstream’ and are considered to be a normal expression of one’s individuality and accepted by most people in society.  Body piercing began surfacing in the late 80′s and early nineties, and was considered extreme by most people.

Now, body piercing of the ears, tongue, navel and other parts of the face has become so commonly practiced that it is now embraced by society as no longer a fringe activity, but a normal way to adorn oneself.  In fact, the exploding popularity of body piercing has created a demand for professional body piercers that is going unfilled.  It appears that body piercing, as with tattooing, is definitely here to stay

To many, a tattoo can have deep sentimental value, sometimes referring to a person in their life, or who who has passed on.  Body piercing on the other hand, may not seem as personal or have the emotional impact of a tattoo design, yet it can be very meaningful to the person who possesses it.  Body modifications for centuries have carried with them religious, spiritual and even sexual symbolic meanings.  Now, the proliferation of body piercing has made the practice so common that it appears to have lost some of it’s ritualistic value.

We at the BodyPiercingNews.com welcome your comments as to what your body piercings mean to you.  Why did you get your piercing?  Was it for looks, or was it for added sexual stimulation?  Or did your body piercing symbolize something deeper, or even spiritual to you?  We’d like to hear your thoughts and experiences on this subject and will incorporate some of our reader’s stories into future articles.

The body piercing industry is one of the very few industries that has actually grown during the recent recession.  More and more people of all races, ages and walks of life are sporting body piercings, tattoos and are stretching their ears.  The demand for professional body piercers has never been greater than now.  The question we get many times here at the Body Piercing News is ‘How Do I Get Started?’

First of all, there is no ‘license’ for body piercing (neither is there a ‘license’ for tattooing).  You must only fulfill the requirements of your city, county and state regarding blood borne pathogen training and Hepatitis B vaccinations (consult your county health department for the exact requirements).  Once fulfilled, you must then get two things; the proper body piercing tools and supplies (which can be obtained in a starter body piercing kit), and of course, experience (preferrably through apprenticeship to an experienced body piercer).  After that it’s up to you to decide whether you want to work in a shop environment or as a freelance independent body artist.  Remember, the more experience you have before you begin piercing professionally, the better for your client and yourself.

In short, if you are not working for a shop and you are actively tattooing (at your home or the homes of your customers) you are considered an independent tattoo artist.  Some of the best tattoo artists around are independent and do not work for a shop.  Why?  One reason is that sometimes what makes an artist great is that he/she is an individual and has a strong personality, which may not work in a shop environment.  Or, it may be that the artist is self-taught, refusing to be taken advantage of by a shop under the misused term ‘apprentice’.

This is not to say that all independent artists are talented, or that overall, they are superior to the artists working in a shop environment.  We are simply acknowledging them and want you guys and gals to know that we know you are there and we know the struggles you endure daily to purchase your tattoo and body piercing supplies without the bulk buying power of a shop.  We also know that you are slandered by the local shops around you and deemed ‘scratchers’ even though those that are calling you that started out as ‘scratchers’ themselves.  We commend you, independent body artists, and support your work, knowing also that if it wasn’t for you out there in our communities, the price of getting a tattoo at at shop would be astronomically higher.  Thank you for existing.

Body piercing when done by a professional piercer using sterile tools and body jewelry almost always is a safe and practical thing to do, unless you fall into one or more of the following conditions; you faint or bleed easily (or take blood-thinning medication), you are prone to seizures, you are pregnant, or you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

If you are prone to bleeding, fainting, seizures or other drastic physical reactions to trauma (which piercing is), you must mention this to your body piercer, and ideally, avoid getting pierced.  Also, if you are pregnant, you should not have a tattoo or body piercing of any kind during your term as you would be exposing the unborn child to a possible mortal infection.  And while many people feel more ‘courageous’ or claim to feel less pain while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is not a good idea to have a body piercing or tattoo done in this state since your judgement is impaired and you risk detrimental side-effects such as excessive bleeding (alcohol thins your blood) and other physical reactions.  Always have your body piercing or tattoo done with both eyes open and with a clear and sober mind.  You’ll be glad you did!