Ask me a question about body piercing

[Cloud]

what, no "Does it hurt?" or "why would you do that to yourself" or "is it true having a piercing makes sex better?" or "does the hole go all the way through?" or "I'm interested in piercing but am I too old?"

Here are stupid/funny answers to the stock questions:

http://bodyart.xiaan.com/thelist.html

but I'd rather have genuine questions!

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

edit: PS> i think that's the raunchiest thing i've ever seen from HMonkey

I just can't resist the dual combo of a bad pun and a reference to an extremely retro joke.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Cloud

what, no "Does it hurt?" or "why would you do that to yourself" or "is it true having a piercing makes sex better?" or "does the hole go all the way through?" or "I'm interested in piercing but am I too old?"

Here are stupid/funny answers to the stock questions:

http://bodyart.xiaan.com/thelist.html

but I'd rather have genuine questions!

Piercings and tats fall into the category of "If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand". I like both piercings and tats. To each his own I say. Personally I am not real big on anything on the face because I think it is a block to the conduct of normal business and everyday interactions with the general public.

[Hime]

Cloud, do you have pictures of your piercings? (assuming worksafe locations here...)

Also, how can you tell which shops are better to go to for piercings? I don't really know what to look for except, you know, no obvious rats or anything...

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Hime

Cloud, do you have pictures of your piercings? (assuming worksafe locations here...)

Also, how can you tell which shops are better to go to for piercings? I don't really know what to look for except, you know, no obvious rats or anything...

Try to find a master piercer. A lot of tat shops do them but I would choose very carefully. There should be some references on the web. I imagine that their is an organization you could reference. I would travel what ever distance possible to go to the right person.

[Cloud]

how to find a good piercer: of critical importance, really--there are an awful lot of bad hacks out there. Try to find the most experienced piercer you can, even if you have to travel--The Mercenary is on the right track here.

There are 2 things to look for: 1) a clean shop which follows local rules and proper sterilization techniques; and 2) a really good, experienced piercer who knows what they are doing.

How do you determine this? You ask questions. You go in first for a consultation and ask to see their sterilization procedures, the piercer's portfolio of piercings. How are you treated? Is the shop professional? What is their aftercare routine? (If they say, Bactine, alcohol, Dial soap, or antibiotic ointment--run).

The more adept and experienced a piercer is, the faster and surer your piercing will be. This mean--less pain!

As far as "master" piercers--there are really only a few real ones, designated as such by the old Gauntlet shop. The only other professional designation to look for is an Association of Professional Piercers shop (in the US). This means that the shop conforms to VERY rigid layout and sterilization techniques put forth by that organization. This does NOT refer to the skill of the individual piercer, though.

Here's a link to the APP--lots of really, really good info here, like--how to choose a piercer, what to look for in jewelry, up-to-date aftercare, etc. www.safepiercing.org

As for pictures--most of my piercings are NOT worksafe, 'cause, well--I'm an old lady, and like most older people, most of my piercings are hidden by clothing (the opposite of younger people, who tend to have lots of facial piercings), but here's one I can share:

[TheMercenary]

Cloud, we have all but a few of the complete series of PFIQ mags. That is when we got into it. Long before it has become mainstream.

[Cloud]

lucky you! I have been lucky enough to meet Jim Ward and see his collection of PFIQ and other stuff from the early Gauntlet.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Cloud

lucky you! I have been lucky enough to meet Jim Ward and see his collection of PFIQ and other stuff from the early Gauntlet.

We never met him but did meet the folks down in the LA shop once. We went there in 1985. Followed Jim and the group for a long time. Long before any of this ever became mainstream.

[Cloud]

Cool. Have you read Jim Ward's articles on BME about the early Gauntlet? Very interesting.

[Shawnee123]

NSFL!

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Cloud

Cool. Have you read Jim Ward's articles on BME about the early Gauntlet? Very interesting.

Were they in PFIQ? I do recall some stuff about how the shops came to being and when they moved to LA it was their first branch out from SF.

[Cloud]

not safe for . . . leisure suits?

[Cloud]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Were they in PFIQ? I do recall some stuff about how the shops came to being and when they moved to LA it was their first branch out from SF.

No, they are new--written within the last 5 years or so. Essential reading for anyone interested in the modern body piercing movement. Includes very enlightening discussion of Doug Malloy, and the origin of some of the more popular (and false) myths about the history of piercing (e.g., Roman Centurions had nipple rings to hold their cloaks). Here:

http://www.bmezine.com/news/jimward-all.html

BME's whole site is NSFW, and very squicky,so be warned.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Cloud

No, they are new--written within the last 5 years or so. Essential reading for anyone interested in the modern body piercing movement. Includes very enlightening discussion of Doug Malloy, and the origin of some of the more popular (and false) myths about the history of piercing (e.g., Roman Centurions had nipple rings to hold their cloaks). Here:

http://www.bmezine.com/news/jimward-all.html

BME's whole site is NSFW, and very squicky,so be warned.

Very cool! I remember Doug Malloy. There were a few other names who were earlier apprentaces.