Tips on Stretching Piercings and Gauging Earlobes

The following tips on stretching piercings are specifically aimed at gauging earlobes, where earlobe piercings can be enlarged to very large sizes to incorporate many different types of ear jewelry including awesome flesh tunnels.

Stretching piercings has been popular in many civilizations throughout history, taking many forms from gauging earlobes to stretching labret and septum piercings. In the very early periods of history the materials used were wood, stone, bone, horn, shells, claws and talons, shaped and carved to facilitate stretching piercings.

The oldest known incidence of humans gauging earlobes was discovered in 1991, in a glacier in the Otztal Alps between Italy and Austria, where a 5,300 year-old mummified body was found with tattoos and an earlobe piercing of between 7 mm and 11 mm diameter. Although the method used was known for definite, this may have been carried out by a method known as dead stretching, where progressively larger ear jewelry is forced through the hole that gradually increases in diameter.

Preparation

In preparation for gauging, make sure that you have a good anti-bacterial soap without perfume. Then you will need a sea salt solution - make it using three tablespoons salt in just enough water to dissolve it, and at least enough to bathe your earlobe in. Never use hydrogen or any other peroxide as antiseptic - the soap and salt solution are enough.

You will also need some warm water to bathe your ear with before each phase of ear stretching, or you could alternative have a warm shower first. This softens the ear and helps prevent tearing of the skin/scar that could lead to bleeding.

Finally, you will need some lubricant: avoid Vaseline or any other mineral oil or petroleum-based lubricant. Most tips on stretching piercings recommend emu oil and jojoba, each of which offers gentle antiseptic and skin conditioning properties while acting as a perfectly adequate lubricant.

Gauging Earlobes

When stretching piercings, the two recommended methods are the taper method and the Teflon method. The taper method involves inserting a tapered rod or pin into the piercing, the narrow end being of the same gauge as the piercing, and the broader end one gauge down. The size of the taper is that of the desired gauge of piercing. So if your piercing is 16g, the taper will be a 14g taper, ranging from 16g to 14g. These are equivalent to 1.2 mm to 1.6 mm.

Never use a taper any more than one step down. However, since piercing gauges are always even numbers, one step down is 16g to 14g or 12g to 10g. Also, as the gauge figures drop, the actual diameter increases. So while 16g is 1.2 mm, 10g is 2.4 mm.

There are a number of different types of taper, including a tapered pin on ear jewelry, so you simply insert ear jewelry tapering from your current gauge to the new one. The problem here is that a fully tapered pin will not stretch your ears evenly - the pin has to be of the same diameter all the way through, or your piercing might also be stretched with a taper.

To overcome that, you can use an insertion rod, which is a tapered rod of about 3 inches. After warming your ears with the warm water or shower, and washing them with anti-bacterial soap, apply the lubricant to the taper and slowly work it through. Once it reaches the thicker end, follow it through with ear jewelry of the new size, and you are done. Wipe off excess lubricant and clean the ear with anti-bacterial soap and then some of the salt solution.

An even safer way is to wind a layer of non-adhesive Teflon tape round the pin of your ear jewelry and push it through the lobe. If you can see any space at all when you pull on the ring, then you can safely do this. Wait until the ear has accepted it then do it again, and so on until you have reached the new size, when you can use larger ear jewelry.

If there has been any severe pain or the piercing bleeds, then you must stop immediately and allow the piercing to heal properly before trying again. If you try stretching piercings too soon, before they have fully healed, then you can tear the skin and even have a blowout, both of which will make it difficult to stretch again.

Gauging Earlobes: After-Care

After-care when gauging earlobes is fairly straightforward. It should not be so much a matter of tending after a piercing until it heals, but more keeping it clean, and turning the new sized jewelry now and again. You are waiting until the ear has accepted the new size of hole permanently so that you can perhaps change the hole diameter once more. The stretched skin has to be allowed to thicken and get harder - give about three times longer than your original piercing took to heal. If you want to use a flesh tunnel, then you can continue stretching piercings until the diameter reaches an appreciable size.

Done properly, and following the above tips, stretching piercings is safe and relatively easy to do. Many extend the diameter of their piercings this way, and gauging earlobes is likely the most popular form of pierce stretching carried out at the moment. Take your time - waiting is difficult, but if your ear is not ready for the next stretching it will likely be damaged.

More tips on stretching piercings can be found on Flesh Tunnel where you will also find a selection of Ear Stretching Tools and some great ear jewelry and flesh tunnels.

Gauging Ears With Stretched Piercings

Stretch piercings in your ear lobes can be obtained by gauging ears to a specific piercing size, either in one go or by means of several successive earlobe stretchings. A lot depends on how large you want your piercing to be, and anything that one gauge more than the last will involve more than one stretching.

Gauging ears is carried out using 'gauge numbers' that refer to a specific diameter of hole. For example, gauge 20 is written as 20g, and that refers to a piercing of 0.8 mm in diameter. 18g refers to a piercing of 1 mm in diameter, so as the gauge numbers drop then the diameter increases. Also, gauges drop in twos, so that there are no odd gauge numbers. Thus, the sequence goes: 20g, 18g, 16g, 14g and so on to 00g. Therefore one gauge step down is from one even number to the next and from a lower piercing diameter to a higher.

When gauging ears you should stretch piercings by only one gauge step. So, if you want to change from 16g to 14 g (1.2 mm to 1.6 mm) you can do so in one step. However, if you wanted to go from a 16g to an 8g (1.2 mm to 3.2 mm) you would have to do that in four steps, involving four stretched piercings, each of one gauge level.

When you have your earlobes pierced with the intention of increasing the gauging to a fairly high diameter for some gorgeous large-diameter bars you have seen or even a cool flesh tunnel, then first consider the initial diameter - the greater the initial diameter then the fewer ear lobe stretching steps you will have to undergo to reach your preferred diameter. Do not have your ears pierced in a shopping mall with a gun because these generally pierce at 20g or 18g at the most.

Start With a Professional Piercing

Have the initial ear lobe piercing carried out by a professional using a needle. It is well worth the extra expense, and a pro will pierce your earlobes to 16g, thus saving yourself a whole step of gauging ears to your target size. Let the professional know your intention and you will be given some expert advice, and you might even agree to have the pro do the gauging for you.

It is possible for people to do their own stretched piercings themselves, and most do to be honest, but only once they are certain that the initial piercing has completely healed. If you begin too soon you might blow out the piercing or split the skin, and any attempts to gauge your ears after that might be impossible. Gauging ears is a skill that has to be learned, so follow all the advice you find if you want to be able to wear these fabulous barbells you have seen.

It is also essential to wait until each stretching has properly settled, the skin thickening and hardening properly, before going onto the next gauge. This will take about 3 times the time for the initial piercing to heal, but don't rush it.

Ear Jewelry: When Gauging Ears and After

The ear jewelry available for stretched piercings is fabulous. When choosing the jewelry to wear during the process of gauging ears you should keep potential infection and allergies in mind, and surgical stainless steel and titanium are best. However, once you have reached your target gauge and your stretched piercings have fully healed, you have a wonderful world of amazing jewelry in materials too brittle to be used in high gauge pins or barbells.

You can use bone, horn, wood, stone and even amber and glass, many of which also help the piercing to stay clean and not get clogged with oils from your skin. You can also use metal and acrylic ear jewelry in many shapes and sizes. Many are happy with large studs, while others prefer large diameter hoops, barbells and regular earrings. Others love to wear solid cylindrical plugs, either flared or held by o-rings and ear weights made of any material under the sun, though silver, bronze, brass and copper are common. The really wealthy have theirs made in solid gold.

Flesh Tunnels Are Popular

An alternative to the regular type of ear jewelry is type of hollow plug known as a flesh tunnel. These are particularly used for the larger diameter stretched piercings, and when gauging ears this is often the ultimate objective. Flesh tunnels are available in many different materials and are held in place in much the same way as the plugs: with flares, o-rings or with a screw on back piece. Some people have beaded or other forms of decorative elements threaded through their flesh tunnels, and they are frequently worn as a mark of just how far a person has managed to go with their stretched piercings.

Gauging ears with stretched piercings is therefore carried out by people both for their decorative effect and as a means of displaying their ear stretching skills. Whatever your reason is, keep in mind the gauge of your initial piercing and that everything involved in gauging ears must be sterilized and kept clean and free from germs. Make sure each stage is fully healed before starting the next, and you should have no real problems.

Mehndi or Henna is used for weddings and traditional functions in South East Asia as temporary Henna tattoos and patterns. The henna tattoos are much smaller tattoo designs such as a heart or a bird on the arm or shoulders, but the traditional Arabic mehndi designs are usually adopted by women on weddings and traditional holidays such as Eids. The Arabic mehndi designs are quite unique and can be distinguished by their intricate designs.

In South East Asia there is a separate wedding function called mehndi where there are dances, songs and the bride gets imprinted with mehndi designs. Traditionally a bride gets henna designs on her hands, arms and feet. The purpose of these designs is to make the bride look pretty. There are countless types of designs from the completely heavy up to the forearm designs to the minimum and low patterned designs.

The good thing about the design is that you can make it look good with just about any way you go, from loops and swirls to flower patterns and even simple line designing. Sometimes people go by starting from the little finger and working their way to the forearm leaving the rest of the fingers blank. Some brides prefer small and simple designs on their feet while others want heavy patterns till their ankles. It is all about what the bride wants and how creative the artist can be. Other than the bride, the close friends and relatives also put design their hands with the henna although they are usually not as heavy as the bride's design.

Mehndi designs are also used by little girls on Eids, Diwalis and different traditional functions. The weddings are usually seen with little girls and all the females wanting to get their hands decorated with different designs on their hands and arms. There are many catalogues also available with the most popular Arabic mehndi designs such as florals and small designs that people can copy if they like.

The art of mehndi designing is something that anyone can master with a bit of practice and can create new designs according to their liking. The good thing about henna designs is that anything will eventually look good if the designs complement each other, such as floral would go well with vine like designs while some people prefer random patterns. Arabic designs usually end in a narrowing pattern along the forearm. So no matter what the occasion mehndi designs can easily be used to add to the beauty of young women.

The nose screw is very small jewelery which is normally made out of bent metal and can be placed through an already pierced hole which may be on either side of the nose. It is generally worn by woman of all ages.

Nose screws are generally embedded with gemstones or other ornamentations to make them look even more attractive.

Though initially for the beginners it can be a daunting task to insert it the nose, a piercing technician can easily demonstrate the insertion and the removal technique of this fashion wear.

1. DESCRIPTION OF NOSE SCREW

A nose screw is one of various types of jewelery used for piercing of the nose. While one side of the jewelery is a ball embedded with some finial or gemstones, the other end is tapered which helps the lead end to make way through the piercing. It is essential that this jewelery must be made out of hypo-allergenic material such as gold, silver, platinum, surgical grade stainless steel and sometimes even of glass.

2. VARIOUS STYLES OF NOSE SCREWS

Generally these screws are available in three unique styles. The most popular of this jewelery type is the straight one, which is generally described as a small piece of metal which is of an "L" bent. However, even though not so popular nowadays, it can also be found in semi-curved "C" shapes like that of a corkscrew, consisting of both right and left bends.

3. SIZING OF THE NOSE SCREW

Nose screws can be of various sizes. It may be sometimes tailored made or found readily available in the jewelery shops in various thickness or gauges which normally ranges from 13-21 gauge and from top to bottom it is generally 4-9 mm, in its length.

4. HISTORY OF THE NOSE SCREW

Piercing of the nose has remained a part of ornamentation of the face since the ancient times. It is an old tradition and has often been seen with both men and women in the ancient days in the African countries and especially for women in India. The act of nose piercing has also been seen with the Biblical characters as old as 2nd century BC.

However with the advent of the modern-day hippie culture, nose piercing became very popular in the Western countries during the 1960's and has still remained in fashion with almost all fashionable European woman as of now.

5. FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Nose piercing is generally performed with a piercing gun or with the help of a sterilized surgical needle. The act of piercing is mostly done with the help of trained personals to make the nose piercing precise and also painless. Once the piercing is completed, the piercer inserts the nose screw which is not replaced until the piercing in the nose has got itself healed. For once it is removed while the piercing is still raw; it becomes difficult to get back the nose screws down through the pierced hole once again. It generally takes about three to four days to get the nose healed and back in its shape.

These types of piercings may not appeal to you, but with this information you may now be able to decide if this is what you want to get when you step into the piercing shop.

Stretching earlobes is becoming increasingly more popular as normal body piercings and cartilage piercings are becoming commonplace. Young people want to look different to their peers, and one to do this in a visible way is to increase the diameter of their piercings to hold increasing larger forms of jewelry. Ears are among the most visible, and the most suited to such decorations as thick studs and flesh tunnels.

One problem with respect to stretching earlobes is that it is recommended that you do it yourself, since only you know when you are not hurting - once it begins to become particularly sore, an earlobe gauging should be stopped, and held until either the pain stops or the piercing is properly healed.

Piercing earlobes is a standard technique that even amateurs can do (though not recommended) but stretching earlobes must be done either by a professional who fully understands the problems involved, or by yourself because only you know how much pain you are experiencing.

Here are some tips on stretching earlobes: they do not include the actual stretching other than a brief resume on the basic technique, but are intended principally to keep your earlobes healthy and clean during the procedure.

When Stretching Earlobes is Safe

Your earlobes are safe to stretch only once the original piercing has fully healed, and the same is true of each stage when stretching them. Stretching earlobes is also known a 'gauging' due to the terminology used in measuring the sizes of the hole through your lobe.

You would generally begin with a 0.8 mm to 1.0 mm, which are respectively 20 gauge - or 20g - and 18g. A professional can use a needle to give you a 16g hole which is ideal to start off with. This is about 1.2 mm - 1.3 mm. You can however, also commence gauging using a 16g taper with a 20g hole.

Gauge Sizes

Although a professional needle piercing is best for stretching earlobes a gun will do, but the hole will likely not be as straight as a with needle. Begin with the next size below that of your piercing. If you are not sure what that is, then you should be OK to start with a 16g taper. Basically, stretching is carried out using a tapered needle, one end starting at the size of your current piercing, and the other end one size above.

This is where it can get confusing, because for some reason gauges reduce with increasing diameter, and also do so in steps of 2 - so they are always even. Thus, if you start with a 16g as you should do, the thicker end will be 14g. Simple insert the narrow end into your piercing and work it through until the thicker end just enters your ear.

Taper Options

Now, you have three options: with an insertion taper, you will place the pin of a 14g earring, or some other jewelry, against the end of the 14g end as it is pushed through, and then follow the pin through and fix it as normal. Another form of smaller rod, known as a spike, is designed just to stay there until you are ready for the next size, and a third type is ear jewelry with a tapered pin. Simply insert the pin and you are set until it has healed.

The first option is best because the jewelry pin is the same diameter all the way, while tapered jewelry is thicker at one end and thinner at the other, so your hole may heal at different widths front to back.

Tips on Stretching Earlobes

However, this is not about the mechanics, but about how to care for your earlobes and for yourself, so here are some important tips on stretching earlobes:

1. Do not start until your piercing has healed, including any previous earlobe stretching carried out. Otherwise it will be too painful and can become infected.

2. Have a shower before starting - the warm water will soften you ears and will help prevent tearing of the skin that can lead to infection farther down the road.

3. Buy a non-scented anti-bacterial soap and clean your earlobes with it before and after gauging. 4. Use a solution of 3 tablespoons sea salt in enough water to dissolve it, and use that to soak your earlobes with. Doing this daily should prevent any infection that could ruin the stretching.

5. Never use plastic, silicone or double flared plugs for new stretches - gold, platinum, stainless steel, surgical steel or glass are suitable. Silver is OK, and anti-bacterial, but it can tarnish.

6. Turn the insert daily to prevent sticking or crusting - after a shower is best.

7. Never try to accelerate the process by missing a size.

8. Keep in mind that once you reach about 2g stretching earlobes is liable to be a permanent change, so you will always have to wear something in your ear

If you follow these tips on stretching earlobes, you should find it to be a fairly simple procedure. It might be slightly painful, but no more than that, and it is stressed that if it is, and if you see bleeding, then stop, insert your original stud and wait until your piercing has healed completely. This can take up to 3 months, and you may have a wait of 3 weeks to 3 months between earlobe stretching steps.

Knowing how to carry out ear lobe stretching properly can help save you from a great deal of pain and grief, because if carried out the wrong way, stretching earlobes can damage your ears.

Ear lobe stretching, also known as ear lobe gauging or earlobe stretching, is a very old practice used by old civilizations as a status symbol or for religious reasons. It was not just restricted to earlobes, and was applied to lips, tongues and other parts of the body, sometimes to monumental levels. The same basic technique is used in each case, irrespective of the part of the body concerned.

Most ear lobe stretching, or gauging, is followed by ear jewelry designed to fit the expanded hole in the lobe. These can be traditional earrings, hanging decorations or even flesh tunnels designed to emphasis the hole through the ear lobe. These can be made of plastic or metal, and often gold since it is a non-allergenic metal.

The first stage is to have your ears pierced in the normal away, although if you intend to stretch the piercing then it is strongly advised that you have the initial piercing carried out by a professional who can pierce your ear to 16 gauge, or 1.2-1.3 mm. The actual millimeter equivalents of the various gauging can vary between sources, but most non-pros can pierce to gauge 20 - 18 (0.8 - 1.0 mm). Needle piercing is preferred to a gun if you intend stretching it.

Gauging drops with increasing hole diameter, so the higher the g number, the smaller the ear piercing. It is very important that your piercing has healed before you start ear lobe stretching, and also that each stage has healed (3 weeks- 3 months according to the person) before going on to the next stage. Never skip sizes, but go up in size (down in gauge) from one level to the next.

Get your tools together, because without the right stretching tools you will make a total mess of it. Never use plastic or wood that can hold bacteria. Surgical steel is best, followed by gold and so on. It must be metal - if you can. If you can, get the tapers autoclaved by a tattoo salon then placed in a clean wrap for you take home. Otherwise boil them first. You should wash the taper with disinfectant before use, and then rub it over with a lubricant such as emu oil or jojoba oil - or anything water based. Vaseline and other oil-based lubricants can store germs, so don't use these.

Here are the steps:

Preparation

First have a shower or wash your ears with warm water. This makes them softer and helps prevent tearing. Then wash your hands and earlobe with an anti-bacterial soap - preferably not perfumed. Smear the antiseptic over the taper and then you are all set to start.

Ear Lobe Stretching Methods

There are many methods you can use, such as tapering, Teflon taping, weights and scalpeling that involves cutting out the larger hole with a scalpel, but it is not recommended that you try that yourself! The old method, used by Africans for their ears and lips, involves hanging a weight form the piercing and stretching the hole mechanically. Again not recommended!

The best way for you to use yourself is tapering. There are three basic ways of doing this, but the principle is the same with each: you insert the thin end of the taper into your healed piercing and then work the taper through until the thicker end is reached. There are now three possibilities for tapered ear lobe stretching:

Insertion Taper: This is about 3 inches long, and is gradually inserted into the ear. The earring or other jewelry is inserted right at the back (thicker) of the end of the taper, and then all are pushed right through. The taper comes out and the ring with the larger pin is in your ear.

Taper Spike: This is inserted in the same way as the insertion taper, only the jewelry doesn't follow. The spike is retained in the hole with elastic bands until it has healed and then the next size is inserted - and so on until the required gauge has been reached.

Taper Ring: The earring itself has a tapered spike that is inserted in the same as above, and then fixed as normal.

Teflon: Basically you add a layer or two of Teflon tape to your ear jewelry and force it into your piercing. Wait a few weeks and then do the same again and so on. It works eventually, but is not as guaranteed as the tapering methods to reach any specific size, and is basically a simple DIY method. This could be tried if you can't afford the tapers, and not subject to bacterial infection as the other types of polymers or plastics.

You can also use the dead stretching method, involving simply forcing the larger ear jewelry into your smaller piercing. This can hurt and is not recommended, although many use it. It can go wrong if it causes bleeding.

After-Care of Ear Lobe Stretching

Irrespective of the method used, the ear lobe should be washed with anti-bacterial soap after each stretching. Sea salt can be used to keep the piercing clean at a high concentration (about 3 tablespoons in sufficient water to soak your ear lobe in it). Clean it frequently until fully healed before carrying on with the next gauge. Never use any alcohol-based or peroxide-based antiseptic because they can destroy white blood cells and dehydrate the cells around the piercing.

Stick to these rules and you should be able to carry out your own ear lobe stretching and get the result that you want. One important thing to remember: this should not hurt much, and should not bleed. In either of these cases stop, wait until your piercing has healed and try again.

Tongue piercing has become extremely popular nowadays for quite a number of reasons which include pleasure enhancement, shock value and social appearances. If you desire to get your tongue pierced it is worth noting that you must do your research before doing so.

There are several important factors those that must be taken into account before getting your tongue pierced. Before you even step foot into the piercing shop you must have substantial knowledge about the aftercare that you will need to perform.

Here are a few tips that would make your piercing easier for you and get yourself healed up within the minimum possible time.

1. Primarily the most important factor in tongue piercing is that you must always get it done by a certified piercing professional since it reduces the risk by a great extent.

2. Since the tongue has one of the toughest muscles in your body there may be a little pain involved in tongue piercing procedure. You are advised to remain well prepared for that during the procedure and not to become unnecessarily paranoid because of the pain. Extraordinary stress and tension in such a case may make it hurt more.

3. In order to avoid infections make sure to use a clean and hygienic barbell while piercing your tongue.

4. Use long barbells as the tongue may get swollen after the piercing procedure. A long barbell always helps to accommodate the swelling.

5. For tongue piercing aftercare it is advisable to take in liquid diets for a few days until your tongue is completely healed of the punctured wound. Generally it takes about two weeks for a complete healing.

6. Frequent use of mouth wash kills the useful bacteria in our oral cavity like lingual antimicrobial peptide and ptyalin. Limit washing your mouth with mouthwash to no more than twice a day.

7. Remember to wash your hands with antibacterial soap as a part of tongue piercing aftercare before touching the piercing.

8. Consume cold water frequently to tackle the swelling of the tongue. You may also crush some ice cubes and put them inside your mouth around the pierced area.

9. Avoid eating hard food objects like chocolates and chips. Instead try to eat ice cream in greater quantity.

10. Try to regularly rotate the barbell.

11. Check that the barbell remains tightened before going off to sleep as you may swallow a loose barbell or may get stuck inside your throat.

12. Do not indulge in any kind of oral sex and continue with all your tongue piercing aftercare until the piercing has got itself completely healed.

13. Avoid swimming or smoking until the piercing wounded has been fully healed.

A vertical labret piercing, which is often called a snake bite piercing, involves two horizontal piercings on the opposite sides of the mouth which makes it looks like a snake bite.

Among all type of piercings lip piercing has become extremely popular and fashionable nowadays.

However it is extremely important to keep your lips clean with a snakebite piercing as it helps to prevent infections in the pierced area.

In order to keep your keep your lip piercing clean here are thirteen killer tips that may help you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

1. Make sure that you wash your hands clean of all contamination before you touch your pierced spot. If someone else touches it other than you make sure they wash their hands before touching your piercing.

2. If there is any inflammation after piercing be sure to take Ibuprofen with medical guidance to keep the swelling and tenderness at a bay and reduce the pain in the affected zone.

3. Consult your piercer and take Vitamin B along with zinc supplements before the piercing procedure and after the piercing to improve your healing.

4. Clean the pierced area with mild antibacterial non-perfumed soap and lukewarm water and rinse it with a cotton ball.

5. Gently remove any crusty build up that may have formed around the pierced area with warm water at least twice in a day.

6. Brush your teeth twice daily with a soft bristled toothbrush and medicated toothpaste containing low fluoride contents. Floss your teeth after brushing which helps to get rid of the bacterial formation inside the oral cavity.

7. Rinse your mouth with saltwater to speed up the snakebite piercings healing process.

8. Rotate your piercing jewelry at least twice a day so that it does not get stuck and make you land up with an improper healing of the pierced zone.

9. It's best to avoid drinking, eating or smoking within the first couple of hours after the piercing.

10. Sanitize your mouth after eating, smoking or drinking with a medicated oral sanitizer.

11. Completely avoid any sort of oral sex till the wound has healed completely.

12. Preferably eat ice creams, yogurts, cold foods or suck on chipped ice lollipop ice-cream or keep an ice block inside your mouth twice in a day for the first two weeks after piercing. It has been observed that cold things help to reduce pain and reduce the swellings after snakebite piercings.

13. Do not remove or try to replace the jewelry under any circumstances unless it is recommended by the piercer, as the pierced holes closes up very quickly and it becomes extremely painful to reinsert the jewelry in case of such occurrences.

People who choose to wear rings in their belly button often forget that there is the option of wearing reverse belly button rings. The name comes from that fact that the ring is structured in such a way that it fits into the bottom of the belly piercing and hangs from the top. Apart from being fashionable the ring also has a lot of advantages which is apparent to its users once they wear it.

A majority of the popular belly rings that are presently available in the market are the top down belly button rings, dangle belly button rings and the playboy belly rings. These often come with various zodiac sign symbols and playboy tag attached to it for girls who want to display their sensual side as a wearer of the ring.

Nowadays diamond studded rings are also available for the rich and the famous in all well know and fashionable jewelery shops in town.

ADVANTAGES OF REVERSE BELLY BUTTON RINGS:

1. The primary advantage of a reverse belly ring is that it is considered much safer to wear in comparison to other standard rings. It is structurally designed in such a way that it makes the ring hard to get attached to clothing, which happens to other types of belly rings.

2. It is also an often occurrence that other sort of belly rings can get caught to a passing object or person and if it accidentally gets torn off it may cause severe pain to its user. Belly ring wearers are often aware and cautious of this scenario and want to avoid such painful incidents under all circumstances.

3. Reverse belly button rings also come in a number of fashionable shapes and sizes to suit the varied taste and style of its wearers. The most popular shapes include butterflies and flowers. If you are looking for something simpler you can go for bar shaped piercings which displays a smart and elegant look.

4. Whether you are looking for a trendy one or for a simple looking fashionable belly rings, reverse belly button rings are always there to serve you with a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Compared with standard rings, these reverse belly button rings have much more variety.

5. Another major advantage of the reverse belly rings is that the typically hanging look of the object makes it more fashionable to buy than the normal ordinary belly rings and if you haven't considered buying one yet it's time that you consider wearing one now.

6. BONUS - Tribal reverse belly button rings are growing in popularity. Be sure to consider this style when shopping for jewelry.

Christine Crotts has written several articles on body piercings and how to design your own tattoo.

The navel is one of the most sensual and erogenous parts of your body and what better sight than glittering belly piercing jewelry teasing one from a well toned slender stomach. There was no sign of navel rings until 1994, when super model Christy Turlinton not only introduced but also immortalized the fashion of body piercing. She walked the ramp at a fashion show in London flaunting her bare midriff with a ring in the middle of her navel. Following her Naomi Campbell flaunted her bare midriff with a gold belly button ring.

there is a great variety of body jewelry available for navel piercing; surgical steel rings, 14k and 22k gold plated surgical steel, titanium rings, rings with charms on them and captive bead rings, barbells and labarets. You can also have crystal beads or gold plated beads as an extra feature on any of the available rings. And after the piercing is healed you can hang a charm off the ring or put a waist chain through it. Navel jewels can also be worn, they are like a bent barbell with a small ball on top and a larger ball on the bottom which has a gemstone set in it, the gemstone sits in your navel

the two most common designs for belly piercing jewelry are the belly ring and the belly bar. Piercing is done with either the rings or the curved bars. The curved bars have two balls at each end, to close the bars. Normally, these balls have inscriptions or pictures on them.

While selecting navel jewelery, two measurements should be kept in mind the width of a ring and the diameter of the bar, which refers to the length of the bar. Jewelery comes in varying sizes and thickness or the gauge of the piece. Thin jewelery will have larger gauge numbers and vice-versa. The typical size for a belly button ring is 14g 7/16' but now belly rings in any gauge and in any length from a quarter to one inch are freely available.

The most commonly used material is steel. Plain or surgical steel with acrylic or steel balls are used for piercing. The other choices in metal are gold 14 carat or 18 carat. Titanium and silver are all used for belly piercing jewelery. The use of nickel is not recommended.

Belly button piercing is the second most pierced body part after the ears. Belly piercing jewelery is very sensuous both to wear and watch.

Are piercings attractive for men and women to wear, or are they merely annoying distractions from what a person's true appearance is. Nose and lip piercings are attributed a lot to the Gothic realms of society, but it is increasingly common nowadays for all members of society to don a stud somewhere on their body. In fact the more and more we venture into the time of free speech and liberation, people are beginning to run out of places to get piercings. A piercing on the ear lobe can be seen as quite classy but aside from that it is seen as a bit radical and alternative. Can these be seen as attractive?

I personally don't find any women attractive that have piercings in any other places other than on their ear lobe. For many however a tongue piercing can be particularly alluring, especially if the suitor is attractive. There are many women out there who do have a ridiculous amount of piercings, but if used in the correct way then there is definitely a market out there for piercings on women. The punk chick look is in, with the likes of soft rock singer in pink leading the way. Some piercings can promote promiscuity; a view is taken by some that if they are loose enough to mask their face with piercings then they may well be loose enough to sleep around. That is a very vague and inaccurate misconception however, because obviously what a woman has pierced says nothing about her morals and values.

Piercings are somewhat fashionable at the moment however, along with tattoos and the assumption that piercings will only become more common in modern society. This means that if more of us have piercings, then surely more of us are going to be finding people with piercings attractive. So even if there are some people who think piercings are hideous and aren't attractive to girls, we all have to acknowledge the fact that there are many girls who are attractive not only because of the way they look naturally, but the way in which they accessorize their piercings in order to look attractive. It will always divide opinion but and everybody has a different view of what is attractive so who are we to judge anybody for their taste. If they want their nipple pierced or even anywhere more radical, then that is their choice and there is someone out there who is looking just for that.

In the 1940's, movie producers were banned from showing belly buttons on the big screen. In order to get around this limitation, Hollywood actresses were actually made to wear gems or jewels in their navels so they don't actually show. This is practically about the time when navel piercing is said to have begun.

No one can exactly pin point where such piercing actually started, although others believed that the tradition began long ago in Rome, Greece, and Egypt. According to history, it was customary for these cultures to decorate their bodies with piercing and tattoos. Although cultures may have changed over time, the tradition of belly rings continues to be very popular nowadays.

The term navel piercing seems inappropriate to use since in reality, the pierced area is actually the skin directly above the navel and not the navel itself. Thus, a person can basically have a piercing done on the bottom and sides of the navel as he pleases. In order to allow the pierced area to heal easily, a standard barbell is generally used by piercers in piercing the belly button. Generally, belly buttons have their own special kind of barbells.

Even though navel piercings are generally considered safe, getting a piercing actually involves a certain degree of risk. Some of the most common side effects of a navel piercing include pain at the swelling site, scarring, infection, and swelling. These are practically some of the things that you should anticipate if you are planning to have a belly button.

Before getting a navel piercing, you should carefully think about it. Getting one does not only require you to be physically ready, but emotionally ready as well. More than anything else, you should seek for credible body piercers. Getting credible piercers might be a little costly but it is certainly worth every penny you pay compared to the risks that you might face in paying less. More than anything else, you have to make sure that the tools used in piercing are thoroughly sterilized in order to minimize infections and other risks.

Today, belly buttons are becoming more and more popular. Although a belly button piercing can take four months to one year to heal, many people would still want to have one. This is not very surprising though since navel piercings are considered beautiful and a great way of flaunting natural beauty and enhancing one's personal style.

Therefore if you are interested in getting a navel piercing, you should make sure you know all the risks involved and is willing to take it. Fortunately, there are a lot of piercing services that are offered online which makes it easier and more convenient for you to decide on the perfect navel piercing that you want for yourself.

Navel piercing is a relatively old in the world of piercing. This was once considered as a private place was piercing. Today, more adventurous have added a lot more body parts to their list of piercings, thereby making navel piercing relatively normal.

Does a pierced navel look more attractive?

It is not the navel that would look beautiful, here the entire area of your belly would start looking totally different after you have pierced it. Belly button is the very center of your body. During summer when you wear smaller and lighter clothes, it can become easily visible. For those who want to attract attention could use jewelry that definitely accentuate the way your stomach and belly area looks like.

For those who have slim waists will tend to gain a lot! A very slim waist does not become as attractive always. Putting on some jewelry will add some mystery as well as a lot of color, shine and sexiness to the belly thereby making it lovelier and more interesting. For those with toned bodies a lovely belly button ring would make you look sexier.

You can always own more than one ring. Basically, for those who would like to use some other jewelry in private and make a change according to outfits can do so easily. Navel piercing is easy to heal and at the same time, it is easier to maintain especially after change of season. You can quite easily remove these rings therefore, this does not lead to unnecessary pain or discomfort.

Summer time is the time to flaunt your body. This is also the season for vacationing and holidaying. Enjoying on the beach is imperative; you can attract most attention with body piercing jewelry which is both adventurous and cool. Age and sex are not the factors that determine whether or not you should wear navel rings.

There are a variety of jewelry you can wear for your navel. Wear rings, barbells, studs, etc. in your navel piercing. You can enjoy a frequent change of jewelry.

A wide range and choice of shopping in the jewelry range makes it easier to own what you dreamed of. You can always check out a wider range of products for gifting or shopping some of the most coveted stuff for lesser! Enjoy!

With summer just around the corner, many women are preparing to debut their belly rings. If you spend your summer days at the beach or by the pool, you know how a little jewelry can really compliment that body you have been working on all year long. If you are very active in the summer, you will want to avoid jewelry that could easily get caught and pull. Dangling jewelry can also hurt you and push into you if your clothes are too tight. If you are new to wearing a piercing in your mid-section, it's best to start off with a simple stud to ensure your health and safety. Feel free to explore your full options once you feel more comfortable and your piercing has fully healed.

Choosing the right belly rings is crucial to maintaining a nice midriff. If you end up purchasing jewelry that is cheap or has bad metals such a nickel, your skin could become irritated and it could lead to an infection. This is why it is very important to understand what your jewelry is made with prior to purchasing it. Don't be afraid to go online to shop for this type of thing so you have the ability to really study things and understand your options.

If you do find your belly rings are causing problems in your piercing, the first thing you should do is take them out. Ensure that the area stays clean and free of any harmful metals. If the area turns red and starts leaking fluids, chances are you have an infection. If you can't seem to get rid of it on your own, you should not hesitate to go to the doctor. They should be able to help you get it cleared up within a few days. Before you know it you can be back on the beach.

You can accessorize all year long but there are certain types of body jewelry which are lots more fun sparkling in the summer sun. Toe rings and ankle bracelets just aren't as easy to do in seasons where socks and boots are required. Likewise, belly button rings have more impact when you are wearing midriff tops and bikinis rather than sweaters and coats.

Summer is thankfully right around the corner so now is the time to think about the type of body jewelry you want to wear with your shorts and halter tops. What do you want to show off "below the neck?" Rings, barbells and studs that decorate your nose, ears and eyebrows are perfect all year long because the "above the neck" part of your body is always visible. Now that we can start shedding the heavy clothes and show some skin, it is time to polish up what we already have or think about adding to our collection of body jewelry.

Is this the year you will get your navel pierced? Belly button rings have never been more popular. If you have spent the winter exercising and getting your abs in shape for a bikini, why not take that extra step and add some bling to the area as well? Navel piercings can take four to twelve months to heal so don't put it off too much longer. If you heal slowly, there is even more reason for getting started sooner rather than later. You will want to be able to start wearing the many studs, barbells and dangling options available for your belly button but you can only do so if it is completely healed.

I don't know if sandals are officially considered body jewelry but I definitely think of them that way. Shoes is one area many women love to splurge but you don't want to forget first things first. A Spring pedicure can get you ready to show off your feet and put you in the mood to shop for sandals, toe rings and ankle bracelets to wear with your skirts and shorts. I don't know why, but feet and toe decorations make me feel like summer is here more than any other type of accessory. And anything that makes you feel like summer has to be good!

Julie enjoys sharing health and beauty tips. A great resource for flat irons, curling irons and hair styling tools of all kinds is My Hair Styling Tools.

With summer just around the corner we are all gearing up for bikini season, exposed abs, and shiny new belly rings. While some may dread this season you will soon discover that there really is no reason to consider the long hot days of summer as anything less than a season of fun! The good news is that to get your tummy in shape to wear the latest and greatest belly button rings you need just a few weeks, minimal crunches, and the right kinds of food.

A successful and healthy weight strategy relies 80% on the foods that you choose to eat. Knowing this simple little fact makes tackling the summer season and your tummy a lot less scary. And let me stress that you will be able to eat food - great tasting food. Starving yourself to get six pack abs is not a good strategy! Nobody will enjoy your belly rings if you end up sick and have to stay indoors.

Here are several diet suggestions to get a flat tummy to show off your belly rings:

*Choose foods that are nutrient dense. This means you want to stay away from the white, processed carbs such as processed grains, potatoes, rice, bread, and pasta.

*Learn to love your veggies and protein. Grill up some summer squash and a chicken breast and you will find out that you don't even miss the cornbread or mashed potatoes. Try a chicken burger with tomato, lettuce, avocado and a thin whole grain bun. Or, skip the bun and toss it all in a salad.

*Experiment with MUFA's. These are your mono unsaturated fatty acids - the good fats. Included in this category are natural peanut butter, avocados, walnuts, almonds, olive oil and sunflower seeds, just to name a few. This type of fat actually helps you burn tummy fat to get ready to show off your belly rings.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for getting a flat tummy that is sexy and in shape for belly rings, bikinis, and better overall health. Dive into that salad and then get ready to dive into some summer fun.

Julie enjoys sharing health and beauty tips. A great resource for flat irons, curling irons and hair styling tools of all kinds is My Hair Styling Tools.

Lots of people are terrified of acquiring cartilage piercings on their ears and nose on account of the bumps that arrive after the piercing and in addition the compact scars that acquire round the exit holes. Often, the piercing might also bring about abscesses, a soreness pocket of pus.

How Cartilage Piercing is done?

Here we reveal you on how it is completed..
1. First, wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap
2. Wet the piercing with water
3. After placing few drops of anti-bacterial soap on the piercing, perform them right into a lather applying a cotton bud.
4. Loosen any crusted discharge and take away it from your jewelry and skin applying a cotton bud.
5. Leave the antibacterial soap on the piercing for 2 minutes whilst rotating the jewellery backwards and forwards. This aids the disinfectant penetrate the piercing.
6. Rinse the piercing with water, and air dry it. Tend not to try and dry with a towel, for the reason that it might carry bacteria and cause infection.

When and How does it heal?

Listed here are some critical details and guidelines in regards to the healing of cartilage piercing.
1. Generally it takes 3-12 months of time for therapeutic, according to the extent of piercing
2. Don't touch your cartilage piercings with unwashed fingers. Also, don't let other individuals touch till it is completely healed.
3. Clean your piercing only the moment daily, till the piercing is totally healed.
4. Don't modify the jewellery till the piercing is healed.
5. Using antibacterial soap, which is made up of chloroxylenol or triclosan, to clear your cartilage piercing
6. Wash and dry you hair just before the piercing, and also later on following the piercing.
7. Sometimes an infection may perhaps induce soreness, redness and strange discharge. In such scenarios consult your physician for the expected treatment.
8. Don't use Betadine, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol swabs or tea tree oil to clear your cartilage piercing.
9. Vitamin C and Zinc can help in therapeutic the infections.

The Known disadvantages of cartilage piercing

The key detriments of cartilage piercing are:

1. Infection
The problem transpires from different resources. The man or woman may get infection from unhygienic earrings and through the environment you choose for piercing.

2. Scarring
Scarring occur when tissues inside the piercing spot are affected. The particular person may possibly get a ridge or possibly a bump to the spot when it's carried out wrongly.

Disadvantages in using cartilage gun

The person who's getting a cartilage piercing might not prefer a cartilage gun to pierce the ear. This may take an extended time for it to recover. It might also make prolonged soreness and scarring. This happens because the guns will not be meant to pierce the cartilage. Therefore it may well upset the cartilage and produce issues.

At the first mention of cartilage piercing, perhaps the first word to course through the mind is ouch. It is also called a helix piercing when performed on the helix or upper part of the ear cartilage. Either way, it involves the region of the outer ear which doesn't have much flesh. Perhaps it's not as painful as there may be less neural sensation in the area. However, some will probably differ on that opinion as they recall their ears being wrung in their childhood.

So, you want to learn how to make earrings? If so, you are not alone. Why continue to overpay for earrings when you can simply make your own? This may sound difficult, but it is actually quite easy if you know what you are doing. Of course, learning how this is done is no easy task. That being said, you can catch on in no time at all if you get the right help and are willing to learn as much as possible along the way.

To learn how to make earrings you can go through a trial and error process. In short, you will spend a lot of time screwing up and starting over at the beginning. While this will cost you some time and money, in the end you will know exactly what you should and should not be doing. The nice thing about trial and error is that you get to experiment with any and other technique that comes to mind. There is nobody telling you what to do, right or wrong.

Another thing to remember is that you can learn how to make earrings through an online course. This is the option that most people choose because it allows them to move at their own pace. Along with this, they are getting help from people in the know. Those with experience making their own earrings should be able to point you in the same direction. After all, they were once in your shoes. All you have to do is go through a course on how to make earrings and you will quickly find yourself in position to succeed.

It may be hard to believe right now, but you can quickly learn how to make earrings if you have the right course showing you the way. You will begin making your own jewelry in no time at all. Soon enough, you will be a master and in position to teach others this craft. Does it get any better than that?

Forget about spending money on earrings. You can make your own if you are willing to put in a little bit of time learning. From there, all you need is the right supplies and you are going to be well on your way.

With all this advice you should have a better idea of what it takes to learn how to make earrings. What are you waiting for?

Jewelry-making has become more and more popular. If you are looking for something unique and truly "you" in body jewelry, consider creating your own.

There are so many creative people and so many ways to show off your artsy side. If you are into body jewelry such as belly button, nose, or eyebrow rings, did you know you could make your own? Because this type of accessory is already very affordable, you may not save money in doing so but sometimes it is more about being unique and showing the world who you are. After all, isn't that why you got your navel or nose pierced in the first place?

Here are some ideas for getting started:

1. Take a class at your local community college. Most continuing education programs include a jewelry-making class or two. Some people learn better when they can do things hands-on but with the guidance an expert instructor can provide. Oftentimes, the cost of the class includes supplies but pay attention to the fine print when signing up.

2. Take a class at a local craft store or boutique. The craft store chains are starting to pick up on this "do-it-yourself" trend by carrying jewelry-making supplies. They often offer classes for items they carry in the store so check the schedule at the locations in your area. They also usually offer a discount on supplies for those who are taking the courses they offer. Don't forget the small boutiques too! We have a locally owned bead store in our city that offers classes on body jewelry. You may have something like that near you.

3. Search the internet for how-to videos. If you can't find anything local or your prefer to learn at your own pace, you can be sure there is something on the web to help you out: videos, articles, etc. You can also find supplies online.

Once you get started, you should be able to make your own barbells, posts studded with jewels or gems that you like and more. There is no end to the body jewelry you can create!

Julie enjoys sharing health and beauty tips. A great resource for flat irons, curling irons and hair styling tools of all kinds is My Hair Styling Tools.