Piercings and body art like tattoos have enjoyed a remarkable increase in social acceptance over the last several decades. What used to be viewed (often unfairly) as indicators of degeneracy or participation in what were considered unsavoury subcultures and lifestyles are now sported by business leaders, celebrities, journalists, academics and a wide range of other very normal, very decent people who have embraced these forms of legitimate social expression.
When it comes to piercings, there are so many styles and potential locations on your body to choose from, it can be hard to decide where to place them. Below is a list of the best spots to get a piercing and some of the important considerations to keep in mind with each one.
Ear Piercings
Ear piercings are a cultural universal, with people of all ages and genders around the world perforating and adorning their ears with a wide range of materials and objects. What began as a simple earlobe piercing in the West, however, has, over the decades, migrated to virtually every part of the ear.
This includes the helix (the top outer part of the cartilage), the antihelix (right below the helix on the inner cartilage) and the antitragus (on the bottom outside left of the “concha”). There is such a wide variety of ear piercing options that it helps to consult a list before making your decision.
Eyebrow Piercings
The most common placement for an eyebrow piercing is at a 35-degree angle from the outside corner of your eye. They are most often vertical, single piercings with one entry and one exit hole, but other varieties feature multiple piercings and up to 6 holes (such as spiral piercings).
Eyebrow piercings are great because they are understated, draw attention to your eyes, and usually involve simple, classic designs and materials. You can do one or both eyebrows and they are a nice way to frame your face and add contours to your features.
Nose Piercings
Nose piercings, after ear piercings, are the second most common among younger generations. In fact, nose and septum piercings have become so commonplace among Millennials, especially in urban areas, that they are no longer even seen as “alternative”. What might have been viewed as a major alternative lifestyle statement in the 1990s is now a mainstream and highly accepted form of self-expression.
Nose piercings, like ear piercings, can be placed virtually anywhere on the nose. They include “third eye” piercings, bridge piercings, nasallang, high nostril, nostril, septri, septum, rhino and Austin bar piercings. Nose piercings are easy to perform and take care of, they are trendy, and have received widespread mainstream acceptance.
Lip Piercings
Lip piercings are great, but they require extra attention during and after the healing process because of the sensitive location. Your lips are made of soft, delicate tissue, which means they are sensitive and injury-prone.
With the proper hygiene and caution, though, you can get one or multiple lip piercings without having to worry too much. Lip piercings include angel bite piercings, Ashley piercings, Canine Bites, Cyber Bites, Jestrum piercings, Dolphin Bites, Monroe Piercing, Madonna Piercings and more.
Navel Piercings
Navel piercings are much more popular with men than they are with women, and are nice because they are discreet and don’t have to be seen outside of intimate or beach settings. Navel piercings include both studs as well as horizontal and vertical barbells, inverse piercings, curved barbells, double piercings and deep navel piercings.
Navel piercings deserve special mention for the fact that they can take quite a long time to heal (up to two years), and even injuries to old piercings can result in infections. Navel piercings are especially susceptible to bacterial infections because of the nature of this part of your body. It is a small space that is exposed to the elements and easily attracts dirt and bacteria. Conscientious hygiene habits are an absolute must with navel piercings.
Nipple Piercings
Nipple piercings have not received the kind of mainstream acceptance as the aforementioned piercing types. This is because of the intimate nature of the placement. While many people opt for nipple piercings for aesthetic and self-expression reasons, there is a hard-to-shake association between these types of piercings and sex.
While that is not to say that the association is not warranted, it is only one dimension of this kind of body art. These piercings are also one of the more painful piercing locations on the body, so anyone considering piercing their nipple (or nipples) should be psychologically ready for what the process entails. There are a lot of nerve endings in there.
Conclusion
Piercings speak to your personality, your sense of style and, depending on the placement, you sense of adventurousness. They are no longer the taboo markers of alternative or delinquent lifestyles that they were once stigmatized as, and people from all walks of life proudly show off their body jewellery, along with tattoos, different coloured hair, moustaches, beards, glasses and more. If you are thinking about a new piercing and don’t know where to start, keep the above information in mind and choose a location that says “you.”
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