Sunday December 9th, 2007 @ 10:23 PM
Salt soak solution, it seems, is 1/8tsp salt:1c comfyhot water. That’s a lot of water for a tragus. So I’m wondering if it’s okay to mix the full batch of saltmix, save what I didn’t use, and reheat it for later use?
To simply answer your question: Just get Wound Wash Saline it can easily be purchased at pharmacy’s and most grocery stores,etc.
Or you can obtain a 1 gallon (4 liter) jug of Distilled Water and mix in roughly 3-4 teaspoons of Sea Salt and store it in your fridge to reduce bacterial growth. However you will not want to keep it for too long, usually after 7 days you will want to obtain another gallon jug,etc.
You can also obtain smaller jugs like a 2 liter jug and make smaller batches.
0 / 0 votes 
Loading ...
Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 4 Comments
Sunday December 9th, 2007 @ 10:05 PM
I am 18 and live in Arizona.
I would like to pursue a career in body piercing.
How can I go about getting an apprenticeship that is free and not a ridiculous amount of money?
I already hang around a tattoo shop most of the time, but they don’t have a full time piercer there.
Any suggestions or information?
Thanks for your time!
Ryan
Hi Ryan,
Welcome to the over-saturated world of wanting to be a piercer….No, seriously, its REALLY over-saturated.
Sadly because of this over-saturation there is a wide range of piercers with a variety of skill levels. From the piercer who just shouldn’t be piercing, right up to the highly skilled professional.
Always remember this statement: “Nothing is free”
Often apprenticeship views will vary from piercer to piercer. For example my view on apprenticeships are as follows:
1) Apprenticeship is a minimum 2 years (training and then working along side me).
2) Apprentice Candidate MUST take First-Aid/CPR training and keep it up to date.
3) Apprentice Candidate MUST take Bloodborne Pathogens/Infection Control.
4) Apprentice Candidate MUST have or be willing to take a basic Human Anatomy and Physiology course.
5) Apprentice Candidate MUST have or be willing to take a basic Business Management/Accounting course.
Now I could even delve further and request my apprentice take classes involving metal working,etc, but that’s a bit overkill. Some will even say my statement of Human Anatomy and Business Management is overkill as well. However I strongly disagree as these two very important subjects that will help develop an apprentice into a long-term body piercing professional. Not just someone who is going to be doing this job part time, as they will stand out above and beyond other piercers.
The same is said for First-Aid/CPR as well as Bloodborne Pathogens/Infection Control training…Without them you will be a liability for any customers that enter a piercing studio.
By obtaining these goals you will stand out better than anyone else who might be potentially attempting to seek an apprenticeship. It will show you are goal oriented and really interested in this business. It’s one thing to live the lifestyle but its another to be on the business side of things and offering the service.
Now this isn’t a reply to put you off the concept of becoming a piercer, quite the opposite really, we need more ethical quality artists in the business. But what it is, is an idealistic push towards the future and what we SHOULD be doing. And what better way for us to make this much needed change, then by focusing on our apprenticeships. Because if we push stricter training methods, we will produce a much more trained and efficient piercer.
Another goal for seeking apprenticeships is to not just find any shop that will take you in. Ultimately every person seeking apprenticeship should source our the best shops that use the highest quality materials (ie: Implant Grade Steel or Titanium, Internally Threaded or Threadless,etc) as well as have a very consistent portfolio of each artist working there,etc.
Hopefully that helps you, if you have any further questions feel free to ask.
+3 / 3 votes 
Loading ...
Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 4 Comments
Thursday December 6th, 2007 @ 2:50 PM
Filed under: Ear
Do you reccoment silicone stretching to go up a size. i.e. 9/16 to 5/8?
I personally do not recommend using silicone for stretching.
Having said that…I know many people have used silicone very successfully for stretching; sometimes even stretching several sizes.
However, I have personally witnessed (although not on myself) a number of bad experiences when silicone has been used for stretching. In most cases, there were several things done wrong when using the silicone to stretch. I do believe that the extent of the “damage” that occurred was due to some of the properties of the silicone jewelry and the effects wouldn’t have been as bad if other materials were used.
Some people have reported having problems with silicone jewelry even when they aren’t stretching. I think it’s important to mention also that the problems people typically experience seem to be related to the surface “tackiness” of the material, and rarely seem to be a reaction to the material itself.
Now, having said THAT…I personally wear silicone on a regular basis. I find it to be incredibly comfortable and I have experienced absolutely no problems with it.
+2 / 2 votes
Loading ...
Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 3 Comments
Thursday December 6th, 2007 @ 2:46 PM
Filed under: Ear
I’ve been at 7/16th’s for a good couple of months now and been wearing the same horn plug and cleaning it regularly. My ear was quite loose and could slip a 1/2″ plug in. Well, this morning i woke up and something was quite different, i felt of my earlobe and it was stiff and felt different.
Just my left earlobe was swollen and stiff and not loose at all! I took the plug out and the fistula was so small and puffy, when its usually nice and roound and a bigger hole, and my earlobe had swollen up so much! I didn’t have a blowout or a tear, i didn’t even stretch my ear! What is wrong with my earlobe?
These sorts of “flare ups” are not unheard of with stretched lobes. I know that I have experienced a few of them over the years…everything seems fine, and then seemingly for new reason…one ear freaks out. If you didn’t change the material of the jewelry you’ve been wearing, most likely it’s some sort of mechanical irritation: you slept on it funny or pinched the tissue with your jewelry, or something like that. It’s also possible you get something into the hole which irritated it and causes it to freak out.
Most of the time, leaving jewelry out of the piercing for a few days, so things have a chance to relax and settle down is the best option. You might lose a size or two, but stretching back up is typically very easy, especially if you’ve been at one size for a long time.
0 / 0 votes
Loading ...
Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | Comments
Thursday December 6th, 2007 @ 2:43 PM
I had my tragus pierced a few weeks ago and apart from a little swelling, it’s doing OK. However, I might need to have a brain scan soon, for which I would probably have to take the piercing out for around 45 minutes. I know this will probably aggravate it a bit, but do you think I’d have a problem getting it back in, or with healing it after having taken it out? Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks.
It’s very unlikely the piecing will “close” in that short period of time. However, for no longer than you’ve had the piercing, it wouldn’t be uncommon for the hole to “shrink” a bit, making it difficult to get the jewelry back in. If you’re having a brain scan, I’m assuming they won’t want you to have anything at all in the piercing. However, if it’s simply a matter of not being able to wear metal in the piercing, you may want to consider wearing some sort of retainer (plastic or quartz) in the piercing.
If this isn’t an option, you may want to consider going to a studio you trust to have the jewelry put back in. They should be able to do it a little more easily and smoothly, and thereby reduce the irritation to the piercing.
Best of luck with your piercing and with your scan.
0 / 0 votes
Loading ...
Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | Comments
