Tuesday April 29th, 2008 @ 7:52 PM
Im thinking about going into piercing as a career , I went to college an graduated but haven’t done anything with myself. Im just wondering what kind of path/adventure Im in for, I should also mention Im an artist photograper an do alot of hands on production work in the graphic arts field.
If you apprentice the good old fashioned way, you have this to expect:
Learning humility. Respect. Patience. Traditional well placed piercings that the client has every chance of healing- and once you’re ready… you get to learn how to apply it all. As time goes on, you come to realize that you’re a bartender, a hairdresser, a priest, a shrink, a nurse and a friend to people who all want your best- not just a good piercing, but someone who listens and helps them on their way. Be prepared for that- moreso than dealing with people’s skin, a good piercer has to deal with tempermental clients, clients having bad days, et all. And sometimes for a less than stellar income. Is it worth it? It can be. On a good day, you get out of the industry what you put into it. On a bad…
Now. If you plan on doing the “rockstar internet” route of learning to pierce- all you need to do is look the part. Stretch everything REALLY big. Tattoo your most public of areas. And most of all- remember- it’s about you, NOT the client. *
*If you take this route, expect a lot of people to be unhappy.
+18 / 18 votes 
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 1 Comment
Saturday April 12th, 2008 @ 6:18 PM
Hi, I was thinking about getting an anchor placed on my cheek.
The only concern I have is that I used to have my cheek pierced. Is the scar tissue going to affect it and it make it harder on the piercer?
thanks a lot 
Installing a dermal anchor into scar tissue can be done, but it can definitely be a little trickier than a procedure without scar tissue involved. I recommend recruiting a piercer who has experience with this particular type of situation, whether they use either the needle method or punch and taper method.
+1 / 1 votes
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Posted by Russ Foxx | Permalink | Comments
Wednesday March 19th, 2008 @ 1:30 AM
Warren-
In one of your comments on a recent modblog post:
“. . .or if they are the BioPlast that is immensely rampant within the piercing community because they don’t know any better.”
Explain? I have heard nothing but good things about Bioplast so I would love to hear what you have to say.
Pull up a spot on the rug as grandpa is gonna toke on his pipe by the fireplace in his rocker and tell a story….Ok so I ain’t nobodies Grandpa and I don’t like rocking chairs and I of course don’t smoke…But I do have a lil story to tell.
A few years ago shortly after I finished my first apprenticeship my tattoo artist and I were working towards opening up our own studio. A friend of ours had a giant two level store front and they were willing to co-own it with us and help us get it all started,etc. So in my attempt to get the piercing side sorted out, I contacted VARIOUS jewelry companies for catalogs,etc. A few companies catalogs had something called “BioPlast”…When discussing it with them they talked about how great it was, that its cheap, it can be cut to size,etc. When I asked them for any confirmation in Implant Grade Specifications or Bio-Compatibility Specifications, they were unable to provide me any. Because of this I simply decided I would not want to carry said material because if it can’t be confirmed as Implant Grade or Bio-Compatible by ISO or ASTM standards, then it should not be used for piercings.
Fast forward to today, I’m a bit older and a bit more wiser and have done more serious research into the subject. But first lets separate the misconceptions that various people have involving plastic/flexible/bendy based materials:
PTFE aka Polytetrafluoroethylene aka Teflon: This is often used in the Piercing industry and not going into the environmental damage PTFE does to the environment simply put, ptfe has a implant grade specification number: ASTM F754-00. This means if a Body Piercer is going to use PTFE, this is the specific type of PTFE they are to be using…And it should be used in a manner, that does not compromise the ASTM F754-00 standard that is given to it.
Tygon aka Silicone Tubing: Tygon is a specific trademark named product, much like Teflon is a trademarked name of PTFE. There’s various types of Silicone Tubing some might be bio-compatible while others won’t, especially in a fresh piercing. For Tygon personally I think the ideal tubing type to be used is: TYGON® S-50-HL Medical/Surgical Tubing as its fully characterized to ISO 10993 and FDA guidelines for biocompatibility. There are a couple other Tygon brands that meet the same ISO guidelines,etc, but again there’s also a few Tygon bands that DON’T meet said ISO guidelines.
This brings us to the glorious world of BioPlast.
BioPlast aka Udel Polysulfone: Their website states the following: “Bioplast” Corresponding to the current state of knowledge it represents a material, which is safe for the production of piercing jewellery as far as biocompatibility is concerned (Ref.: Technical Bulletin biocompatibility of Polysulfones for Medical Devices MD 50136 R12/99). Now in my research I have been unable to locate any confirmed documentation, just speculation. Also last to my recollection any discussion in the medical world on Bio-Compatibility,etc will not be touching on the subject of piercing jewelry and the safety measures surrounding it.
In my own independent research of Udel Polysulfones I have found there to be a large variety of usages for said material: plumbing, medical world,etc. However when it comes to the medical world we need to observe exactly how Udel Polysulfones are being used. The following website lists Udel Polysulfones being used for: surgical trays, nebulizers, humidifiers; note nothing is listed in regards to Udel Polysulfone being internally inserted into the body (ie: a body piercing). Also when researching through the ASTM and ISO standards for Implant or Bio-Compatible capabilities, you will not find Udel Polysulfones listed at all.
Yes Bioplast is resistant to heat and steam, thus meaning it can be sterilized. But just because something can be sterilized, does not always mean it should be inserted into the body in respect to a body piercing, especially in a fresh piercing. Also and finally another lil thing is that the majority of BioPlast sold is for the Externally Threaded body jewelry line, as most piercers tend to just want to cram the beads onto the BioPlast piece. This of course makes it an externally threaded piece of jewelry and because its crudely threaded on, makes the threading on the post a bit rough. They do make special tools to create the external threading and even internal, but I’ve yet to see or hear of a piercer using them. Also as for their Internal/Push-In style of jewelry, I know I personally often have people coming in looking for new beads as their beads simply fell out.
Now I’m not going to say it can’t be used, as I believe it can. But I personally believe the avenue in which it can be used for, is more for troubleshooting problematic piercings. So by saying that I personally believe it should be a last resort attempt to salvage a piercing and troubleshoot the situation to correct it, not to be used for initial fresh piercings.
+11 / 15 votes 
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 23 Comments
Wednesday March 5th, 2008 @ 12:41 AM
Some time last year while I was sitting at the doctor the young guy next to me had a rather large blowout on both of his stretched lobes, which were well past 00. He was discussing with his girlfriend and his friend who was sitting in the chair across the aisle that he hoped the doctor knew what had happened to his stretch lobes while touching the blowout.
Would it have been rude, nosy or just plain impolite of me to tell him he had a blowout or to refer him to BME so he knew what had happened?
There aren’t any piercers nearby, the nearest one is about an hour away so most people in my area go straight to their doctor when they have a piercing problem rather than going to their piercer.
What do you think? Should I have said something to him or minded my own business?
This type of conversation can often be a touchy situation, as some people might take it the wrong way,etc. As always in talking with others, its about how you verbalize your statements, so not to appear hostile,etc.
One way of slipping into the conversation is to simply say: “I’m sorry but I couldn’t help but over hear what you were talking about, I have some piercings and I’m curious as to what’s going on with yours, if you don’t mind me asking?” Usually by being very polite and showing the person you’re genuinely curious/concerned they are usually ok with talking about these things…
Then as you two are conversing about body modifications, the problems the person is experiencing,etc…You can then slip in BMEZine.com, and what you think the problem might,etc as well as suggest to not just consult with that doctor. Instead to consult with a couple and even take the time to visit a experienced/reputable shop to have them look at the problem.
So no I don’t think its rude or anything like that, so long as you’re not acting rude. By that I mean you’re not pulling gross faces, talking down to them, calling them stupid, screaming at them,etc. The problem is there so its not like this attitude will help, it puts people on the defensive. So if you open up and be kind and caring,etc I have found people are very willing to discuss these things, so long as you word what you’re saying properly.
Also never really got the whole: “the only piercer is about an hour away” excuse. As personally it used to take me 2-3 hours to travel from where I lived in Niagara Falls to visit one of the very few artists I trust to do serious work on my body. I used to purchase a greyhound ticket and like I said spend 2-3 hours depending on traffic to get there. Also at the time I was pretty much dirt broke and barely just paying rent, eating,etc. So if I was able to do that, I think its not really a valid excuse to say: “the only piercer is about an hour away.” But that’s just my personal view on that statement haha!
+3 / 3 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | Comments
Tuesday February 26th, 2008 @ 9:44 PM
I’ve read some expierences about pulls/suspensions and some say when the needle is put through the flesh lube is used, some say no lube… I’m staring at a 10ga needle and it seems like lube would be a good idea - but what kind? I find it hard to believe KY would be appropriate. Thanks.
For starters let me say that in the realm of pulls/suspensions, its very rare that a 10ga needle would be used. At least in my past experience with suspensions & pulls. In fact the average reputable suspension crew will usually use 8ga and 6ga needles and hooks.
Now I could make MANY comical statements here…Saying to not use lube, Saying to use spit and various other sexually related joke comments. But alas lets just cut to the chase, with these large sizes its ideal to use some Sterile Water Soluble Lube. Sure you can insert the 10ga needle dry, but my personal suggestion would be to use the Lube.
Also know depending on the type of needle you’ve obtained, the use of lube can definitely be an ideal option. As certain companies produce needles differently then others, ie: some are duller than others.
+2 / 2 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 6 Comments
Monday February 25th, 2008 @ 9:47 AM
I have a 0 gauge apadravya in which I am currently wearing a 1″ stainless steel barbell. I have been wanting to try something a little lighter and thought of PTFE but have only been able to find small gauges. Do you know of anywhere to order something similar in PTFE or someone that will custom make such a piece?
Thanks!
We don’t as a rule link away from BME (for obvious reasons), but since BMEshop doesn’t carry any PTFE at all, I feel like it’s probably justified in this instance. I have a LOT of respect for the folks behind Aesthetics Bodymod - all of the jewellery they carry is fantastically high-quality and obtained from ethical, reputable manufacturers, and they manufacture PTFE and Delrin in-house and can make it to suit whatever you like. Their contact details are on their website.
0 / 0 votes 
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Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | 3 Comments
Sunday February 17th, 2008 @ 5:53 PM
I’ve always known that “organic” jewelry is a breeding ground for bacteria and such and it shouldn’t be passed around from person to person(never mind the ick factor), but what about sterilizing the jewelry after you’ve worn it a while? Say if I had stretched lobes and wooden tunnels and I got some sort of infection in my ear lobe would in be safe to wear that jewelry again?
I found this: http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arch/9_14_96/bob2.htm
about kitchen cleaning and at the bottom it talks about sterilizing wooden cutting boards in the microwave. Is that an option with wooden tunnels/plugs?
Thanks.
I think the chance of you getting some sort of infection in your earlobe, which would live in your plugs and then somehow re-infect your earlobes is extremely unlikely. You could try microwaving your plugs, and it might help in terms of an baddies living on/in the jewelry, but it’s hard to predict what it would do to the integrity of your plugs…in other words…I wouldn’t do it if it were my jewelry.
Regular oiling and the occasional washing with mild soap and water (if you’re concerned about germs) should be sufficient to keep your plugs clean and looking good.
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | Comments
Thursday February 14th, 2008 @ 10:57 PM
Alright, so I got a standard nostril piercing this past saturday and have since developed an uber bad cold (I actually think I may die haha) and it’s extremely angry because of the excessive nose blowing.
What should I do to calm it down/make it better… I’ve been using sea salt spray often, but it’s really red. I’m not so sure it’s infected though.
While an infection isn’t impossible, it’s likely not the problem in this case.
As you mentioned, the pressure/irritation from blowing your nose a lot probably has the piercing seriously unhappy. Nose piercings can be a little delicate in general when they are healing, let alone when they are merely days old.
The best option is to simply be as careful as you can when blowing your nose. You obviously have to put pressure on it, but try to do it as gently as possible. Other than that, I would consider doing more a salt soak/compress than a spray. Mix a solution of salt water and then either submerge your nose in it, or saturate a gauze pad or paper towel and use that like a compress.
Get well soon!
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 2 Comments
Wednesday February 13th, 2008 @ 4:07 AM
hello,
i have bad acne on my back(thanks dad) and i really want this full back peice. is the acne going to cause a problem? if so what can i do to fix it?
thank you
Chronic acne can definitely effect the tattoo based on its severity. I tend to get acne really badly at times on my chest and I can definitely base that on my personal experience. As sometimes, I have found, with bad acne scars will form and these scars will damage the appearance of the tattoo.
There’s many ways to combat acne, sometimes by diet, other times by altering your shower products (using specific brands) and other times it could require some type of medication prescribed by a dermatologist.
If anything perhaps visit a dermatologist as they can perhaps source out the answer to why you have bad acne and perhaps give you a solution to moderate how much acne forms,etc.
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | Comments
Monday February 11th, 2008 @ 6:23 PM
I got my tongue web pierced a few days ago and since then I’ve noticed that I can BARELY stick my tongue out of my mouth. It doesn’t hurt to stick it out I just can’t get it to stick out as far as it used to. Is this just something I’ll have to deal with with this piercing or will it improve over time?
With this particular piercing you will usually experience some swelling for the first week or so. It is possible that this can restrict your tongue movement to some extent. You can minimize the swelling by drinking lots of water. Anti-inflammatories can also help minimize the swelling and discomfort of a fresh piercing.
Another variable that can affect your tongue’s movement after a web piercing is the jewelry placement. If your jewelry was pierced in such a way that your tissue is left displaced in an awkward or unnatural state, this can restrict your movement and/or cause discomfort.
You may find that your web piercing jewelry is able to hit the back of your bottom teeth when you stick out your tongue. For this reason the initial piercing jewelry should optimally be a small barbell or ring as opposed to a larger piece of jewelry. Having jewelry that is too large can also restrict your movement.
If you find that after a week or two your tongue movement is still handicapped, go to a reputable studio and have it checked out by a piercer experienced with these piercings. They should be able to help you figure out what the cause of your issue is and possibly find a solution.
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Russ Foxx | Permalink | Comments
