*This is a collaborative post.
Body piercings are becoming more and more popular in today’s world, representing individualism and artistic expression for the wearer.
Although it seems like a new trend, body piercings have actually been around for centuries, going all the way back to the Ancient Egyptians who used body piercings to show wealth and prosperity.
As with any trend, there is a whole host of terminology to go with it, which you may not be aware of if it’s your first piece of body jewellery.
That’s why Gekko Body Jewellery put together the handy infographic below on the types of body piercings and the jewellery which can fit each piercing.
It looks at some of the most pierced parts of the body, including:
Ear Piercings
The ear is one of the most popular areas of the body to get pierced thanks to the wide variety of jewellery and relatively low pain in getting it pierced.
Nose Piercings
Nose piercings can give an edgy and alternative look or a more elegant one – the appearance massively depending on which part of the nose and the type of jewellery used.
Lip Piercings
Lip piercings are so popular because they are almost always in fashion and the wide array of different looks that can be achieved with this type of piercing.
Lip piercings have some of the most unique and curious names including ‘medusa’ and ‘snake bite’ piercings!
Eyebrow Piercings
Eyebrow piercings had a big popularity boom in the 1990s and early 2000s, but – after a period of cooling off – are now becoming more popular again.
Tongue Piercings
Always one to make a statement, a tongue piercing is a great way to give off a tough and edgy look – probably because you were brave enough to have a needle put through your tongue in the first place.
Body Piercing Jewellery
Once you’ve got your piercing, you’ll need a piece of jewellery to fit. The infographic below lists some of the most popular pieces and the different piercings they can fit, with many able to fit more than one of you wanted to swap them around.
Body piercing jewellery comes in a range of different materials, with popular options being surgical steel, gold plated, titanium plated and BioFlex – a hypo-allergenic plastic specifically manufactured for body piercing jewellery.
Body Piercing Hygiene
Although getting a part of your body pierced is usually safe, it’s important to take care of your piercing to make sure you stay in good health. Body piercings can sometimes become infected without following proper hygiene practices, some of which we outline below:
- Make sure you choose a licensed body piercing shop or piercer (such as a tattoo parlour that also has a license). Allow adequate time for the piercing to heal as recommended by the piercer.
- Keep the piercing clean when in use – cleaning the jewellery and piercing area with salt water twice a day is recommended by the NHS.
- If you notice any red and swollen skin, pain or tenderness or discharge around the piercing it may be infected and medical help must be sought.
Take a look at the infographic below to get more information on body piercings and jewellery:
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