STH Body Jewelry Blog » 2005

9/30/2005

LAST DAY! Buy 2 Get 1 Deal on 1 CENT Auctions!

Filed under: General — STH @ 3:34 pm

Dont Forget about our MASSIVE Body Jewelry deal. ALL 1 CENT auctions eligible for our buy 2 get 1 mystery gift free deal end TONIGHT! Below is the information regarding this incredible and very rare sale:

As many of you now know 1 CENT body jewelry auctions are back with over 400 new auctions online! We will be running a special deal until Thursday evening 9/29/05 8pm EST. For every TWO 1 CENT body jewelry auctions that you win (no matter what the final price is) you will recieve a free mystery piece of body jewelry. If you win 2 pieces of body jewelry you will recieve 1 mystery gift, if you win 4 pieces you will recieve 2 myster pieces and so on with NO LIMIT! Even if you win 100 1 CENT body jewelry auctions you will recieve 50 mystery body jewelry pieces. To take advantage of this special offer you MUST mention code “blogbuy2get1cent” with your payment. No ther body jewelry company will offer you 1 CENT auctions and a FREE body jewelry deal to boot. If you have any questions about this special promotion please get in touch.

ONCE AGAIN THIS IS THE LAST DAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS DEAL, GET IN GEAR AND PLACE YOUR BIDS !

1 Cent Body Jewelry Auctions and Free Body Jewelry Giveaways at STHbodyjewelry.com

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9/29/2005

2nd Generation L.E.D. Belt Buckles Now In Stock!

Filed under: General — STH @ 2:16 pm

L.E.D. Belt Buckles Are Back - 2nd Generation Buckles Now Available

As a special and very limited time and quantity offer, we will be offering our world famous RED LED Belt Buckles for only $24.99 per piece. These are generation 2 buckles and are even brighter and more unique then before. Our Scrolling L.E.D. Belt Buckles are the highest quality on the market today featuring adjustable brightness, scroll speed and special characters. The belt buckle has a longer batter life then comporable models on the market today. In addition it can hold up to a 256 character message and 6 interchangeable messages can be stored at any given time. Here is a link to this special Deal:

$24.99 L.E.D Red Scrolling Belt Buckle - Only 10 Available at this price!

In addition we now have our first lot of MULTI COLOR Led Buckles in. These buckles actual display the LED in a rainbow of colors. As the text scrolls across the screen the color changes. All other specifications on this belt buckle are the same as our red led belt buckle above! We only have 4 of these left as they have been a super hot and hard to find item. We are charging only $24.99 for these aswell (Compare to $70 elsewhere).

$24.99 MULTI COLOR L.E.D Red Scrolling Belt Buckle - Only 4 Available at this price!

In addition to this great deal we have amazing prices on Studded Belts that would go great with these L.E.D. Belt Buckles. Our studded belts come in 4 sizes: Small, Medium, Large & Extra Large. They are 100% leather and only $9.99 per piece. That kicks the ass of the prices found at your local Hot Topic, Pacific Sunwear or Zumiez. Buy at STHbodyjewelry.com and you will NEVER be dissapointed…..WE PROMISE!

**********P.S. B-Man and other employees of STHbodyjewelry.com will be at tonight’s Coheed & Cambria Acoustic performance at Starland Ballroom. Look for people wearing “Fill Your Holes” T-Shirts and be sure to say hello. We love meeting our Myspace and blog friends! **********

Get the best prices on Scrolling L.E.D. Red Belt Buckles, Pewter Belt Buckles, Punk Belt Buckles, Studded Belts and every type of body jewelry imaginable only at STHbodyjewelry.com

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9/28/2005

DONT FORGET! Buy 2 Get 1 Deal!

Filed under: General — STH @ 3:14 pm

Dont Forget about our MASSIVE Body Jewelry deal. Half of the 1 CENT auctions eligible for out buy 2 get 1 mystery gift free deal end TONIGHT! Below is the information regarding this incredible and very rare sale:

1 Cent Body Jewelry Auctions and Free Body Jewelry Giveaways at STHbodyjewelry.com

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Your Body Piercing & Tattoo Lesson Of The Day!

Filed under: General — STH @ 12:27 pm

Lesson Of The Day:
If the body piercing or tattoo shop you are thinking of using has a sign outside that has both the words professional and sterile spelled incorrectly; RUN!

Body Jewelry Starting at Just 1 CENT @ STH Body Jewelry

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9/27/2005

A Strange Blog Entry.

Filed under: General — STH @ 5:44 pm

Hello All,

Brandon here on behalf of STHbodyjewelry.com. Today has been a trying day riddled with computer problems. Frustrating would be the best word to describe this day. Strangely enough this blog is not about Body Jewelry, Piercing, Tattoo’s or anything like that.

We have tons of cd’s here at STH Body Jewelry headquarters. Some are music to keep us entertained while shipping your orders, some are data backups of our website and computer files. We have stacks and stacks of these cd’s. You probably have a similar predicament. Since many of our cd’s are burned they tend to scratch easily when we stack them. This morning when we got our mail from the post office we had a mystery box waiting for us. Within this little mystery box was “The Disc Hub.” This generous company sent us a sample of their much coveted cd storage device. Here is a picture:

We loaded some of our CD’s into it and this thing is genious. Not only does it tile the discs in a manner where we can easily view the labels, but we can easily grab any CD out of the bunch. In addition the holders are padded so the cd’s dont get scratched. If anyone has a cd organization problem like we do we seriously suggest you check out the The Disc Hub Website! They are pretty cheap too - Stay in touch and we will talk to you again tommorow

More Metal Then Your Moms Kettle at STH Body Jewelry

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9/24/2005

A Body Jewelry Deal Of All Deals.

Filed under: General — STH @ 2:22 pm

1 Cent Body Jewelry Auctions and Free Body Jewelry Giveaways at STHbodyjewelry.com

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9/23/2005

A Lot Of Promotions Are Coming To STH Body Jewelry!

Filed under: General — STH @ 5:42 pm

There are a lot of exciting promotions coming to STHbodyjewelry.com. We will be running a special promotion regarding our 1 cent auctions beginning tommorow so be sure to check back. We will also be running a new monthly contest starting in early october where we will be giving out FREE Body Jewelry to a monthly winner. That contest will only be available to our Myspace friends so be sure to join our Myspace adding us as a friend HERE. We are also getting an all new body jewelry inventory including more plugs, more 1 cent body jewelry auctions, more wholesale lots, more led belt buckles, more studded belts and much much more. Stay in touch and be sure to check up on us regularly in the coming days, A LOT IS HAPPENING!

Body Jewelry at the best prices on the net at STHbodyjewelry.com

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9/22/2005

1 Cent Body Jewelry Auctions Are BACK in Full Effect!

Filed under: General — STH @ 12:45 pm

Our world famous one cent body jewelry auctions are back again. We have over 400 1 cent auctions currently online with the largest variety we have ever offered in the history of our site. You can find logo tongue rings, logo navel rings, logo eyebrow rings, logo captive bead rings and wholesale lots all starting at 1 cent. It sounds unbelievable but its true. The quality on these body jewelry items are second to none and all made of high quality surgical steel. We even offer shipping discounts on multiple item purchases. We hope to see you all at our 1 cent auctions

Body Jewelry starting at only 1 CENT! Buy From The Best, Buy From STHbodyjewelry.com!

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9/21/2005

Piercing Infection Outbreak Linked to Contaminated Antiseptic, Upper Ear Site

Filed under: General — STH @ 3:52 pm

Some of you may be aware of this story and some of you may not. Its scary to know that this kind of outbreak can occur but if you are into piercing you should be at least aware of all possible risks. What do you think of this story? :

Newswise — Public health researchers in Rochester, N.Y., found that a 2003 outbreak of severe infections in people who had upper-ear piercings was caused by the combination of contaminated antiseptic solution and the greater risk of piercing ear cartilage, which has a poor blood supply.

The study in the October issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reports the findings from an epidemiologic investigation that followed the outbreak.

“We got a number of complaints from parents who said their daughters had serious infections in their ears after cartilage piercings,” recalls study co-author Nancy Bennett, M.D., deputy director of the Monroe County, N.Y., public health department.

All of the infected piercings involved customers who had their upper ears pierced at a single body art parlor. Several dozen people experienced redness, swelling and pain, with some also complaining of discharge, swollen lymph glands and diminished hearing.

The infections were found to be caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common organism. Of 15 people whose infections were confirmed to be due to the pseudomonas, nine were hospitalized and treated with intravenous antibiotics. All needed to take oral antibiotics and have the infected areas surgically cleaned and drained.

Public health researchers visited the facility and found it to be clean. The owner used sterilized tools and proper piercing techniques. Each customer had been given care information along with an antiseptic solution to clean the piercing.

The solution, however, mixed by the owner, contained benzalkonium chloride — an antiseptic that is not effective against pseudomonas says Bennett. Laboratory studies showed that the solution used during the outbreak was contaminated with pseudomonas.

Researchers compared the 15 cases of confirmed pseudomonas infections to 61 control cases who were pierced at the facility during the same time period, but who did not become infected.

The comparison showed that the combination of contaminated solution and the poor blood flow to the cartilage portions of the ear led to the infections.

The National Environmental Health Association recommends that chloroxyenol soap, which is effective against pseudomonas, be used to clean cartilage piercings.

Hallfors DD, et al. Risk factors for cartilage infections of the ear. Am J Prev Med 29(3), 2005.

Body Jewelry, Piercing Care, Discussion and Community only at STHbodyjewelry.com.

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9/20/2005

Information On Cleaning Your Piercings!

Filed under: General — STH @ 2:40 pm

We have recieved many questions about cleaning piercings and gauged ears. We have obtained a thorough explanation to help you with your cleaning needs. We hope you find this information helpful and if you have any further questions, please contact us.

“Piercing T.L.C. - Aftercare Instructions

T.L.C. stands for tender loving care, and that is exactly what your new piercing is going to need. Slacking off on your aftercare or using harmful products will only prolong your discomfort and the healing process.

Most piercers will give you aftercare instructions, but we have found that 60% of all customers allow this information to enter one ear and exit the other. Also, 47% of all piercing clients lose their paper aftercare instructions and blame it on their hungry dog. And then there is the 21% that go to a mall kiosk and get pierced with a gun, and then come here to learn they shouldn’t have done that. For those of you in any of those groups, or if your piercer really didn’t tell you how to care for your new piercing, here are my recommendations.

*Disclaimer* I do not claim to be a professional piercer. Not all aftercare methods are appropriate for all people, but I am recommending what I have found to be best after experiencing and caring for over 15 piercings.

General Piercing Aftercare

What You May Need:

Sea Salt
Anti-Bacterial or Antimicrobial Liquid Soap/Wash (Like Provon or Satin)
Cotton Balls
Cotton-tipped Swabs
Small disposable cups
Paper towels
Cleaning Your Piercing:
1. First, wash your hands thoroughly. Never touch your piercing or jewerly with dirty hands.
2. Saturate a cotton ball with warm water, and gently wipe away any “crusties” that have gathered around the piercing site. Throw the cotton ball away.
3. Apply a generous amount of liquid soap to your hand, and apply to the piercing site and jewerly. Make sure you get the soap everywhere, but rotating the jewelry is not really necessary unless you notice it trying to “stick” to your skin.
4. Rinse the piercing and jewelry several times with warm water, ensuring that all soap has been removed.
5. Dry your piercing with a clean paper towel, and throw the towel away.

Cleaning Tips

Many piercers will tell you to rotate your jewelry. This is not wrong, but I have found that in many cases, this causes more problems than it solves. If you want to rotate your jewelry, go right ahead. If it becomes a problem or is painful, try not rotating it for a couple days.

Cloth towels, especially those that have been already used, can harbor germs and bacteria. This is why it is safest to use a disposable paper towel. Other one-use products such as gauze, napkins, etc. can also be used.
Sea Salt Soaks
1. Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial or antimicrobial soap.
2. Place a pinch of sea salt in the bottom of a small disposable cup.
3. Add hot tap water - as hot as you can stand - to the salt. Use about 3 ounces of water - which is just over half-full in a 5 ounce cup.
4. If possible, invert the cup right over the piercing and allow it to stay there for 5 minutes. This usually works well for nipple and navel piercings. If you can’t create a sufficient seal against the skin with the cup, then soak a cotton ball in the salt water solution and apply the cotton ball to the piercing. When it cools down, throw it away and place a newly saturated cotton ball on the piercing. Do this for 5 minutes. 5. Rinse the piercing with warm water and dry with a clean paper towel.

Soaking Tips

Only sea salt is to be used. Table salt is not acceptable. Sea salt can be found in many grocery stores and almost all health food stores.
If you are not sure about the solution strength, put a dab on your finger and taste it with the tip of your tongue. It should be no saltier than a potato chip. - Information Courtesy of About.com “

Get the best Body Jewelry at the Best Prices Only @ STHbodyjewelry.com!

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9/17/2005

Gauging Your Ears? Here is The Progression Of Sizes!

Filed under: General — STH @ 10:54 am

Over the past few weeks we have recieved a ton of emails asking what the next gauge someone should go to who are currently gauging their ears, tongue, labret, navel etc. We have decided to compile a chart for your handy use so you can always know what the next gauge of body jewelry is that you should buy. After all, no one likes to buy body jewelry only later to find out they bought the wrong size. We are including gauges for our American friends and millimeters for our oversees friends. Heres the Chart!

Body Jewelry & Gauging Sizes Chart:

Gauge	Millimeters
18G	1.0mm
16G	1.2mm
14G	1.6mm
12G	2.0mm
10G	2.5mm
8G	3.0mm
6G	4.0mm
4G	5.0mm
2G	6.0mm
0G	8.0mm
00G	10.0mm
7/16"	11.0mm
1/2"	12.0mm
9/16"	14.0mm
5/8"	16.0mm
3/4"	19.0mm
7/8"	22.0mm
1"	25.0mm

We hope everyone finds this chart helpful and wish you a great and safe weekend!

Gauge Up, Gauge Down and Get The Most Bang For Your Buck At STHbodyjewelry.com

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9/15/2005

The Catman - The King of Body Jewelry & Body Modification!

Filed under: General — STH @ 2:17 pm

I was watching a Discovery Channel special about a guy who lives like a cat/tiger. I found it pretty interesting and have found a picture and article regarding this guy as I think many of you would be interested in this story. Enjoy

Stalking devotion

By Vanessa Renee Casavant
The Seattle Times

SEATTLE - At a time when plastic surgery has become fairly commonplace, some believe the Catman of Whidbey Island may have gone too far.
Dennis Avner, who goes by his American Indian name, Stalking Cat, is known around the world as the Catman. Over the past 25 years, Stalking Cat, 47, has received so many surgical and cosmetic procedures he’s lost count. And he says all of them - from full-face tattoos to fanged dentures to steel implants for detachable “whiskers” - have been done to achieve oneness with what he calls his totem, the tiger.

“I’m Huron and Lakota,” he said, relaxing barefoot in his Freeland, Wash., living room. “I’m just taking a very old tradition, that to my knowledge is not practiced anymore.”

But some doctors contend that Stalking Cat displays a form of body dysmorphic disorder, which affects one’s perception of personal appearance to the point of obsession.

Glenn McGee, director of the Center for Bioethics at Albany Medical College in New York, said it’s true that traditional people around the world have, like Stalking Cat, tried to emulate animals as a model for virility. But McGee said he believes the extreme to which Stalking Cat is pushing medical technology is dangerous.

“Cosmetic surgery is a practice based on informed consent” that needs to balance the risks with the benefits, he said. McGee believes Stalking Cat is seriously risking his health by undergoing so many surgeries.

“It is possible to have a coherent view that is nonetheless detrimental to one’s well-being,” McGee said. “This is a patient who’s being harmed by medicine in the interest of his tradition.”

The result is certainly manifested in a startling way in his appearance. Stalking Cat has been featured on “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!,” “Larry King Live,” VH1’s “Totally Obsessed” and other television shows. There are several Web sites, blogs and chat forums devoted to him, including his own, www.stalkingcat.net, and the online journal www.livejournal.com/users/stalkingcat.

He insists his unusually startling appearance is nothing more than trying to make physical his spiritual and traditional calling. He was raised in a small Michigan town near the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa in Sutton Bay. Respect for the old ways, he said, was passed on to him by a Huron medicine man. Undergoing extreme measures of body modification, he said, is simply taking advantage of modern technologies to practice a devotion that’s been lost.

Stalking Cat started his transformation in 1980 after leaving his post as a sonar submarine technician for the Navy. He eventually settled in the San Diego area as a computer technician, and began the series of procedures that has resulted in his current appearance.

He has had all his teeth removed and replaced with tigerlike dentures and fangs. He has had his lip split to resemble the mouth of a cat. He has six stainless-steel mounts implanted on his forehead and 18 piercings above his lip to which he can attach whiskers. He has had nose and brow implants, and silicone cheek, chin and lip injections. The tips of his ears are pointed. And he has so many tattoos they almost cover his body.

Stalking Cat said he has lost track of how much his transformation has cost, though one figure quoted on a Web site estimates it would cost more than $200,000 - a figure Stalking Cat would neither confirm nor deny. He would only say, “It’s a lot.”

As for any pain, Stalking Cat said some of the procedures hurt, but says there is no ongoing discomfort: “This is me,” he said. “This is who I am.”

The man responsible for the majority of Stalking Cat’s most extreme procedures is Phoenix body-modification artist Steve Haworth. He could not be reached for comment, but Stalking Cat is featured on Haworth’s Web site, www.stevehaworth.com.

Stalking Cat said he next plans to start tattooing the rest of his body with tiger stripes and to go back to Haworth to have stainless-steel mounts implanted in the top of his head so he can attach catlike ears to them. But further procedures will have to wait while he goes about the more mundane process of finding a job and fixing up the home he has shared since May with friends Tess Calhoun and Rick Weiss.

“The people here have been pretty welcoming,” he said.

He has already found a local manicurist to paint his fingernails. “They don’t look very good today,” he said, examining the tiger print detailing on them. “I’m still teaching her how to do it.”

“I think he fits in well on the island,” said Sarah Pankau, 18, who works near Stalking Cat’s house. She said there’s already a diverse mix of people on the island and he’s a welcome addition.

Nevertheless, not all islanders have embraced him. After Stalking Cat announced his move on his online journal, a person with the screen name “atomicdrunk” said, “… we have lots of hunters here. You can move here if you agree to stay in the woods and not wear orange.”

Stalking Cat has created a different kind of family with Calhoun and Weiss, a married couple he has known for almost five years. When the two recently relocated to Washington from California for Weiss’ job with Boeing, they asked Stalking Cat to join them. He keeps busy doing renovations on their home.

“What we have going here works very well,” he said of living with the couple. The household also includes two (real) cats, Morris and Pretty Girl; two Pomeranians; one albino garter snake; and three geckos.

“Family is a lot of different things to a lot of different people,” Calhoun said. “We are mutually supportive and we respect each other’s choices.”

Modify your body, Modify your mind at STHbodyjewelry.com

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9/13/2005

Thank You!

Filed under: General — STH @ 4:58 pm

We would like to send a Thank You to everyone who helped make last weeks sales a rousing success. We thrive to provide the best products at the best prices. Be sure to let your friends know about STHbodyjewelry.com. We are one of the countries largest distributors, wholesalers and retailers of body jewelry, specifically belly & navel rings, tongue rings, eyebrow rings, labret rings, Captive Bead Rings, CBR’s, Plugs, Tunnels, Claws, Talons, Tapers, Tusks, nose screws and Industial rings. STHbodyjewelry.com is not just for the pierced. We carry a complete line of studded punk belt buckles, hardcore gear, bandannas, belt buckles, studded bracelets and much much more for those hardcore kids who just arent pierced. If you have any questions please get in touch with us. We love you all and send out a big thank you to everyone

Why pay retail when you can pay wholesale prices at STHbodyjewelry.com?

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9/10/2005

L.E.D. Belt Buckle Special Weekend Pricing!

Filed under: General — STH @ 10:44 am

As a special and very limited time and quantity offer, we will be offering our world famous RED LED Belt Buckles for only $24.99 per piece. Our Scrolling L.E.D. Belt Buckles are the highest quality on the market today featuring adjustable brightness, scroll speed and special characters. The belt buckle has a longer batter life then comporable models on the market today. In addition it can hold up to a 256 character message and 6 interchangeable messages can be stored at any given time. Here is a link to this special Deal:

$24.99 L.E.D Red Scrolling Belt Buckle - Only 14 Available at this price!

Get the best prices on Scrolling L.E.D. Red Belt Buckles, Pewter Belt Buckles, Punk Belt Buckles, Studded Belts and every type of body jewelry imaginable only at STHbodyjewelry.com

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9/9/2005

Last Day Of Our HUGE Body Jewelry Sale!

Filed under: General — STH @ 1:53 pm

Today is the last day of our huge body jewelry sale. Do not miss this oppurtunity to pick up a free pair of tunnels, plugs, tapers, spools, tusks talons or earlets in styes like screw on surgical steel, dental safe acrylic, double flared, single flared and much much more. See the entry below for complete information.

Sprend $10 on plugs, tunnels or tapers and get a FREE mystery pair only at STHbodyjewelry.com

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9/8/2005

Just A Reminder: Body Jewelry Sale Is Only On Until Tommorow!

Filed under: General — STH @ 5:22 pm

Here is a recap of the sale information:

Spend over $10 on any assortment of plugs, tunnels or tapers and get a free mystery pair in any size you specify. You must spend $10 before any shipping charges and mention code “Blog10Get1Free” with your payment. This offer lasts through Thursday September 8th, 2005 at 11:59 EST.

We have plugs starting at just $2.99 per pair. This is the perfect oppurtunity to grab a few different sizes if you are planning on gauging your ears up or down a size. This is also a great oppurtunity to stock up some body jewelry Christmas gifts for you modified friends and family. Stay well and stay in touch.

Sprend $10 on plugs, tunnels or tapers and get a FREE mystery pair only at STHbodyjewelry.com

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9/7/2005

Post Labor Day Body Jewelry Sale!

Filed under: General — STH @ 4:02 pm

Hi all. Boy do we have a good deal for you. Spend over $10 on any assortment of plugs, tunnels or tapers and get a free mystery pair in any size you specify. You must spend $10 before any shipping charges and mention code “Blog10Get1Free” with your payment. This offer lasts through Thursday September 8th, 2005 at 11:59 EST.

Sprend $10 on plugs, tunnels or tapers and get a FREE mystery pair only at STHbodyjewelry.com

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9/6/2005

Interesting Article ABout Teens & Body Piercing!

Filed under: General — STH @ 4:18 pm

We have found an interesting article. What do you think about Teens getting pierced? Should parents be concerned? Is it a trend or here to stay?

Despite parents’ concern, body piercings stay popular among teens
By Meghan Bard

Brittany Lassen got her nose pierced 4 months ago, and she had her bellybutton pierced when she was 13.

“I’ve been into (piercings) since I was really little,” said Lassen, 16, of Hubbardston.

Lassen said she had to convince her mother to go with her to Acute Body Arts in Quinebaug, Conn., where she got her piercings.

“My mom went, against her dislike,” Lassen said. “She’s not really into anything like that.”

But Lassen, who was paying for the piercings herself, said her mother went because she wanted to ensure that Lassen was getting pierced safely.

“She wanted to make sure everything was sterile,” she said.

Lassen’s mother’s quandary seem to be the norm, as more parents accept the reality that their kids want piercings.

Some parents are giving their consent to teen piercing because they fear their underage kids might try to do it themselves.

Christopher Kyprianos, the owner of BOD-MOD, USA in Gardner, said about 50 percent of his piercing business is from teenagers under 18 who come in with their parents.

“The bellybutton is the most popular piercing,” Kyprianos said. “A lot of the girls are looking to do that when they’re 15, 16 years old.”

Andy Von, 23, of Shirley, said his parents took him to get his first piercings when he was 15 or 16. Von no longer has a labret piercing, which is a piercing just below the lip, or his septum pierced, which is a piercing through the cartilage between the nostrils.

Von, who also works as a tattoo artist, said piercings are a less-permanent form of being different and rebellious.

“You see a lot of younger kids getting (piercings),” Von said. “It’s a body modification, but they can take it out if they don’t like it, unlike a tattoo.”

Von said parents are more likely to go along with a piercing because it’s not as bad as a tattoo.

“It’s not such a big deal,” he said. “(Piercings are) more mainstream, it’s more accepted.”

Andy Sansone, who works as a piercer at Evolution Body Art in Leominster, agreed with Von.

“Piercing and tattoos are definitely in the mainstream right now,” he said. “They’ll never go down. It won’t be a fad that just fades out.”

Sansone said Leominster is one of the few communities in the state that does not allow teens under 18 to get a body piercing, even with parental consent. The Board of Health in Leominster is considering changing the regulations to allow minors to get piercings with a parent’s consent.

“I’ve had angry mothers come in and yell at me,” Sansone said. “The parents obviously want to bring them into the shop.”

And with good reason.

A 13-year-old girl Boston girl almost died this month, after her mother, Deborah Robinson, failed to take her to a doctor for weeks after the girl tried to pierce her own navel and a life-threatening infection occurred.

“It can be very dangerous,” Sansone said of self piercing. “If you have a jagged or improper tool it can tear the tissue and be more susceptible to infection.”

Kyprianos said teens aren’t aware of the fact that alcohol isn’t a sterilizer, and that they could be exposing themselves to HIV, hepatitis or tuberculosis.

“They’re not wearing gloves. They’re not using sterilized jewelry and equipment,” Kyprianos said of self-piercers. “They have no knowledge of anatomy. They have no knowledge of after-care (procedures).”

Kyprianos said if people properly follow the after-care procedures that he gives them verbally and in writing, they will rarely have a problem with their piercing.

But he does encourage customers to come back with any concerns about their piercing.

“If something doesn’t feel right or look right, pick up the phone and call us or stop in the store,” Kyprianos said.

Sisters Abby, 16, and Winnie Clark, 13, of Petersham, were shopping together at the mall at Whitney Field on Friday.

Abby Clark got her eyebrow pierced last year, and she plans to get her nose pierced in the next couple of months. She said likes the decoration piercings give her face.

“I just like the sparkle,” she said. “I like the little jewels.”

Abby Clark’s mother went with her to get the piercing, but her father, a chemistry teacher, is totally against them.

“He’s all body conservative,” she said.

Little sister Winnie Clark said she wants to follow in her sisters footsteps, and get a couple piercings of her own, in her nose and an industrial piercing in her ear — two piercings through the cartilage of the ear are joined together with one barbell.

She hopes to be able to get the piercings by the time she’s 15.

“It wouldn’t be fair to Abby if I got it earlier than she did,” Winnie Clark said.

But big sister issued a note of caution.

“It takes a lot of convincing,” Abby Clark said with a laugh. –sentinelandenterprise.com

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9/3/2005

Body Modification - Permanent Accessories

Filed under: General — STH @ 10:10 am

Interesting article about body modification:

Body modification: permanent accessories

Tattoo artists can generally predict a customer’s first question: “Will it hurt?”

“It’s not excruciating, it’s just an annoying sensation,” said “Professor,” a tattoo artist formerly of Toledo Tattoo Company Inc., 2068 Airport Highway, who prefers to be known by a stage name.

“I just tell people that you’re better off going into it thinking it’s going to hurt,” said Dominic, another Toledo Tattoo Company artist who did not want to give his last name.

Tattoos and piercings, once considered the calling card of sailors and bikergangs, are popping up regularly with people of all ages and economic backgrounds.

Fads in tattooing have created numerous genres, such as Celtic, tribal, fantasy, photo-realism, oriental, fine-line and oldschool.

Prime locations for tattoos have also changed, Professor, a tattoo artist for 30 years, said.

Designs on the small of the back and armbands are among the most popular, he said. Armbands cost from $125 to $255, depending upon the complexity of the design.

Toledo Tattoo charges $100 per tattooing hour, Dominic added.

Prior to adding a tattoo, Professor advises a wait of three to six months to think about the design and consult with a tattoo artist.

“Tattoos are more binding than marriage,” he said. “Once they’re in the chair, they’re pretty much committed.”

Adam Belcher, a senior majoring in history, started with one tattoo at age 19, and has since added two more.

“They’re addictive. You just want more,” Belcher said.

Belcher said he does not regret any of his tattoos.

Both arms are decorated, one with a sun inscribed with the zodiac signs of his family members, and two other designs that incorporate his fraternity’s letters.

“They’re near and dear to my heart, something I’ll be proud of,” Belcher said.

Belcher said he spent almost two years deciding whether to get his first tattoo.

While he said he enjoyed his experience, Belcher said he would not push others to participate.

“If you get a tattoo you have to take it seriously - it’s not a joke,” he said. “What’s cool now won’t be cool 20 years from now.”

For those students planning to add tattoos, he advises them not to get any that would be visible when wearing a t-shirt and shorts, as it could add difficulty in obtaining a career.

He also cautioned against tattooing names.

“It’s a kiss of death to relationships,” Belcher said. “As soon as you tattoo someone’s name on, you break up with that person.”

While piercings are not as permanent as tattoos, it is still a decision that should not be made lightly, said Robert Woollard, a body modification artist at Artistic Creations, 2116 N. Holland-Sylvania Rd.

Woollard said he averages between 100 and 150 piercings a week.

One reason piercings are a serious decision is because piercings leave a small amount of scar tissue, he said.

“It doesn’t close like a door; it shrinks itself back to the hole,” he said.

There are hundreds of types of piercings because anything on the body can be pierced, Woollard said.

“The easiest to care for and keep clean is your tongue,” he said, because the near-constant flow of saliva washes the wound.

Proper placement ensures a tongue ring will not interfere with swallowing by angling the top portion of the ring toward the back of the mouth; talking or eating may be difficult at first but is quickly overcome, he said.

After a tongue-piercing, activity with the tongue should be limited, he added.

Those with fresh tongue piercings should avoid French-kissing and oral sex for a month until the piercing has had time to completely heal. The mouth should also be washed out regularly with an oral antiseptic, he said.

Woollard has his own tongue ring, as well as 32 other piercings and 19 tattoos.

Tattoos, when done professionally, require little by way of touchups. However, home-made tattoos or those done by amateur tattooist can leave unrealistic and unsightly tattoos.

“I call it ‘the attack of the killer apprentices,’” said Gary “T-Rex” Taynor, a tattoo artist at Studio 14 Body Modifications, 5950 Airport Highway.

Even with a professional, some customers purchase tattoos they may later regret.

“I try not to do anything negative,” Dominic said.

“In my career I’ve covered 500 names, at least a hundred of them from ones that I did,” Taynor said.

Black is difficult to cover up, but if it’s an old tattoo that has faded to gray it can be covered over with dark blues, purples or greens, Taynor said.

Also consider placement on the body when obtaining a tattoo, he added.

“Girls always think it’s so cute to get a flower [tattooed in their ear], a year later it looks like a bruise,” he said.

Dominic stressed the permenance of tattoos.

“It’s one of the few things you’re guaranteed you’re going to have until the day you die,” he said.

To lessen the chances of needing to cover-up or remove a tattoo, Taynor suggests doing thorough research on the tattoo artist and their shop.

If the artist doesn’t have a portfolio of their work, don’t let them work on you, T-Rex said.

“Do it right the first time and you don’t have to worry about a cover-up,” he said.

Unhappy tattoo patrons have another option available - tattoo removal.

Dr. Elliott Saferin, a plastic surgeon at Plastic, Laser & Hand Surgeons of Toledo, 2821 N. Holland-Sylvania Rd., performs tattoo removal with a YAG (yttrium-aluminum-garnet) laser.

The tattoo dye breaks apart after absorbing light from the laser and the body’s whiteblood cells remove the fragments, he said.

The treatment is generally considered more painful than the tattooing process, he said.

Saferin described the sensation of the laser as a rubber band snapping on the skin.

Tattoo removal can be a long process. The number of treatments range depending upon how visible the customer wants the tattoo to be, Saferin said.

“We don’t stop it; they stop it,” he said.

Three to four treatments will usually fade the tattoo so it’s not recognizable. A more complete removal takes six to eight sessions, he added.

Most customers opt for complete removal, Saferin said.

To allow the skin to heal, treatments are performed eight weeks apart. Complete removal takes about a year.

“If you don’t like it, get rid of it. Don’t try to redo it,” Saferin said.

Better yet, never get a tattoo at all, he said.

Belle Sigal, a junior majoring in mathematics, is of a similar opinion and has never had any piercings or tattoos.

“I’ve never been into tattoos because they’re there for the rest of your life,” Sigal said. “If your skin stretches - ugh.”

- Kristin Reichardt contributed to this story. –Independant Collegian by Kinzie Goetz

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Piercing Care Information!

Filed under: General — STH @ 9:30 am

Piercing Care

Below are some basic care instructions to help you keep your piercing healthy, and clear of any infection. These are only guidelines and we recommend if you develop a condition with your new piercing that you feel isn’t quite right please see your piercer or a doctor right away to save your piercing before it’s too late!

Tongue Piercing:

For the daily rinsing and care of new oral tongue piercings we recommend a diluted mixture of Listerine. Dilute the mouthwash by mixing 1 capful to 4ozs of distilled water. The suggested method is to mix 5 capfuls to a 20-oz. bottle of distilled water. This should be used to rinse after any time anything goes in your mouth besides distilled water. Rinse for approximately 30 seconds. Some people prefer to use the sea salt mixture below.

- Make sure you continue regular brushings to avoid a building up a layer of hard to remove plaque. Purchase a new toothbrush, because your old toothbrush is most likely breeding bacteria which could cause a low grade infection.

- The swelling around the site of your tongue piercing should subside in 10-14 days. After the swelling goes down, we highly recommend you get a shorter barbell. Keeping the longer barbell your piercer used will just irritate the healing process by possibly reopening your fresh piercing and the longer length is terrible on your teeth, the accidental “bite” here and there will take it’s toll after a while.

Try using Sea Salt:

Sea salt is the most popular soak for any and all piercing care. Some people keep sea salt on hand to use on an irritated piercing. Simply wash your hands with an antibacterial soap before touching your fresh piercing. You can use a salt soak safely every day during your healing period. Some people swear by this method and use it 2-3 times daily during healing and that is just fine! Use a mixture of 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt to 8ozs of distilled water. Make a large batch by mixing 2 teaspoons of the salt to 1 gallon of distilled water. Before using, warm the amount of the solution you will need. (If you use a microwave, be really careful with temperature and use a straw to stir the mixture before you use it.) Then you can soak your piercing in one of these ways: Put the mixture in a small cup, or a shot glass and use the cup to form a vacuum seal, rest the edge of the glass against the skin surrounding the piercing- (this works great for a belly or nipple piercing). Or you can soak clean cotton balls in the mixture and then place these around the piercing. Let the mixture penetrate all areas of the piercing for 5 to 10 minutes. Don’t rub the area with the cotton balls - it may just cause irritation. Never use anything to clean your piercing that contains alcohol! And never soak your jewelry in Alcohol, it will irritate your skin, damages the surface of the metals in your jewelry and turns sterling silver ends black.

How long does this piercing take to heal?:

Approximate Healing Times…
Every piercing is different because your immune system is unlike anyone else’s. Because of this reason, no one can really quote exact times for healing. We have listed below a general guide to the time period that you can expect healing to occur. Make sure to continue cleaning even after the times specified to have a healthy looking piercing. Your end result will be as good as the care you put into your piercing*.

Earlobe: 4-8 weeks / Female Nipple: 2-6 months

Ear Cartilage: 2-12 months / Eyebrow: 2-3 months

Navel: 4-12 months / Tongue: 3-4 weeks

Nostril: 2-6 months / Male Nipple: 2-3 months

Lip: 6-12 weeks / Septum: 4-8 weeks

*Please keep in mind that we are providing this information to guide you, if anything seems wrong such as redness that won’t go away, swelling, or continued leaking around the entrance or exit of the new piercing… PLEASE seek professional medical advice from your piercer or Doctor. And one of the most common mistakes people make is causing an infection by changing the jewelry in their piercing before a good amount of healing has taken place.

Daily Cleanings:
We recommend an anti-microbial soap for the daily cleaning of your piercing. Wash your hands with an antibacterial soap before any contact with your fresh piercing. The best way to Clean your piercing is to conveniently do it in the shower. Clean around your piercing and the entrance and exit openings. Do not rotate your ring. If you ring does not want to move, don’t force it. Simply clean the piercing thoroughly, disturbing the piercing and jewelry as little as possible. Pat your piercing dry using a cotton ball.

Believe it or Not!: A complete cleaning with soap needs to be done only once daily, twice under extremely dirty circumstances. This might sound crazy but over cleaning is probably the number one cause of irritation and it actually delays the healing process of new piercings!

Most common things you can Do to keep out of trouble with your piercing:

· check threaded jewelry daily to make sure all the balls are on tight.

· Make sure pants or bras or any other clothing isn’t on too tight in the area of your piercing. You don’t want to put any unwanted pressure on the area, it could even turn your jewelry to heal in a strange way.

· Pay attention to your health an keep your immune system functioning at 100%. Get enough sleep and take vitamin supplements (Vitamin C, Zinc and Iron especially).

· It’s ok to use a pain killer like Ibuprofen if you have any discomfort with the new piercing and some people even use a little ice to help with the pain and swelling.

· You must avoid all contact with others bodily fluids from others near your piercing just until it has healed completely.

· Even though it’s a huge temptation…DON’T play with the jewelry in your new piercing, and DON’T touch the jewelry without washing your hands with antibacterial soap first. Remember: Bacteria=infection

· Try not to move your jewelry back and forth or rotate it while you are cleaning. Forcing jewelry to move will disturb the healing process, use a sea soak above if your jewelry is stuck.

· Swimming in pools and lakes is off limits until your piercing completely heals. Hot tubs are also off limits! Bacteria breeds in these bodies of water and even the ocean would be an open invitation to introduce bad bacteria into your fresh piercing. The chlorine in pool water will cause irritation and dry the skin around your piercing.

· Don’t use any hand cream or Vaseline petroleum jelly on your piercing, ever!…even when it heals. Vaseline will hold in bacteria and actually cause an infection, you need to allow your piercing to “breathe”.

· Never permanently remove your jewelry if you feel you have an infection. Your jewelry has to stay in place and keeping the piercing open at that point is very important to allow drainage. Most infections will be easy for you to clear up if your follow instructions. But if you completely remove your jewelry, you could get a horrible abscess, the piercing could swell up and bleed, and soreness with bruising will most likely occur. Again, we can not stress this enough…: If you suspect an infection please call your piercer or doctor immediately. Infections can spread to other parts of the body very quickly and it can be extremely serious, so a quick visit or call to a medical professional could help you save your piercing and keep you healthy.

STHbodyjewelry.com is back in full effect!

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