The Piercing Bible, Revised and Expanded

Introduction

Whether it fascinates or repels, something is captivating about hard metal worn through tender flesh. Piercing is thrilling. Literally. The word thrill originates from the Middle English word thrillen, To perforate by a pointed instrument. Hence, to cause a shivering, throbbing, tingling, or exquisite sensation; to pierce; to penetrate.  By that account, piercing sounds quite exciting. And so it is! Piercing is among the most ancient and current practices for ornamenting and customizing the human form.

THE ART OF MODERN PIERCING

Except for traditional earrings and a rare nostril stud or hoop, piercing was virtu- ally unheard of just a few decades ago. As body piercing initially came into the light from the far-flung fringes of society, people perceived it as radical, deviant, and even disgusting. Over time it has fully blossomed as a mode of personal expression nearly anyone may use to enhance their appearance, self-image, and quality of life. Professional piercing has come into its own, and it has been accepted as a part of our modern culture.

In some areas, it seems more people have visible piercings than don t! In con- junction with talented and creative body jewelry designers and manufacturers, piercing has been elevated to a legitimate art form. We re now in the second generation, with Millennial and Gen X parents bringing their children to studios for safe ear piercings, instead of the mall to be pierced by a gun.

The practice of piercing is one of the activities grouped under the term body modification. These pursuits include tattooing, scarification, branding, and other body art. The number of possible placements on the body; the array of jewelry styles, sizes, and materials; and the necessary aftercare all distinguish piercing from other types of body modification. Because piercing breaks the protective barrier of the skin and leaves a foreign object in the tissue, there are risks of infection and other potential

Elayne Angel has been an innovator and advocate of safe piercing for more than thirty years. She is a contributing writer for PAIN Magazine, and performs online consultations for anyone with piercing problems or questions. Angel is a proud member of the Association of Professional Piercers and has been honored with their President s Lifetime Achievement Award. She lives in Mérida, Mexico.

No one is more qualified to write this book than Elayne Angel. With more than three decades of professional experience to her credit, no one knows the subject better. Jim Ward, founder of Gauntlet, the world s first body piercing studio
 
This is an exciting book for a field that has exploded in the last two decades. National industry standards are needed, and Elayne provides important data. Myrna L. Armstrong, RN, EdD