This section is designed as a primer on the traditional body piercings performed at Diversity. It will describe 26 of the most common piercings and give you the basic information including its origin, placement, precautions, proper jewelry & healing time.
DIFFERENT EAR PIERCINGS Ear Lobe: The ear lobe is the most common and most widely accepted body piercing done today. There is no exact location requirement for the piercing; its simply a matter of personal preference. Piercings can consist of a single ear lobe piercing or can be pierced in multiples that are evenly spaced apart. Healing Time: 4 - 6 weeks Ear Cartilage: The possiblities of the piercing are almost endless. Other than the lobe, the rest of the ear is cartilage. This makes the piercing placement endless which also makes this a popular piercing location. Some cartilage piercings consist of the rook, diath, snug and conch. Healing Time: 9 - 12 months Tragus: The tragus is the small prominence that is in front of the ear opening of the ear canal. Piercing placement is directly in the center of the natural fold where the tragus attaches to the side of the face. Healing Time: 9 - 12 months
FACIAL PIERCINGS Nostril: The nostril piercing is fast becoming very popular & common in the American culture. Placement can be made almost anywhere, however the most eye pleasing spot is in the natural fold formed where the lower edge of the nostril curves upwared and forward around the base of the nose. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks Septum: The septum is the thin membrane behind the central cartilage of the nose. This piercing can be very painful or not so bad. It depends on if the piercing actually goes through the cartilage. Septum piercings come from remote Africa to South America and Indochina. Some of the original ornaments worn in the septum included animal teeth & bones, shells and feathers. After it is healed, you will almost forget you even have it if you are wearing a septum retainer! Healing Time: 4 - 6 weeks Eyebrow: Eyebrow piercings are slowly gaining popularity, though they are still some what of a rarity at Diversity. The entire length of the eyebrow may be pierced. The piercing may be angled or placed straight up and down. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks Tongue: This is by far the most popular piercing performed @ Diversity. There is little known information about this piercings as it has just recently become so popular. There has not been any mention of it found in any other country or culture. Healing Time: 4 - 6 weeks Labret & Lip: This piercing has been very common in many tribal societies around the whole world. This piercing can be located anywhere around the lips opposite the mouth cavity. Most people prefer the appearance of the lower center part of the lip. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks Navel: The navel piercing has been regularly practiced by ancient Egyptian Royalty. This is also one of the most popular and most common piercings perform- ed today by professional piercers. The only down side to navel piercings is the long healing time & people with an "outie" cannot have this piercing performed. You must have a pronounced "innie." Proper placement is critical for proper healing. If not properly placed, this piercing is prone to re- jection and migration. Healing Time: 9 - 24 months Hand Webbing: This is not a very common piercing, however women like it for when they have their nails professionally done. Cleanliness is the main factor with this piercing as everyday manual labor and constant movement make this piercing difficult and slow to heal. You must have a rigorous cleaning routine and use some restrictions for a successful piercing. Healing Time: 6 - 12 months
MALE PIERCINGS Nipple: Among the Kabyle, a Berber tribe in northern Algeria, nipple piercings are practiced on a regular basis. This piercing hurts a lot for a few seconds but the sensual and attractiveness is wonderful. This piercing on men also encourages the nipple to become larger and more pronounced. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks Prince Albert: This is a very common piercing for men that is per- formed at Diversity. It is said to have originated from the Victorian era in England and named after Queen Victoria's consort, Prince Albert who is said to have had one. This piercing was performed back then so that men could tie the penis to the leg to hide any unsightly appearance in their clothing as the fashion was for men to wear exctremely tight fitting, crutch binding britches. This piercing is said to be the most sensual of the penis piercings; however, I personally disagree! Healing Time: 4 - 6 weeks Apadravya: This is the verticle counterpart of the ampallang. The apadravya is mentioned in the Kama Sutra, the ancient Hindu classic on love and social conduct. Its origin seems to have originated from the Dravidian people in southern India. This piercing is primarily intended for the sexual pleasure of the woman during intercourse. This piercing uses a barbell inserted vertically through the glans of the penis, through the urethra. However, this piercing can make the man orgasm up to 10 times more intense. Healing Time: 6 - 12 months Ampallang: This piercing is the most extensively documented of all of the exotic male piercings. Its origin dates to the tribal people of Borneo, Indonesia, Philippines and New Guinea. Like the apadravya, it is primarily used to enhance the sexual pleasure of the woman, but also feels great for the man. In fact some women in the countries stated above will actually deny intercourse to a man if he does not have this piercing. This piercing also consists of a barbell through the glans. Healing Time: 6 - 12 months Frenum: The frenum is the second most popular male genital piercing and seems to have originated in Europe. If one chooses to have frenums installed the whole length of the shaft,it is refered to as a "frenum ladder." This piercing may also be placed along the top or sides of the shaft as well. The lorum (shortend version of lower frenum) is placed at the base of the underside of the penis where it joins the scrotum. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks Please note: This piercing is done with a barbell; the drawing was drawn wrong!
Dydoes: Dydoes orignated shortly after World War II when some Jewish medical students who wished to regain some of the sensitivity they felt they had lost by circumcision performed them. Usually this piercing is done in pairs. Compared to the Ampallang and Apadravya, the Dydoe piercing are much more rare! Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks Foreskin: Historically, the foreskin piercings were used primarily as a form of chastity for ancient Roman & Greek slaves. However, for most people of today, it is performed to display jewelry or to heighten sexual stimulation. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks Pubic: Another piercing that is not well known, the pubic piercing also is not frequently requested. Because this piercing is considered a "surface" piercing, it is more likely to reject due to the pressure against the ring. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks Scrotum & Hafada: Nearly the entire scrotum is pierceable. One type of scrotal piercing practiced by certain Arab tribes of North Africa is known as a Hafada. Hafadas are pierced on the sides of the scrotum during a cere- mony when a youth achieves manhood. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks Guiche: The guiche originated in Tahiti, in the So. Pacific. It is performed as a puberty rite. Accordingly, a strip of raw pig skin was worn in the piercing. This is a piercing done for the pleasure of the man and is quite painful for a few seconds. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks
FEMALE PIERCINGS Nipple: Female nipple piercings were in vogue among women of France during the reign of Louis XIV and in England during the reign of Queen Victoria. This piercing is sensual and very attractive and encourages the nipple to become more larger and more pronounced. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks Labia Majora: This consists of piercing the outer "lips." It originated as a form of chastity which was practiced in Persia, Rome, Ethiopia and India. Today, these piercings are performed to enhance erotic feelings. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks Labia Minora: As with the labia majora piercing of the inner labia originated as a form of chastity. For several woman, labia piercings are performed to enhance erotic feelings. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks Clitoris: The clitoral piercing is probably the most rare of all body piercings. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks Hood: The clitoral hood is the piece of skin that partial- ly or completely covers the clitoris shaft. Clit hood piercing is rapidly becoming the most popular female genital piercing. Healing Time: 6 - 8 weeks
All images and materials contained within this site are the property of Eddie B. Horvath, unless otherwise noted, and are not to be used without his express permission.Updated: May 16, 2007 Copyright © 1997 ehorvath@sisna.com
