BodyJewelry.LifeTips.com

Transcription

1 BodyJewelry.LifeTips.com

2 Category: Belly Chains Subcategory: Belly Chains Tip: Belly Chain Basics A belly chain is a beautiful accessory for warm weather wear. They can be paired with low-waist jeans or skirts as well as with your two-piece at the beach. Ideally, your belly chain should hang just below your belly button, anchored by your hips. Here are a few tips for finding the right belly chain: Measure around your midriff, just above your hipbones. Leave a little slack. This measurement will be the ideal length of belly chain.choose a chain that's made of a high quality metal, like sterling silver. These chains look great against all skin tones and are easily cleaned by dipping in silver polish, then giving a quick warm water rinse.balance is everything: Wear a simple belly chain with more complex outfits, like jeans and tops. If you're wearing simple clothing, like a bikini or a sarong, you can generally go with more ornate belly chains.if you tan regularly, remove the belly chain or you'll get tan lines! Tip: How to wear your belly chain Belly chains are worn to accentuate the bare mid-drift, so wear an outfit that exposes your midsection. Low-rise pants and a cropped top expose just enough skin to show off a belly chain. Belly chains can be either dressed up or down, worn with other body jewelry or alone. A belly chain can add a wow factor to a simple t-shirt or tank top and jeans or be the centerpiece of a sexy nighttime outfit. However you decide to wear your belly chain, wear it with confidence. Subcategory: Belly Chains Sizing Tip: Belly Chains Length Belly chains are not a belt meant to hold up your pants. They hang from your waist, so a belly chain should be several inches longer than your waist. For instance, a woman with a 29 waist should get a belly chain that is Subcategory: Cost of Belly Chains Tip: Belly Chains Online Buy body jewelry online if you want inexpensive belly chains. A belly chain that may retail for $49 at a body jewelry shop can be had for $20 from an online retailer. However, expect to pay more if you want a sterling silver or gold belly chain.

3 Category: Belly Rings Subcategory: Belly Button Concerns Tip: Make a Date for Your Belly Button Piercing If there's one initial tip you can get about getting a belly button piercing, it's this: don't do it on a whim! You'll need to prepare your body, mind and calendar before you get it done. Body Be sure you're in good health. No colds, infections, etc. And make sure you're sober! Wear a loose-fitting top and bottoms that can be rolled down, such as stretch pants or a skirt with an elastic waistband. Mind Be sure you want this piercing. Your navel is going to need some extra care and attention after the piercing in order to let it heal. Are you able to give that time and effort? Calendar Be sure to clear your schedule for the day of and at least a few days after the piercing. Strenuous activities such as gym classes (even yoga) are not going to be possible right after your piercing. Subcategory: Belly Rings Tip: Belly Button Ring Migration One reason to make sure you take good care of a new belly button piercing is to avoid migration. This can happen when a belly button ring is played with too much, or sometimes just happens if your body "rejects" the piercing. Migration happens when the belly button ring grows out of your skin. As it heals, it moves closer to the surface and can eventually come out. If your belly button piercing does migrate out, you will need to wait until the area fully heals and then get your navel pierced again if you still wish to have a belly button ring. Tip: Belly Chain vs Dangle Belly Ring What is the difference between a belly chain and a dangle belly ring? Dangle belly rings have a single attachment that hangs down from the navel ring. They can have charms, gems, or other precious stones. The dangle ring will hang down from the belly button and may be more noticeable than just a regular ring. Belly chains are readily available at any body jewelry store and they are designed to enhance your waistline. Add some "spice" to your wardrobe and dress up your "look" with a sexy, gem-filled belly chain. The belly chains will typically drape around your entire waistline and there will be several layers that dangle. Whether you choose a simple one tier dangle belly ring or full belly chain you are sure to enhance your style with a new accessory for your navel. Tip: Belly Piercing & Healing Once you get your belly button pierced, you can expect a total healing time of anywhere between four weeks and a year, depending on your body's healing abilities and how

4 well you take care of your piercing. Remember that a piercing, while pretty, is still a wound that needs proper care:do not touch your belly ring if at all possible. If you need to, wash your hands thoroughly with antimicrobial soap. Rinse well.try not to sleep on your stomach while your piercing heals.avoid swimming in public pools or in natural bodies of water. Irritants from chemicals and/or bacteria can irritate your piercing.wear loose-fitting pants and shirts so your clothing won't rub against the belly ring.if any pus or "angry" redness appears after a week or so, go to your piercing technician for assistance and advice. Do not touch the piercing yourself. Tip: How to Care for a New Navel Ring You endured several minutes of pain to make your fashion statement with a new navel ring. What do you do next? How do you care for this tender area? When can you change the belly button ring? People who get body piercings should educate themselves on proper aftercare. Here are some tips for aftercare of a newly pierced navel: Always wash your hands before touching the pierced area. Do not touch it except to clean it. Take showers rather than bathing. Showering will breed fewer bacteria than a bath. Wear clean, breathable clothing that protects your piercing during sleep. Make sure your bedding is clean and change it regularly. Protect the navel with a hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies) that is secured by using a length of ace bandage around the body (to avoid irritation from adhesive). This patch is used protect the pierced area from restrictive clothing, excess irritation, and impact during physical activities such as contact sports. Leave jewelry in at all times. Even a well healed piercing can close easily. Carry a clean replacement in case of accidental loss. If you follow these aftercare guidelines you will have a better chance of combating possible infection. Tip: Stretching Belly Button Piercing If you are looking for a daring look with your belly button ring, you can have a piercer stretch the hole of your belly button piercing. This will need to be done once the piercing has healed completely, which can take up to a year. The piercer will "taper" your belly button piercing up to a larger gauge gradually, so that they don't tear the skin or damage the area. This can be an uncomfortable procedure, so be sure you know that you really want it done before you get into it. Once your belly button ring is tapered up to a larger gauge, you can wear different types of barbells and jewelry for a different effect. Tip: Things to Avoid After You Pierce Your Navel Navel rings can be "sexy", but you must let them heal properly before you can "dress up" your belly button. Here are some things to avoid after you pierce your navel in order to allow it to heal correctly. -Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry and over cleaning. - Avoid the use of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Betadine or ointment. Only use sterile saline solution

5 with no additives to clean in and around the pierced area. - Avoid stress and recreational drug use including excessive caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. - Avoid submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, jacuzzis etc., without protecting the area with a waterproof covering. - Avoid cosmetics, lotions, fragrances and sprays in or around the piercing. Basically all beauty and personal care products should be eliminated while you are healing. - Do not hang charms or any object from your jewelry or remove your ring until the piercing is fully healed (which takes around 6 months). Belly button rings are wonderful as long as you take care of your piercing and keep it free from possible irritants. An infected navel doesn't have much "sex appeal." Category: Belt Buckles Subcategory: Belt Buckles Tip: Caring for your belt and belt buckles Tips to keep your belt and belt buckle looking new: - If your belt is leather, condition it every six months to keep the leather shiny and to prevent it from drying out. - Gold belt buckles should be cleaned with warm water and non-detergent soap. Scrub the gold belt buckle with a soft-bristled brush to avoid scratching it. - Silver belt buckles should be cleaned with silver polish and a soft cloth as soon as the metal begins to appear tarnished. Category: Body Jewelry Subcategory: Body Jewelry Tip: Finding Unique Belt Buckles As body jewelry goes, you don't always need to pierce something to make a statement. Sometimes, you can even wear your jewelry on the outside of your clothes, as is the case with belt buckles. Belt buckles are much more than just a means to keep your belt shut, you can get them to express many things about yourself and what you're into. You can get buckles that are personalized, have sports or companies on them, or other decorations. A scrolling belt buckle can display your name or even a message. Possibilities are endless, and it's easy to buy a few to switch around. You can also buy different belts on which to display your belt buckles. Tip: Unusual Body Piercings You can get all sorts of areas of your ears pierced, from your tragus to your rook. There are genital and nipple piercings, and some people even get piercings that go through

6 and under scars they have! When it comes to body piercing, it seems as though there is no limit to the imagination piercers can use to think up new and more daring piercings. Category: Body Jewelry Care Subcategory: Body Jewelry Care Tip: How to Change Your Belly Jewelry We all like to change our look every so often and switching belly jewelry is an easy way to do that. Here are the basic steps to easy insertion of your belly jewelry, while keeping your skin infection-free and your jewelry in good shape: Wash both your hands and the jewelry with medical grade soap.pinch the area next to the piercing and place one end of the belly jewelry at the entrance of the hole (usually bottom to top works the best).with a finger of the pinching hand, massage around the other hole as you gently move the jewelry toward it.once the end of the belly jewelry has cleared the second hole, clasp or screw the ball in place.clean your hands and the area again to prevent infection.bonus Tip: Change belly jewelry after you shower, since the hot water will have softened the tissue around your piercing. Tip: Sensitivity and Nipple Rings For most people, just the thought of nipple rings makes them grasp their chest and wince. Imagine what your healing nipples will feel like after a piercing! Here's a great tip to keep clothing (especially bras) from rubbing and irritating your healing nipples. Fashion a doughnut-shaped cushion for yourself with sterile gauze or foam. Make sure that it can fit around the nipple with enough room inside the hole for adequate air to circulate. You can tuck these cushions into your bra or even tape them in place with surgical tape before you get dressed. It's probably a good idea to wear loose-fitting tops right after your piercing anyway, but more so if you opt for the nipple cushion, as their outline can show through your clothing. Category: Body Jewelry Materials Subcategory: Body Jewelry Materials Tip: Types of Body Jewelry Materials Belly button jewelry can be made from a number of materials, all of which are perfectly safe for long-term use. There are two basic types of belly button jewelry materials: natural and man-made. Natural Body Jewelry The best material is generally gold -- usually 18K or above -- since it does not tarnish. Platinum is also a good choice.

7 Additionally, you can have body jewelry made from bone, shell, wood or gemstones. These ultra-natural materials are wonderful for more tribal looks, but do require specific cleaning and maintenance. Speak to your piercing technician about the best way to preserve your natural material jewelry. Man-made Body Jewelry Many styles of belly button jewelry are made with man-made materials, usually due to their flexibility in the body. Since the midriff moves a lot, the jewelry ideally will do the same. Popular man-made materials used in body jewelry are acrylic, glass, PTFE (i.e., Teflon) and Pyrex. Some of these materials can cause irritation in sensitive skin, so it's best to watch them carefully over the first week or so after your piercing. If you have allergies or sensitive skin in general, you may wish to stick with the tried and true gold belly button jewelry. Category: Body Jewelry Plugs Subcategory: Body Jewelry Plugs Tip: Earlobe stretching is permanent The larger you stretch your earlobe, the less likely it is to return to its original shape. Though the hole will retract, it probably won't heal completely. Be sure that stretching your earlobe is something you can live with permanently before beginning the earlobe stretching process. Subcategory: Ear Plugs Tip: Stretching Some ear plug jewelry can be as large as 1 in diameter, but you should do a lot of soul searching before you stretch your ear that far. It varies by person, but there is a possibility that your ear may never heal if you stretch your ear beyond ¼. Category: Body Jewelry Sizing Subcategory: Body Jewelry Sizing Tip: Belly Button Ring Sizing Basics When considering belly button jewelry sizes, there are two basic types, each with varying sizes. The jewelry you'll receive for a first piercing will probably be a barbell -- a tiny stick made of a non-allergenic metal or plastic with two balls screwed onto either end to keep the stick in place. These barbells are sized by thickness and length. If you're not getting a barbell, you'll most likely get a circular ring. The size of rings is

8 determined by diameter and thickness. Typical lengths include: 5/16 inches (7.9 mm) - usually the shortest 3/8 inches (9.5 mm) 7/16 inches (1.11 cm) - standard size 1 inch (2.5 cm) - longest The thickness of either a barbell or a belly button ring is measured by gauge. A 14 gauge barbell is most common. Other commonly available thicknesses include 12, 10 and 8 gauges. If you're new to the piercing world, remember that the lower the gauge, the larger the hole. Bonus Tip: If you're looking to eventually stretch your piercing, you can begin with the lowest gauge your piercer thinks is best for you. In the long run, it will be easier to gradually increase the size of your piercing. Category: Body Piercing Subcategory: Body Jewelry Brands Tip: Healing Nose Piercing. Everyone's body is different. If you get something pierced and someone else gets the same piercing, your results could be the same or they could be unique. You should never take out a fresh piercing at three days, this is far too soon to be messing with your piercing. Noses (nostrils) take between two to four months to completely heal, and even then some people are going to have issues with pain, especially if they've never left the jewelry in long enough to heal properly. You might want to go back to a piercer and have them look at your nose to make sure there's nothing keeping it from healing, and it might heal easier with a ring in instead of a stud. Tip: Self Piercing Nose Piercing yourself is not easy, and if you push the needle through at the wrong angle, you will have a piercing that might not work for your nose, or the stud may fall out. Professionals would be able to also check that you have the right size needle and jewelry for your nose, and it would be a sterile environment. If something doesn't work at a shop, they will repierce it or at least help you to fix the problem, but if you do it yourself you could be in for scarring, infection and a botched looking nose. Tip: Stretching New Ear Piercings If the original piercing was done with a gun (for instance at the mall) you will want to wait until it has healed completely, which takes from between six to eight weeks. Then you can go to a professional piercer and have them stretched. You probably won't be able to go far on your first stretching, most piercers won't stretch more than a gauge or two. You'll need to let that heal before stretching again. Piercers do have the ability to pierce your ears right away at a larger gauge, so you wouldn't have to go through as much stretching. As to whether your ears will heal back, it depends on what you mean by small. Most of the time if you haven't had the large gauge plugs in for very long and

9 haven't put weight into them, the holes will heal up again. Subcategory: Body Piercing Tip: Nose piercing infection A nose piercing is a body piercing that requires special care because of its susceptibility to germs and the nose's proximity to the brain. The nose and brain share the same blood supply. If your nose piercing becomes infected and is not cared for properly, the infection could spread to your brain. See your doctor if your nose piercing becomes infected. Do not remove the nose ring jewelry - if the hole begins to close and the bacteria become trapped, the infection could spread through your system. Tip: Taking out body piercing jewelry Occasionally you may need to remove your body piercing jewelry. Ear piercings tend to stay open longer than other body piercings when the body piercing jewelry is removed. Body piercings such as tongue piercings, belly button piercings, and nose piercings need to have a retainer inserted. Retainers are available in clear and flesh colors, which minimize their appearance. Subcategory: Body Piercing Tips Tip: Good Metals There are several types of metals (and one plastic) that are safe to use after getting your body pierced. They are: Stainless steel Titanium 14k or 18k gold Tygon, a special plastic Category: Earrings Subcategory: Ear Piercing Tip: Diamond Stud Earrings Nothing looks classier than wearing a pair of diamond stud earrings. When you shop for great-looking diamonds, here are a few pointers for what makes a diamond truly worth your money: Size: The best size for stud earrings between 1 4 and 1 carat. Color: Anything in the G-H range is good. They'll look colorless once mounted. Clarity: Stay away from anything below SI2. Cut: This may be just as important as any other part of the diamond. A well-cut diamond reflects light and adds to its brilliance. Don't scrimp on a good cut! Bonus Tip: Most importantly, make sure your diamond seller adheres to the tenets of the Kimberly Process, which certifies that traded diamonds are conflict-free.

10 Category: Erotic Jewelry Subcategory: Body Piercing Tips Tip: Piercing Bumps It's unlikely that the bump is a keloid (raised formation of scar tissue). It's more likely that the little bump you see above your body piercing is filled with fluids that are associated with healing. With a little patience and consistent cleaning, that little bump should disappear after a few days. Consult a doctor if the bump lasts more than a week. Category: Italian Charms Subcategory: Italian Charm Bracelet Tip: Adding an Italian Charm It is a very simple process to put an Italian charm onto an Italian charm bracelet. Simply use your thumb to slide open the spring-loaded clasp mechanism on each link that you want to join, hook them together at a 45 degree angle, and then release the clasp mechanisms. The links should lock together. Tip: Italian Charm Bracelet Care Caring for your Italian charms can vary based on the materials that they are made of. Most Italian charms are made of stainless steel, but some higher end manufacturers create links out of gold. There are also gold-plated links and charms with embellishments like jewels and gold pieces. The best way to store your Italian charm bracelet is to link the charms together in a bracelet fashion (even the ones you don't want to currently wear - create a seperate bracelet of these) and keep them in a jewelry box or pouch alone, not touching other jewelry. That way, your Italian charms will not get scratched or scratch other jewelry you own. Subcategory: Styles of Italian Charms Tip: Finding Italian Charm Stores A good place to look for Italian charms are the chains of jewelry stores in malls, which will sell the modular Italian charms (such as Zoppini and related brands). Piercing Pagoda and Solid Gold are two examples of kiosks/stores that sell these charms. Other places to look for Italian charms are stores such as collectible shops, and flea markets

11 and craft shows. Finally, there are some larger department stores (such as Macy's and Filene's) that do sell the Italian charms, but depending on the popularity of the product, they may not always be available. Category: Nose Rings Subcategory: Nose Ring Tip: Nose Rings Nose rings are lovely to behold. But here's a sizing tip you should know before you switch from a nose stud to a nose ring. Many nose rings are made of a higher gauge than you may have received with your initial piercing. For example, you may have been pierced and fitted with a 19-gauge needle/nose pin. If you want to get a delicate nose ring, you're probably looking at something in the 20g range. One gauge is not that big of a deal, but do keep in mind that your piercing will adjust to the new size over time. So if you're looking to switch from a stud, screw, or pin to a ring, it's best to keep the same size gauge for your ring. Or, if you really like the smaller size, only keep it in for a few days at most. Subcategory: Nose Rings Tip: Septum Piercings Nostrils aren't the only popular location for nose piercings. Many people enjoy the tribal look of a septum piercing. In essence, this piercing involves a 16 gauge to 12 gauge needle to pierce through the cartilage between your two nostrils, on the inside of your nose. To get a better idea, think of a bull with a ring in its nose. Septum piercings take about eight weeks to heal, so using a standard nose ring, such as a captive bead ring (a ring with a bead that loosens and tightens) or a barbell, is best until you heal. After this point, you can switch to more tribal-looking jewelry such as nose bones and wood jewelry, if you choose. Tip: Types of Nose Jewelry Considering your nose doesn't offer a lot of real estate for displaying nose jewelry, there are still quite a few options when it comes to pierced nostrils. Nose Stud/Nose Pin: These are usually the best nose jewelry option for a new piercing because they stay out of the way and don't get snagged as easily as nose rings do. Also, there are many styles of nose pins, each offering a different type of display (i.e., the part that is viewable from the side of your nose). The most popular nose pin features a diamond, but be sure to ask your piercer if the diamond has Kimberly Process Certification if you want to avoid buying "blood diamonds." If s/he isn't sure, just ask where the diamond came

12 from. In general, diamonds from Africa should be avoided. Nose Screw: These are just like nose studs/pins except that instead of the pin being bent at a 90-degree angle to keep the pin in place, the pin is curved into a corkscrew shape. This allows the jewelry to be inserted and removed a little easier. Nose Ring: Nose rings are not the best choice for first-time piercings, as they move around easily. If you're set on a nose ring, then ask your piercing professional to supply a ring that has a stop on one end -- it looks more like a "C". These are different in that they have to be inserted from the inside of your nose, but if you're familiar with handling piercings this shouldn't be a problem. Category: Temporary Tattoos Subcategory: Permanent Tattoos Tip: Permanent Tattoo Safety If you care about your unborn child, you shouldn't get a permanent tattoo while you're pregnant. Like body piercing, your immune system is weakened while a tattoo is healing, and, thus, you and your child will be more susceptible to illness. Besides, reputable tattoo parlors will refuse to pierce someone who is known to be pregnant. Try applying a temporary tattoo while you're pregnant. Subcategory: Tattoo Tips Tip: Fake Tattoo Care Do not allow any type of oil to touch your fake tattoos. Unfortunately, natural body oil will slowly deteriorate your temporary tattoos, but the introduction of other oils will accelerate the deterioration process. You should also avoid wearing tight or coarse clothing. Such clothing will slowly destroy your temporary body art. Tip: Popular Temporary Tattoos A Temporary tribal tattoo is one that is worn on the arm, usually surrounding the bicep. These are very popular with men and women alike and come in styles that range from tribal patterns to barbed wire patterns. Other popular fake tatoos are temporary rose tattoos and temporary back tattoos. You can find tremendous variety of unique designs and custom designs within both of these popular categories to highlight your own individual style. Subcategory: Tattoos Tip: Tattoo History

13 People get permanent and temporary tattoos for a variety of reasons. Tattooing formerly played a part in Burmese magical and religious rituals; the Japanese adopted it as simply an ornamental art; and Moroccan women wear henna tattoos on their ankles to protect themselves during childbirth. People today get tattoos as a form of artistic expression or to signify their affiliation with a certain group. Tip: Tattoo History The term tattoo was introduced to English speakers by Captain James Cook and sailors introduced the practice of tattooing to the Western world. Cook picked up the word, which is derived from a Polynesian language, while traveling throughout the Pacific during the late 1770s. Cook also introduced the term taboo to the Western world. Category: Toe Rings Subcategory: Toe Ring Tips Tip: Miscellaneous Interest Here are a few more interesting things that you may want to know about a toe ring: 1. The toe ring is becoming more popular with men. 2. The most popular toe ring sizes for men are 5, 6, and 7, and the most common sizes for women are 3, 4, and Most people can use their toe ring as a pinkie ring. Tip: Toe Ring Placement Most people wear their toe ring on the second toe, just below or at the first joint. This is the most popular toe because it tends to have a large pad that helps to keep the toe ring from slipping off. More than 90% of people put their toe ring on the second toe. Besides, there aren't many toe rings out there that will fit your big toe. Tip: Wearing Toe Rings Toe rings are a fabulous accessory that you can wear all year round. Except when you're swimming, you should be able to wear your toe rings all the time. Regardless of what you're wearing or what you're doing, your toe rings shouldn't cause any discomfort. A high quality toe ring can be worn on a bare foot or within a shoe. Because of the variety of styles and designs, Toe rings can bring attention to your beautiful feet and are a great opportunity for expression of your personal style. Subcategory: Toe Rings

14 Tip: Buy resizable toe rings Purchasing resizable toe rings will allow you to wear the ring on different toes. If you wear toe rings in the summer, stretch toe rings can be adjusted to accommodate swollen toes while fitted toe rings may get stuck on the toe or become constricting and uncomfortable. Tip: Cleaning toe rings If you have gold toe rings or sterling silver toe rings, it's important to clean them regularly to keep them looking their best. If you wear your toe rings to the beach or with sandals, you should clean them often to prevent scummy build up. - Sterling silver tends to tarnish. Polish your sterling silver toe rings as soon as they start to look dull. - Use a non-detergent soap and warm water to clean gold toe rings. Use a soft-bristled brush to removed stubborn dirt. Category: Tongue Rings Subcategory: Tongue Ring Tip: Smoking and Tongue Piercings Smoking and tongue rings really don't mix. You should avoid smoking directly after getting your tongue pierced, as the tar and other chemicals in the cigarette smoke can cause infection and slow healing. Additionally, some people may find smoking uncomfortable for their new piercing, as the tongue is very sensitive after having a barbell put through it. At the very least try to stop smoking for a few weeks while the initial healing process is going on. Tip: Tongue Piercing Myths There are quite a few myths out there as to what will or can happen when tongue piercings go bad. Most of them are false or overstated. Here are a few myths we can clear up: You will not bleed to death from a botched tongue ring. Piercers will not attempt to pierce a tongue that has a blood vessel too close to where they have to pierce. Tongue rings do not make it harder for dentists to work on you. They may caution you about the damage tongue rings can do to your teeth's enamel, but aside from that they are not in the way for any routine care. Tongue piercings do not leave big gaping holes in your tongue once you remove the jewelry. In fact, a tongue piercing will heal much faster than other piercings do when you remove the ring, and rarely leave noticeable scars.

15 Tip: Tongue Piercing: Proper Placement Proper placement for a tongue ring is critical. With any type of oral piercing you run the risk of nerve damage, infection or even worse. The piercee can suffer unnecessary pain and discomfort if the procedure and placement is not done correctly. Here are some guidelines for traditional placement of a tongue piercing: Place the tongue ring along the midline of the tongue, basically in the center of the mouth. The tongue piercing should be approximately 3/4 or so back from the tip of the tongue. Tongue rings are commonly placed with the top a little further back than the bottom (This essentially allows the top of the jewelry to lean back slightly, away from the teeth, and towards the higher part of the upper palate where there is more room in the mouth). The tounge ring is placed just in front of the attachment of the lingual frenulum, which is the web under the tongue. Professional piercing is strongly recommended when getting your tongue pierced. Make sure your piercer is experienced and certified, don't trust just anyone to perform the procedure. Tip: Tongue Rings: Jewelry Options A tongue piercing typically takes 3-4 weeks of healing time. Every individual is different - some may heal faster and some make take longer to heal completely. Tongue ring fashion has evolved from just a few options to many tongue ring styles and material. High quality tongue jewelry should be made of certain metals including 14 K gold, implant grade stainless steel and Titanium, Pyrex glass, FDA approved acrylic and dental acrylic. A tongue ring is typically shaped like a barbell with a straight bar and balls on the ends. You can get half balls, balls with stripes and patterns or charm shaped balls. The rings come in different sized threads. Your piercer should have determined the size you need for your tongue size and thickness. You need to wear the right size of ring to ensure a comfortable fit and prevent structural damage in your mouth. Tip: What are Vibrating Tongue Rings? Vibrating tongue rings are a novelty item in the tongue ring family. They are made to wear only on occasion and not designed for every day use. These comfortable, battery operated rings tend to bring a "stimulation" to tongue ring wearers. With the use of cutting edge technology and engineering, along with specially designed vibrating tongue ring batteries, these instruments" can go at full power for minutes (of course it depends on the level of "stress" placed on them during use). As far as the purpose of the vibrating tongue ring, we leave that entirely up to you. Subcategory: Tongue Rings Tip: Healing Your Tongue Piercing In order to ensure a safe and quick healing process after your tongue piercing, you'll

16 need to do an oral rinse three times a day, or after every meal. For three to six weeks, use a medical-grade oral rinse for at least 30 to 60 seconds. If you have trouble finding a medical-grade rinse, dilute 4 oz. oral antiseptic in 4 oz. water and rinse with that. Do not use a regular mouthwash, as this will do nothing to clean your tongue piercing. Also, be sure to brush your teeth with a soft bristle toothbrush three times a day. Gently scrub the ball and pin of your tongue jewelry to avoid plaque build-up on the jewelry.