Posted by: Sarah on Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Under the Skin - Victoria Tattoo Convention
by Kyle Slavin
Victoria, B.C. - They don’t look like your typical businessmen. None of three is wearing a suit or tie, and it’s hard not to be distracted by the details in the clusters of tattoos that adorn their arms, legs and faces. Shawn Steinberg, Scott Pettersen and Erik Van Kobra are the brains behind this weekend’s Capital City Tattoo Convention, the first of its kind in Greater Victoria. “The interest is there (and has) been for a while now. For us to have never had an event like this ... it’s almost a no brainer to finally do it,” Van Kobra said, his partners jumping into the conversation. “And there’s just so many talented artists here,” Steinberg added.

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Posted by: Sarah on Monday, March 08, 2010
It's okay for pregnant moms to keep their belly rings
by MCT News Service
File this under what you won't learn from "What to expect when you're expecting." Women no longer have to stop wearing their belly button rings during pregnancy because Pregnancy Piercings has come up with belly-button ring extenders to use while those bellies grow and grow. Pregnancy Piercings uses long, plastic-like rods to keep the actual piercing from closing up.

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Posted by: Sarah on Monday, March 08, 2010
Interview with Piercing Artist Kali
by Sean Dettman - Prick Magazine
I've been piercing at Fine Line Tattoo in Garland,Tex. for about two years. Modeling is more of a hobby. I mean, what girl doesn't like getting dressed up and having her picture taken? As far as being a tattoo artist, I would love to be one, but am far from it. I need to draw more, watercolor more, and just generally work my ass off more. I don't want anything handed to me cause I am a pretty girl; I want to work for it just like the boys do.

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Posted by: Sarah on Saturday, March 06, 2010
Clients of 'Needlez Tattoo' Urged to Call Public Health
by Niagra Region News
Niagara Region Public Health has issued a closure order to Needlez Tattoo, a tattoo establishment located at 16 Thorold Road East in Welland, owned and operated by Kaine Mackey. This facility was in operation from December 2009 through to March 2010. Public Health received a public complaint regarding this facility and conducted an onsite inspection to assess the status of tattooing and piercing equipment and sterilization techniques. At this time there is no evidence of transmission of infectious diseases, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, but the discovery of the improperly sterilized equipment indicates a potential risk that should be discussed with Public Health officials

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Posted by: Sarah on Saturday, March 06, 2010
Borosilicate Glass
by BME Encyclopedia
Borosilicate glass is a type of glass commonly used to make laboratory glassware, glass cookware, and body jewelry. It is often sold under the brand name Pyrex. Borosilicate can withstand much more severe thermal stresses than ordinary glass without breaking, and when it does break, it tends to crack rather than shattering dangerously. It is chemically inert and as a result highly biocompatible—especially useful for body jewelry. Though it is still a glass (and thus not suitable for thin jewelry which can be easily broken), borosilicate is one of the most inert materials available for piercings where simple, larger gauge jewelry is an option.

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Posted by: Sarah on Saturday, March 06, 2010
Follow the Ink
by Meredith Healey - Ottawa Citizen
The first time a needle embedded ink into her skin, Julie Larocque felt like a more beautiful woman. The electric buzzing became harmonious, a lullaby that put her to sleep. Fifteen years later, 33-year-old Larocque now has more than 500 hours inked onto her body. Each of her 60 tattoos — which cover her arms, back, chest, neck, half of her feet and half of her leg — tells a different story of struggle, strength, and courage. Single mother to an autistic 11-year-old boy, Larocque has dedicated her life to his condition. She provides 24-hour care to her son, counsels other families living with an autistic child, and has the autism ribbon permanently etched onto the back of half her leg.

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, March 03, 2010
My Under the Eye Microdermal Piercing
by Lexi - BME Zine
I have wanted a mircodermal piercing since I first learned they existed. I love the simple look of the piercing and the fact that you can get them just about anywhere. When I learned that they are a lot less likely to reject than surface piercings I knew I had to get one. I had my anti-eyebrow pierced in the past and I loved it but after about 5 or 6 months it started to reject and I decided to take it out before it left too bad of a scar. I was really pissed about having to take it out so when I found out about dermals I was physced. I decided I wanted one where the first hole of my anti eyebrow used to be, under the left side of my left eye.

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Tattoo History: A caveman came a calling
by Darren Whiting
Believe it or not, most scientists believe the origins of tattoos date back to about 3300 BC. They believe that certain marks found on the skin of the ‘TZI’, a mummified body of an iceman found in the Italian Alps, were considered tattoos back in his day. If their acceptance is true, these marks on his body represent the earliest known evidence for tattoos in history. All we know for sure, up until now, is that there are tattoos found on Egyptian and Nubian mummies dating from about 2000 BC. Classical authors also mention the use of tattoos in ancient societies such as the Greeks; Germans; Britons; Romans and Gauls.

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Posted by: Sarah on Monday, March 01, 2010
Body art culture redefines free expression
by Carolyn Supinka
Over the years, tattoos have served as talismans, status symbols, family associations, and markers of significant events, and they have appeared in numerous societies all around the world. Today in America, people seem to get tattoos for a variety of reasons, sometimes to mark a meaningful occasion or even simply as a way to acquire a new, distinct accessory. So even though they might not be used for magical purposes today, people still use them to express themselves. And though amulets and talismans aren’t often seen on forearms and necks, the occasional wizard makes an appearance. “I’ve done, like, 20 wizards a few years ago.” McQuade said, shaking his head. This influx of sorcerers probably coincided with the release of the Harry Potter movies.

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Posted by: Sarah on Sunday, February 28, 2010
Women embrace tattoos as art
by Anna Rushworth
New Zealand - They used to be the ultimate mark of masculinity, proudly displayed on tough young men's biceps. But now tattoo artists say that more than half of their customers are women of all ages and backgrounds. Darren Watkins, senior artist at Dermagraphic Tattoo Studio in central Auckland, said there has been a move to more middle-class and professional women.

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Posted by: Sarah on Sunday, February 28, 2010
Does Kristen Stewart have her nipple pierced?
by OK! Magazine
Twilight star Kristen Stewart, who is dating co-star Robert Pattinson, sparked rumours she has her nipple pierced as she posed on the red carpet in a sheer top. Just hours before she was spotted kissing her boyfriend and Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart revealed more than photographers had bargained for as her sheer blouse marked the outline of what looked like a nipple piercing. While attending the Burberry show in London, the star’s grey blouse sparked wicked whispers on gossip sites about whether or not she has her left nipple pierced.

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Posted by: Sarah on Saturday, February 27, 2010
Alter your body, be careful of your health
by Lesley Teoh
Singapore - Meet Mr Mervyn Haze Chan. The 22-year-old looks like any other young man from afar. But look closer and you see circular protrusions on both hands. They are caused by ring-shaped silicon implants. When he shows you his tongue, you note it is split. 'I got my implants because I think they look good. But I guess on some level, I like the attention too,' he said. He paid $200 for the 30-minute tongue job. It was done at a friend's house by a body modification artist from Spain. Mr Chan is among a small community here - estimated to be fewer than 60 people - who have gone for extreme body alterations.

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Posted by: Sarah on Saturday, February 27, 2010
Leona Lewis unveils new poetic back tattoo
by Donna Mcconnell
In pop star terms, X Factor winner Leona Lewis was once considered to be as dull as dishwater. But lately the singer has decided to sex up her once rather tame image, and what better route than via a tried and tested method - a tattoo. Leona unveiled her first - a Hebrew inking on her wrist - last year. And last night at the glamorous charity fundraiser, the Love Ball, she showed off her second, a poetic inking and tribute to her favourite animal, the horse. The tattoo which runs from the nape of her neck to her back reads: 'Their beauty captures every eye, a gift from God for all mankind, they lend us wings so we may fly, to ride a horse is to ride the sky.'

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, February 24, 2010
How old is old enough for piercing?
by Wency Leung - The Globe and Mail
Although Health Canada provides guidelines to prevent the spread of infection, the federal government does not set a legal age requirement for body piercing. Professional body piercers and health authorities say the minimum age differs according to the regulations of each province and municipality, but where no requirements exist, it’s left up to the individual operator’s judgment. In British Columbia, for example, provincial recommendations on ear and body piercing call for parental consent for minors, under the age of 19.

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Posted by: Sarah on Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Olympic Tattoo Designs & Symbols
by The Vanishing Tattoo
Tattoos have of course, have long been used by many cultures around the world to ensure good luck and fortune and a propitious outcome. Athletes in certain sports may get a tattoo that symbolizes excellence in their field, like sharks or dolphins for swimmers, or the equipment used in their sporting disciple. An excellent example is the number of National Basketball League players with tattoos of nets and basketballs. For Olympic athletes, some favored tattoo designs are representations of the Olympic Rings or the Olympic Torch, or the Olympic Emblem, which is unique to each Summer and Winter Olympic.

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Posted by: Sarah on Monday, February 22, 2010
Downtown tattoo shops profit from patriotic Games fervour
by Janaya Fuller-Evans
Tattoo shops looking to cash in on the Olympic fervour might be out of luck, except for those in the downtown core. David Nixon owns the two Adrenaline tattoo and piercing shops in Vancouver, with one at 1014 Granville St. and the other at 1926 West Fourth Ave. The shop on West Fourth has seen a slight decrease in traffic since the Games began but the Granville location has been booming.

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Posted by: Sarah on Sunday, February 21, 2010
Types of Body Modification
by Whitney
There are all sorts of different types of body modification ranging from the simplistic and commonly accepted body building and hair dye to the more permanent such as tattoos to the more hardcore such as scarification and implants. Basically, anything that you do to your body to alter the way that it naturally appears is a body modification, so that will include body building, hair dye, and plastic surgery.

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Posted by: Sarah on Saturday, February 20, 2010
Beyonce 'Faked Nose Piercing To Trick Her Mom'
by Angry Ape
Bad Beyonce - she once pretended to get her nose pierced to fool her mom. After Knowles got her ears pierced five times, she worried just how her mother would react - so she faked a nose stud to take away attention from her real piercings. Bey recalled the naughty stunt, saying: "When I was a teenager, I had five piercings in each ear. I didn't ask my mother's permission and I thought, 'She's gonna kill me', so I got a magnetic stud and put it in my nose.

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Posted by: Sarah on Friday, February 19, 2010
MissInkAmerica.com Pageant
by Ray Schweibert
The inaugural MissInkAmerica.com Pageant is the concept of father-son entrepreneurs Michael and Cyprian Jennetta, and will involve 10 women with a variety of “body art” like tattoos and piercings competing in a format similar to the Miss America Pageant. The women will vie for approval from three judges in categories like lingerie, club wear and formal attire, discuss their personal platform issues, and answer randomly selected questions during their walks down the runway. Judging will be based on their personal platforms (issues such as homelessness, domestic violence, literacy and education, etc.) and question response, overall beauty and, of course, body art.

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Posted by: Sarah on Thursday, February 18, 2010
Cheeky Piercings
by Brittany
I am currently an apprentice at Ink Kandy Tattoo in Hollywood, CA, Chris Saint is my mentor. I had been wanting my cheeks pierced for a few months, I had asked Chris if he would want to do them for me, he agreed. I was extremely hesitant about the idea, but he said whenever I want them to let him know and we will do it. So a few weeks had passed and I came out and said "okay let's do it!" I set up for the procedure, obviously because I'm his apprentice, I had never seen them be done before, so I was curious about the set up.

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Why fashion is going wild for the temporary tattoo
by Times Online
Even the pop charts are obsessed with it. “You want a temporary tattoo, don’t you?” warble the Sugababes over and over. They may be talking kisses, but the rest of us are talking Chanel, particularly the Chanel temporary tats that were on display at the SS10 catwalk show. Since then, beauty and fashion mavens have been desperate to get their hands on them, and the waiting list at Selfridges has been off the beauty Richter scale. But the wait is almost over — the transfers go on sale on March 1 at Chanel boutiques and Selfridges London, where a big fashion event is planned to herald their arrival.

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Posted by: Sarah on Monday, February 15, 2010
Buddhist tattoos gaining popularity in Singapore
by Philip Lim
Singapore --0 When Ben Loke wanted to boost his financial prospects, he approached neither his banker nor his broker. Instead, the 35-year-old company executive asked a professional tattooist to ink on his back a "sak yant" religious symbol which he hoped would bring him wealth and happiness. "I'm a Buddhist, and the scriptures that are being tattooed on my back will give me some protection," he said as he prepared to go under a needle wielded by a visiting Thai expert. The sak yant form of tattooing originated in Thailand and is gaining popularity in Singapore, a predominantly ethnic Chinese city-state with a strong Buddhist and Taoist tradition.

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Posted by: Sarah on Monday, February 15, 2010
Body Jewelry Plugs as Hearing Aid?
by Uber Gizmo Blog
Body modification has its fair share of fans and detractors, and if you fall under the former category, then you might want to check out the PLUG hearing aid concept. Why do we say so? After all, the stereotype hardcore body modification aficionado will most probably indulge in a whole lot of rock music during his/her youth at some really insane volume levels, which is why a hearing aid would come in handy in their later years

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Posted by: Sarah on Monday, February 15, 2010
A Piercing New Trend
by Erin Bradfield
The microdermal piercing fad sweeping the country may look familiar, but it’s a little more complicated than the peel-and-stick earrings some have as children. Using a small plate placed under the skin, microdermal piercings appear to rest on the surface and are permanently embedded in the person’s skin. They have become quite popular in the last few years as people are catching on and more piercers are learning the craft.

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Posted by: Sarah on Friday, February 12, 2010
Licensed Calgary tattoo artists applaud crackdown
by Calgary Herald
Closing unlicensed tattoo parlours could help prevent "every Joe and their dog" from ordering equipment online and setting up shop in their basements, say those who run some of Calgary's 45 legitimate operations. Officials with Alberta Health Services confirmed Wednesday they've closed seven home-based tattoo parlours and encouraged patrons of the businesses to immediately get tested for hepatitis B and C, and HIV.

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Posted by: Sarah on Thursday, February 11, 2010
Sparkle and shine with the latest must-have skin jewels
by Kilkenny Advertiser
I have always wanted a tattoo or a body piercing - but without having to go through the pain! So while I will never go through the discomfort of getting a tattoo or a piercing I have found other means of achieving the desired look. This spring expect to see plenty of stick- on body jewellery and tattoos. Inspired by Chanel, the body art has been seen on celebrities who are using jewels to create stunning body art that looks beautiful without being permanent.

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Body Art vs. Body Tart
by Jane Cafarella
It's often said that it's the things we didn't do, rather than those we did, that we regret as we grow older. However, for me there is one exception: my tattoo. These days, tattoos are the norm rather than the exception. Nobody turns a hair when a young girl strides past with reptilian arms, or when the person in the queue in front of you has a back that doubles as a billboard. In fact, there seems to be an epidemic of tattoos among the young. I know I should feel vindicated. But I don't. Instead, I feel like rushing up to them and asking, ''What on earth were you thinking?''

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Lower Lip Piercing - Labrets and Lowbrets
by Karen L. Hudson
A standard labret piercing is located directly under the center of your lower lip. It's decorated with stud jewelry (not a ring); otherwise it would just be called a lip piercing. Because it pierces the lip horizontally front to back, it's both a facial and oral piercing, meaning you have to care for it two different ways. A lowbret is just like a labret but it rests lower down the chin, being pierced just above the connective tissue that attaches your lower lip to the bottom of your gum line.

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Health Officials Close Underground Calgary Tattoo Parlours
by CTV News
Alberta Health Services has closed seven home-based tattoo and piercing parlours in Calgary. "We have strict health and safety standards in place and only those facilities that meet these standards are approved for these types of procedures," says Dr. Judy MacDonald, the deputy medical officer of health. Tips from the public about sterilization practices at the unapproved parlours led to the closures.

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Lady Gaga Thanks Her 'Little Monsters' With New Tattoo
by MTV News
Lady Gaga simply adores her little monsters. And, for those of you who are not hip to Gaga's lingo, "little monsters" is her pet name for her fans. So after she took home two Grammy Awards on Sunday night and managed to boggle everyone's minds with her out-there fashion and Elton John-assisted performance, she decided to make her love for her fans permanent. Gaga took to her Twitter to show off a new tattoo that reads "Little Monsters" in swirling script on her arm. There's no better way to say "I love you" than a tattoo, right? "Look what I did last night," she tweeted. "Little monsters forever, on the arm that holds my mic."

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Surface Piercing
by BME Zine
A surface piercing is a piercing where the entrance and exit holes are (usually) pierced through the same flat area of skin. First, let one thing be very clear: Most surface piercings fail, not because surface piercings are impossible, but because there are a lot of totally incompetent piercers out there that don't understand how the body heals. So go to an experienced pierce that can show you "healed" photos of surface piercings they've done!

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Posted by: Sarah on Friday, February 05, 2010
Art school graduates are making a fine art of tattooing
by Mary Carole McCauley
Troy Timpel spent two years enrolled at the elite Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. He studied color theory, human anatomy, composition and 21 centuries of art history from the ancient cave drawings to the present. The affable 37-year-old draws upon every bit of his formal training each time he sits down to work on his preferred canvas -- the human skin. Industry insiders say that tattooing, which in the U.S. traces its roots to carnival side-shows and sailing ports, is increasingly become the province of art school graduates.

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Posted by: Sarah on Friday, February 05, 2010
Perfectly Pierced: Profile of Piercer Dana Burnidge
by Alexandra Laing
Dana Burnidge decorates people. As the in-house piercing technician at Chameleon Ink Tattoo& Body Piercing in downtown Bellingham, Burnidge has been pierced more than 200 times in his lifetime. He currently has 23 piercings of his own—ranging from an eyebrow piercing to dermal anchors on his cheek bones. Burnidge’s road to piercing began with a fascination for medical technology and health safety. Before entering into his current piercing career he was on the path toward becoming a pharmaceutical chemist.

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Trending Tattoos
by Hallie Davis
Sociology Professor Jerome Koch and the Body Art Team have done extensive research into every aspect of tattooing and piercing, who gets them and why. The Body Art Team has published 23 works, and their research has been featured in National Geographic, Time Magazine, Cosmopolitan and The Washington Post. Throughout the research, Koch said, one of the biggest findings was people with only one tattoo are no different from the rest of the population.

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Return of the Bling
by BME Zine
I've wanted my nose pierced since I was 12. It was the first body mod that I was interested in, a gateway mod, as it were. However, while my desire to get my nose pierced launched my love of piercings (and later tattoos) I actually didn't get it done until I was 24 years old. I opted for more easily hideable piercings, such as conches, helix, and later nipples and tongue. A little background on my 2 attempts and 1 success at having my nose pierced. For my 24th birthday my best friend offered to buy me a nose piercing. I was so excited I was ready to agree to go to any shop she picked.

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Posted by: Sarah on Monday, February 01, 2010
Worshippers Pierced With Hooks At Festival
by Damien Pearse
Thousands of devotees gathered for a Hindu festival piercing their tongues, skin and nipples with hooks holding coconuts and other fruit. Thousands of devotees gathered for a Hindu festival piercing their tongues, skin and nipples with hooks holding coconuts and other fruit. The annual Kavadi festival saw a procession of brightly coloured worshippers move through the coastal city of Durban in South Africa. The festival is held in honour of the Hindu deity, Lord Muruga, the god of war and patron deity of the Tamil people.

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Posted by: Sarah on Sunday, January 31, 2010
Young women most likely to get tattoos
by The Sunday Telegraph
Sailors and motorcycle gang members are synonymous with tattoos, but young women are now the demographic most likely to get inked. Tattoos are commonplace on red-carpet A-listers including David and Victoria Beckham, Angelina Jolie, Rihanna, even teen star Miley Cyrus and a new survey by Australian research company UMR has found women under 30 are the group most likely to find tattoos highly attractive. About 62 per cent like tattoos on men's arms the most.

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Posted by: Sarah on Saturday, January 30, 2010
Kiss of Fire: The ABC's of Branding
by Fakir Musafar
"Kiss of Fire" is the title I used for an article in the very first issue of BODY PLAY way back in 1992. At that time, very few people had brands or did any branding. The subject and "how-to" of branding was a complete mystery both in the subculture and among the general public. The world was filled with misinformation and myth. But I had been intrigued by the practice for about thirty years and had slowly learned, by trial and error, what works and what does not work on humans.

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Posted by: Sarah on Saturday, January 30, 2010
Parlor Precautions
by Hallie Davis
Every surface is sterilized, the equipment comes clean and new out of machine-sealed bags, the instruments are wrapped in plastic bags to avoid any chance of contamination, and a skilled professional puts on clean gloves, ready for the procedure. This is not a medical lab, it’s a tattoo parlor. At Big Buddha, tattoo artist Justin Adkins explained the precautions he takes between each tattooing. He said he begins with sterilization of anything in the room that may come in contact with anything that could come in contact with skin.

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Posted by: Sarah on Thursday, January 28, 2010
Want smudge-proof eyeliner? Just tattoo it on!
by Alexandra Shimo
Sandra Serafini of Hamilton, Ont. was on her way home from the gym with a friend a few years ago when he remarked that one of her eyebrows looked as if it was slipping down her face. In fact, the 49-year-old flight attendant's makeup was merely smeared, but she vowed to avoid such future embarrassments by undergoing what some might regard as a drastic remedy: micro-pigmentation. A precisely focused brand of face tattooing, micro-pigmentation provides an alternative to traditional cosmetics by enhancing the colour and silhouette of eyes, lips and eyebrows on a long-term basis.

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Surface Anchors, Punches, and Legislation Issues
by James Weber
After Luis Garcia’s article, titled Surface Anchor Legislation Issues, was published in the last issue of The Point (#48), many questions have been raised about the information presented, specifically regarding statements about the legality of using punches to install jewelry. As an organization, the Association of Professional Piercers has historically declined to address the use of punches by piercers. Their use has always been considered outside of the scope of body piercing—much the same way the organization has viewed branding, scarification, and tattooing. But recent legal regulations, interpretations, and determinations about the use of punches with surface anchors have made continuing this position untenable.

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Exotic Ear Piercings
by Rae Schwarz
Ears can be pierced just about anywhere from the lower lobes to the thin rim that runs around the entire shell of the ear. Modern piercing techniques allow for easy piercing and more successful healing, especially for cartilage piercings. In order to distinguish one type of ear cartilage piercing from another, a wide array of new piercing names were born. The ear is the part of the body that is the most accepting of the "if it protrudes, pierce it" school of piercing. Many individual parts of the ear can be pierced and healed successfully. In the picture shown here, the red letters indicate the location of a wide variety of ear piercing variations.

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Posted by: Sarah on Monday, January 25, 2010
Nikki Sixx and Kat Von D split
by Wenn.com
Motley Crue rocker Nikki Sixx has ended his romance with TV tattoo artist Kat Von D. The pair began dating in 2007, following Von D's divorce from fellow tattooist Oliver Peck. But Sixx has released a statement announcing the love affair is over. He says, "I want to wish Katherine (Kat Von D) nothing but the best in her life. She has loved and inspired the hell outta me and I know I have done the same for her in these almost two years we ruled the earth together. We are taking a break from our relationship for reasons that we will choose to keep personal.

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Posted by: Sarah on Sunday, January 24, 2010
The ‘lip window’ body modification
by Chris Greenhough
I’m reasonably open-minded when it comes to piercings, but even I’ll admit my stomach turned slightly upon seeing this. This spectacular ‘lip window’ body modification is essentially the same as the pyrex plugs you see in people’s stretched ears, except, you know, it’s in this dude’s face and is also a lot more gross.

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Posted by: Sarah on Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Future of Tattoos
by Surfdaddy Orca
Animated and programmable LED tattoos connected to your brain? You could show off your latest Flash animations, watch TV on your arm, or have a built-in PDA screen. The possibilities are endless. Perhaps more than simply a fashion statement, you could use such LED tattoos to display medical information about your body such as blood-sugar readings. A recent article in MIT Technology Review describes a new type of super-thin silicon transistor that can be embedded on a dissolvable silk-based film and can do all of that.

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Posted by: Sarah on Friday, January 22, 2010
Legion and Hollywood’s Most Incongruous Fake Tattoos
by Amos Barshad
Over the past few weeks our subway stop has been plastered with posters for angel-warfare movie Legion, out tomorrow. And that means pretty much every day over the past few weeks we’ve been asking ourselves, “Is that really Paul Bettany? The guy from Wimbledon? With tattoos?!” Of course, Bettany’s just the latest in a long line of Hollywood stars that don’t quite manage to pull off their fake body ink. To make Paul less lonely this week, we've collected some of questionable tattooing’s greatest cinematic moments.

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Posted by: Sarah on Friday, January 22, 2010
Educate yourself before getting a piercing
by Grant McArthur
Dozens of young people have needed emergency treatment as they suffer from their piercings. In preparation for the annual rush of summer piercing problems the Australian Medical Association yesterday launched a campaign calling on young people to know the risks before committing to a piercing, warning of longer term dangers such as hepatitis B and C and Aids. The move has also been welcomed by some in the body-piercing industry, such as Dane Lofthouse from Punktured Body Piercing, who said it was vital customers checked a piercer's abilities and made sure they received the correct jewellery and after-care advice.

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, January 20, 2010
How many kinds of body jewelry plugs are there?
by Lori Wilkerson
The term body jewelry plugs refers to the large gauge inserts that are used for stretched openings in the earlobes. While most people think first of the solid plugs that are rather like a cork that stops up the hole, plugs for your stretched ears actually come in a variety of styles that are all considered ear plugs. When considering ear plugs for your stretched lobes, make sure you have a good understanding of the types available before you shop. Amazingly, you have a multitude of options when decorating this type of ear modification.

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Posted by: Sarah on Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Tattoos No Longer Taboo
by Ann Hui
For years, the tattooed marked themselves clearly as outsiders, part of a subculture firmly on the fringes of the mainstream. In recent years, the practice has gone mainstream -- everyone from movie and music stars to stroller-pushing soccer moms to briefcase-toting office workers proudly show off their body art. What was once an exclusive, subversive club now seems downright common these days. Take Kyler Moore, for example. The preppy 25-year-old insurance adjuster is getting his third tattoo -- a sea horse on his right calf. Sitting on a dental-style chair and looking less than relaxed, he grimaces as Ryan Holden, owner of Heritage Tattoo, works with the tattoo machine buzzing in the background.

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Posted by: Kim on Monday, January 18, 2010
Lizardman Enters Literary World
by Marc Hartzman
When you gawk at Erik Sprague's green, tattooed face – and let's face it, everyone does – you can't help but wonder what this forked-tongue, fang-toothed guy, better known as The Lizardman, is thinking. Now he's letting the world know. This one-time Ph.D. candidate in philosophy has written "Once More Through the Modified Looking Glass," in which he details his experiences since transforming himself into a permanent performer – a decision that has entailed an estimated 700 hours of tattoo work dating back to 1994.

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Posted by: Kim on Monday, January 18, 2010
Regular Upper and Lower Lip Piercings
by Karen L. Hudson
Standard lip piercings are pretty simple - a single piercing just outside the perimeter of the upper or lower lip that is decorated with either a CBR, circular barbell, or labret stud. It can be a single piercing or multiple piercings - there are no rules. Some of them may have special names like Snake Bites, but they're all really just variations of the standard lip ring. There are some things you should know before getting a lip piercing, though. It's both an external piercing and an oral piercing, meaning that you'll have to care for it with two sets of treatment.

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Posted by: Kim on Monday, January 18, 2010
Megan Fox's Tattoos Digitally Removed for Emporio Armani Ads
by Alicia
Fans of Transformers star Megan Fox are sure to be pleased with the Emporio Armani underwear advertising images that leaked onto the Internet this week, although many of them will undoubtedly note a missing factor in the much-hyped campaign: Fox's Marilyn Monroe tattoo. Famed photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott shot the surprisingly soft images in Los Angeles last year.

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Posted by: Kim on Saturday, January 16, 2010
The Decade In Emo
by Leor Galil
It was indeed “A Decade Under The Influence.” But while Taking Back Sunday could string together a few solid hits drenched in a post-hardcore milieu and cut with pop sensibilities, chances are no one in the band could have predicted how influential emo would become in the aughts. The presence of the word in the cultural zeitgeist was unpredictable, its stay on the pop charts was unprecedented and its evolution and mutation in the public forum was unlike any other pop culture music, fashion or phenomenon this decade.

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Posted by: Kim on Saturday, January 16, 2010
Effects of antibiotics on body piercings
by Tara Swadley
Most people know that antibiotics are good for clearing up infections. This can be a good thing if used in moderation by the average person. What many people with body piercings don’t realize is that antibiotics can have a tragic and painful affect on your body jewelry. Antibiotics can increase the rate of piercing rejection, even in totally healed piercings.

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Posted by: Kim on Friday, January 15, 2010
Coloring by the Book: Stylist gives advice on getting a good hair dye
by Jason Ashley Wright
Nick Bradford can spot an at-home hair-dye job "from a mile away." That's mainly because of the bands it leaves in the hair, said Bradford, a stylist and color expert who owns Solo Hair Gallery, 6506 S. Lewis Ave. You have to be careful when buying box color, he advised. "Not only are the processing times delayed, which doesn't cover gray; but the molecular weight of the color molecules themselves is too large, causing 'fadage' and damaged hair." What's more, you usually need two boxes to get the job done, depending on how much hair you're dealing with.

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Posted by: Kim on Friday, January 15, 2010
Latest Body Art In Prisons: Eyeball Tattoos
by Madhuri Dey eyeballJan
Body art has found a new meaning in the prisons. In a recent episode of the “Lockup”, a show on MSNBC, it was found that some of the inmates chose to color themselves red and blue- in the eye! The shocking new trend is being considered to be the latest thing in body art and body piercing. What makes one feel even more queasy about the news is the fact that these inmates do not take professional help to go about it; instead, they prefer to do it themselves, with the help of the information that is available on the internet.

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Posted by: Kim on Friday, January 15, 2010
Piercing Aftercare
by BME Encyclopedia
Decent aftercare of a piercing, among other factors, will determine the success of a piercing. There are many methods commonly used for aftercare of piercings. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap, paying attention to the fingernails, where bacteria can be trapped. Do not touch your piercing until you have washed your hands! Set up as best a sterile zone as you can by washing down the surfaces you are touching. Make your sea salt solution - ¼ teaspoon sea salt per 8oz (one cup) of distilled warm water- in a clean glass or receptacle...

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Posted by: Kim on Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Chanel To Sell Runway Inspired Temporary Tattoos
by Laura Kenney
Ladies, grab your ink. Tattoos are spring's hottest accessory. Tattoo-inspired body art was shown by fashion houses as different as Rodarte and Jean Paul Gautier on their Spring 2010 runways. But it was Chanel's wonderfully whimsical versions that got us talking, and there have been rumblings that maybe, just maybe, the fashion house would bring them to retail ever since. And we just got official word that they are.

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Posted by: Kim on Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Rich History of Body Piercing
by Harry Heiti
Although piercing parts of the body - other than the ears - may seem to be a recent fashion and lifestyle trend, body piercing actually has a rich history that dates back to ancient times. Whether as a way of personal expression, to designate societal standing, or as part of religious ritual, body piercing has been around almost as long as mankind.

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Posted by: Kim on Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Buzz About Tattoos
by Michael Corcoran
Buying and selling. Media. Conversations. Writing. Photography. Celebrity gossip. School. Is there any area of society and the workplace that the Internet hasn't profoundly affected? Tattooing. Most tattoo businesses have nifty Web sites, yes, but you still have to go to a shop to get inked up. You have to sit next to a stranger who grips the part of your body that's getting tattooed. And the needle goes in, putting marks permanently on your body. There's no virtual substitution for the smell of burning flesh. Like photo galleries of famous paintings, you can't truly appreciate the artistry of tattooing until you experience the details in person.

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Posted by: Kim on Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Body piercings visible in the food industrys
by Tara Swadley
Recently, while at the Olive Garden on Peach Street in Erie, PA, a couple was served by a waitress with her nose pierced. The couple notably stared at the tiny gem lodged in her left nostril, the man occasionally swiping at his nose as if he was warning her she had a booger showing. It should be noted this was no elderly or even middle aged couple; they were each in their early to mid 20’s. It was somewhat surprising to see a visible body piercing in an establishment such as Olive Garden in the first place. In fact, it’s most certainly against their dress code, so how this particular waitress managed to get by with it is a mystery.

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Posted by: Kim on Tuesday, September 08, 2009
What is a Flesh Tunnel?
A flesh tunnel is a kind of body piercing jewelry. A flesh tunnel is also called as a spacer and most often addressed as a gauge, ear-let and an expander. Flesh tunnels is mainly used at ear piercings - as a large gauge. Normally, flesh tunnel is stretched piercings and place through the earlobe piercing. Some of the materials used for flesh tunnel - Surgical Steel, Silicone, Acrylic plastic. A flesh tunnel is a big gauge jewelry which performed to view through the tunnel then through the piercing.

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