Tattoo & Piercing

Quick Take: Sizing for Body Jewelry Studs If you have any piercings of the lips or ear cartilage, chances are good that you’ve seen or even worn what’s generally referred to as a “stud.” This is basically any piece of jewelry that has a post with a flat back, and a ball or charm that either screws on or pushes in at the other end. Given the versatility of stud jewelry, it’s easy to accidentally get the wrong size, as so many sizing options are readily available. So here are some general pointers to help out just a little: Gauge […]

Quick Take: Time to Break Out the Belly Chain Thanks to photo sharing sites, celebrities, and designers, the belly chain has really been making a comeback, but when you want to rock out with some chains on, how do you know which one to get? Once you know just one or two basics, it’s actually refreshingly easy. First, you need to know that there are two basic types of belly chains out there: pierced, and non-pierced. Since belly chains for pierced bellies most often come with a belly ring attached as part of the item, they’ll look pretty silly if […]

Jewelry Fashion Fix: Checked to Impress If there’s one thing that everybody thinks of during the Summer, it’s being outside in the bright, warm sunshine, and what better thing to do outdoors than eat? Picnics have seen a huge comeback in recent years, with special baskets, fun and easy finger food recipes, and alfresco dinnerware designs popping up all over the internet and in magazines. And what’s one of the coolest things about picnics? That sweet retro checkered blanket of course! Cute retro checks and plaids are becoming a major style staple, not just for Summer, but all year round. […]

Pinktober: Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Even though the month is almost over, it’s never too late to support one of the most important women’s health causes around the world: Breast Cancer Awareness. With an estimated 1.4 million new cases being diagnosed each year worldwide, Breast Cancer effects the lives of persons in every country, every social class, and every age group. Wearing pink is a great way to show support for all of our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends who are struggling with this deadly disease or working towards the evolution of a cure. A portion of the proceeds from […]

High Quality Studio, Low Quality Apprenticeship I have strong memories of the year I turned 20. Mostly surrounding landing my second piercing apprenticeship. See, I started piercing at 18 in a shop that wasn’t great. Low quality jewelry, incorrect skip prep, bad sterilization. You name it- if it was wrong I was probably doing it. It absolutely broke my heart when I realized what a bad piercer I was and what bad education I had gotten. I quit as soon as I realized the full extent of the mistakes I had been making. I spent months looking for a new […]

Alcohol and Tattoos: What You Should Know About Their Incompatibility Getting a tattoo on your skin seems to be a great reason to celebrate. But drinking alcohol can turn a beautiful piece of art on the skin into a health hazard. Alcohol is not recommended for a few days before tattooing, as well as after. Most people assume that under the influence of alcohol it will be easier for them to get a tattoo, so to speak, “relieve their suffering.” But it is not always the case. Everyone is different, while some feel that the alcohol they drink reduces pain, […]