Tattoo & Piercing

Q and A: Tongue Piercing – Fact Versus Fiction The Question: Can a tongue piercing really close up if you leave jewelry out of it for just a few days? The Answer: Actually, yes. There are any number of factors that contribute to how quickly or slowly a piercing will “close.” If you ask your piercer, they’ll likely warn you that how long you’ve had the piercing, how healthy it is currently, and even just your individual anatomy can all play a role. Even though completely healing shut within a short period of time is unlikely, it’s entirely possible for […]

Quick Take: Body Jewelry Replacement Balls 101 Shopping for body jewelry can be a very confusing experience, especially if you’re new to the world of piercing. There are many different items that may look similar but have very different uses, and ordering the wrong kind of replacement ball is one of the most common mistakes made when purchasing body jewelry online. You will notice the terms “captive bead,” “internally threaded,” or “externally threaded,” and may wonder what they all mean. It’s important to know the difference so you can get the right fit for your jewelry. Here’s some important information […]

Quick Take: Body Jewelry That’s for Real – Metal Mania The month of November is Real Jewelry Month, and to celebrate we’re breaking out the knowledge and know-how that will help pretty much anybody make a solid jewelry choice. First up: the goods on real precious metals. You’ve probably at least heard of all the standard jewelry materials, such as sterling silver, white or yellow gold, and platinum. What you might not know though is exactly what the difference is between these major metals, and what divides their sub-groups from eachother to determine karat weight. We’ll start with sterling silver. […]

Quick Take: Choosing Microdermal Body Jewelery If you or a friend have a microdermal anchor and you’re interested in changing out the visible portion of your jewelry, there’s a couple of things that you’ll want to know. First off, not all dermal tops are created equal. There are a few different sizes that you’ll commonly run across, and knowing which one you need is the best way to proceed. Most dermal jewelry will be threaded for either a 14 or 16 gauge, and that means you MUST know which size your anchor is, because if you get the wrong one, […]

Quick Take: Bracelet Yourselves Bracelets have always been a popular jewelry item. For both men and women, young and old, there’s not a single style without some type of bracelet to accommodate it. The great thing about bangles though is what they can do that’s not fashion related. With allergies to food items growing exponentially in recent years, a silicone bracelet can be the difference between a quiet day enjoying life, and a trip to the nearest emergency room. Using customizable bracelets to label food or medication allergies, particularly for kids, is a great way to guard against unnecessary incidents. […]

Quick Take: Circular Body Jewelry There are five basic types of circular body jewelry: the ball captive ring, the horseshoe, the pincer, the segment ring, and the spiral. These five types will come in a variety of sizes and styles and will generally require two basic measurements: the thickness, or “gauge,” and the diameter. Ball captive rings, often called simply BCRs, are wearable in a large range of piercings provided the correct sizing is available. They consist of two parts: an open ring, and a bead or ball that is held in place by divots to close the ring. Horseshoes […]

Quick Take: Customized Fishtail Nose Rings Having a hard time finding standard nose rings that fit comfortably? Then you might just have a unique sizing need, which can be accomplished by having a piercer custom fit your nose jewelry. Here’s how it works: First, you’ll want to purchase what’s called a fishtail nose ring. This is an extra long, straight piece of nose jewelry that’s specifically made to be custom fit. Because the fishtail is about 19mm, or 3/4″ long, and it has no shaping or bulb to hold it in place, it can’t be worn as is. Then you’ll […]

Quick Take: Dermal Jewelry Styles For anyone who’s interested in getting dermal body art, or already has a dermal piece that they’re looking to purchase parts for, there’s a few key points that can make the experience a whole lot easier. Stick with us, and your next dermal purchase will be a piece of sparkling cake. First you’ll need to know exactly what type of dermal you have (or want to get). There are four main styles of dermal piercing: microdermal, trans-dermal, sub-dermal, and skin diver. Microdermals are by far the most common, and as such enjoy the highest jewelry […]

Quick Take: Earring Styles and Sizing It’s not something most of us usually think about, but there’s so much more to earrings these days than simply “pierced or clip.” Think about it for a second, and you’ll probably see what I mean. Clip earrings for instance, have several different styles. There’s spring closures (used mostly for clip on hoops), regular clips, and screw-on clips. In vintage earrings, the standard clip is generally most popular, but for modern styles, screw-on backings have quickly caught up. Pierced earrings too have several different styles. There’s studs, posts, kidneys, fishhooks, leverbacks, and threaders, all […]

Quick Take: Getting a Little Closure Buying necklaces is super fun, but when it comes down to the specs, sometimes it’s difficult to decipher the lingo, like with necklace closure types. So we’re here to make sure that you’re never left guessing again. Here we go! There are literally dozens of closure styles for necklaces and bracelets, but as long as you know the basic few that are used the most, chances are you won’t have to worry. The common necklace clasps are: the spring ring, the lobster claw, the magnetic clasp, the toggle closure, the fold over clasp, and […]