Tattoo & Piercing

Quick Take: Stone Plugs – Metaphysical Meanings and Uses If there’s someone in your life who’s a fan of alternative medicine, eco-friendly living, or the traditional neo-pagan arts, and that person has stretched ears, a nice pair of natural stone plugs is the perfect gift for any occasion. Which ones do you get though? Once you know what each of the major stones means and/or is supposed to do, it’ll probably be a lot easier. Here we go: Agate: In general, agates are power stones with a very stable energy, and are used for protection, healing, and to bolster courage. […]

Quick Take: Summer Care for Body Mods We all know Summer is the season of mods. Tattoos, piercings, stretch mods, brandings; this is their season to breathe, and to be shown off. The warm weather also makes it the perfect time to get new piercings and ink, but the sun does provide a whole new set of obstacles. It doesn’t have to be difficult though, and a few simple tricks can keep skin happy and healthy until the days grow cold. One of the worst dilemmas of the Summer is how to protect that new tattoo. Sunburn over freshly placed […]

Quick Take: Top Three Tips for Buying Body Jewelry Buying new jewelry can be totally tricky, especially if it’s the very first time that you’re picking new items for a specific piercing. But if you follow these few simple tips, and go in armed with the right info, you can take the worry out of shopping for good. 1. Know the name of your piercing. This one might seem like a no-brainer, but there’s tons of piercings out there that have multiple monikers or regional nicknames. Knowing all of the associated phrases, especially the “proper” or technical name, will definitely […]

Quick Take: Trending Jewelry Iconography Plenty of trends come and go, especially when it comes to accessories and jewelry, but here are three that have shown they have some staying power, and they’re all perfect companions to a budding Spring wardrobe. Take a look: Crosses Following the popularity of the St. Peter’s Cross, or “inverted cross,” more traditional cross jewelry is making a comeback, especially in golden and rosy tones. Think of it as the decidedly feminine and decorative answer to the simplistic, gothic styles that were prominent through Fall and Winter. Arrows Whether depicted lining bows, piercing hearts, or […]

Quick Take: Types of Titanium Body Jewelry For anyone who has a nickel allergy, you’ve probably at least heard about the benefits of titanium as a material for both costume jewelry and body piercing jewelry. With so many different terms being thrown around though, it can be difficult to understand exactly which titanium piece is the right one to get. So here’s a little something to help: There are two basic types of titanium jewelry: those that are titanium plated, and those that are solid titanium. Titanium plated jewelry is great for the color and durability that the coating provides, […]

Radioactive: Modified Summer Club Life If you live in a large city with glorious trans-genre nightlife, then one of the best parts of Summer is definitely going to the club. Whether it’s a teen spot frequented by our younger readers, or the VIP sec of an after hours lounge, the culture of the club was all but made for the modified. And here are some of the hottest up and coming trends that prove it: Black Light Reactive Ink You heard right; that’s permanent tattoo ink that glows fluorescent under black light. This stuff is being used right now by […]

Quiz: Which Fashion Aesthetics Fit Your Body Mods and Piercings? The most exotic piercing I would ever consider would be: A bridge piercing, for the nose that knows no bounds. You dare to get your cheek piercings or dimple piercings done. So excited to see your new smiley piercing! You’re mad for the medusa piercing. Nowhere left to go but the nipples . . . I’m interested in intimate piercings. Not a chance. No, really. None of these. Your favorite color is: Your favorite cartoon (then or now) is: The Simpsons Ren and Stimpy Family Guy Powerpuff Girls My Little […]

Rainbow Rave: Punk, Goth and Grunge go Femme for 2012 We can all take a page from the style book of the 1990’s; the era of female punk and the riot girl aesthetic. In fact, the original riot girls were some of the first female musicians, artists, and fledgling fashionistas to pioneer the look of certain piercings and tattoo styles that were once almost exclusive to the masculine side of alternative fashion. So what does rainbow punk mean in the new millennium? It’s a return to the juxtaposition of pastel grunge, but with a modern, purposely deconstructed DIY feel that’s […]

Rainbow Love: Celebrating Pride Month The Month of June is LGBT Pride Month, and we’re breaking out the best in pride-centered jewelry. Whether you celebrate with a rally, a parade, or just by showing your support with what you wear, there’s always a reason to rock out with rainbow jewelry. The rainbow is a beautiful emblem of diversity and acceptance, and has been recognized as an LGBT rights movement symbol since the 1970s. In fact, the first rainbow pride flag was designed by Gilbert Baker, an artist from San Francisco, in 1978, the same year that the country’s first piercing […]

Real Body Jewelry: How to Look Like a Million Bucks Wanna look like a million bucks? Then it’s time that you tried the best kept secret of chic and polished femme fatales around the globe: real jewelry. Of course when we say “real” jewelry, we’re talking about jewelry made with precious metals, high quality crystal, and precious or semi-precious stones. In general, jewelry that cannot be defined as imitation or “costume.” This means pieces clad in 14kt gold, sterling silver, or platinum, with secure and durable settings, and high-shine facetted gems or crystal elements. But would you like to hear […]