Here is a brief introduction to the types of body piercings. You should know them before you get pierced. That way, you can choose the type that’s right for you.

ear piercing

The ear piercing is by far the most common piercing seen. Women have been getting their earlobes pierced for decades, and men have started doing the same in the last 40 years. Ear lobe piercing is the most socially acceptable piercing. Most employers will allow at least one small earring in each lobe, except for safety reasons. This can be for simple decoration, or to show solidarity and a member of a social group. Military personnel, especially naval officers, pierced their left earlobe as a show of camaraderie. Homosexual men used to get their right earlobe pierced as a show of “gay pride.” This is not the case. Men and women now pierce one or both lobes, either once or multiple times as a matter of self-expression.

Ear cartilage piercing is also common. Lesbians have begun to pierce the upper right corner of their ear cartilage for the same reason of solidarity. There is no widely known symbolism for piercings in other parts of the ear cartilage. Most portions of ear cartilage can be safely pierced by an experienced professional.

nose piercing

The nose is traditionally pierced in two places, the first on the side of one nostril. Smaller studs are usually placed at this location. The second is a cartilage that goes through the septum or the central part of the nose. This piercing has been affectionately nicknamed, “the responsible facial piercing”, because if a small U-shaped bar is placed there, the piercing can easily be pushed back into the nostrils. This makes the perforation more difficult to detect.

Tongue piercing

Tongue piercings run vertically from the upper to the lower surface of the tongue. This piercing is said to increase pleasure during oral sex, but most people have this piercing for cosmetic purposes. With the right jewelry, this piercing will heal very quickly, but extra care should be taken when wearing metal jewelry. Metal can damage gums and tooth enamel.

nipple piercing

Nipple piercing is done equally by men and women. This is a piercing that is considered attractive. However, many also choose this piercing because it increases the sensitivity of the nipple, making the sensation more pleasant. Because individual nipple sizes vary, this piercing is more difficult for some than others. Smaller nipples are much more difficult to pierce. Those with smaller nipples are advised to seek a professional with more experience in this area.

Naval Drilling

In ancient Egypt, this particular piercing was reserved solely for the pharaoh. In today’s society, this is a common piercing. This piercing is usually worn by those who want to show off their half drift. This piercing is more common in women than in men, solely because there are styles of women’s blouses designed to show off this area.

genital piercing

Genital piercing is popular with both men and women. Those that pierce directly or very close to the sexual organs amplify sensation to make stimulation more pleasurable. Some of the popular piercing sites for the male genitalia include: the tip/head, at the base of the shaft on the public bone, and the scrotum. For women, piercings can be placed on: the clitoris; The hood; inner and outer lips; and the triangle.