The Piercing Urge

Workshops

Please Note: the details listed in the Official Leather Pride Guide and on the Leather Pride website are wrong. Given we would hate for those interested to miss out I have decided to post the correct details here.

Scarification Workshop

As part of the Leather Pride events - The Piercing Urge will be presenting a seminar to give you the inside story on Scarification. This form of body modification can play a significant role in the BDSM lifestyle, and if you would like to know more about it, please join us.

When: Tuesday 23rd September
Time: 8-10pm
Where: Blue Velvet Bar - 60 Smith St Collingwood
Cost: $10.00

Piercing & Play Piercing Workshop

For those who can't get enough of sharp and pointy things, come along to hear all about how permanent and temporary piercing can be utilized to enhance your play experience. There will also be the opportunity to purchase play piercing supplies and ask any questions you may have about your own ideas.

When: Wednesday 24th September
Time: 8-10pm
Where: Blue Velvet Bar - 60 Smith St Collingwood
Cost: $10.00

For both workshops please book via this email

Beautiful Nipples

Here's some great info on Nipple piercings for you. Over the years nipples have remained one of the most popular piercings - regardless of year, fashion or gender. They are consistently popular for good reason.

They reach into all the reasons one may choose to get a piercing done:

• it looks great
• it feels great
• it's a little bit naughty
• it's fun to play with
• it can be private
• huge jewelry selection

Whilst all these reasons are true - there is some extra info that can make sure that a nipple piercing brings a smile to your dial - instead of a tear to your eye!

Depending on the reason you are getting this piercing done, the thickness (gauge) of the jewellery can make a big difference to its comfort. Nipple piercing should never be thinner than 14g (1.6mm). This is to ensure the piercing has some strength to reduce the chance of it tearing out or rejecting. Now while this thickness is fine for those who are mainly after "the look" of this piercing, those who plan to hang from the chandeliers should consider something a bit thicker.

Now this can be done at the time of the initial piercing - or once the piercing has healed. If you know that your piercing is going to be put through its paces, then I would suggest a larger gauge to begin with.

12g and 10g are common choices - and if you have the piercing done at a reputable studio - it will not hurt significantly more than a smaller size. Our needles have improved so much over the years that even an 8g needle can pass through tissue easily.

That said, nipple piercings do respond well to stretching, but it is important to take it slowly! They can play up and/or reject if this is done too quickly. Talk to your Piercer about stretching your nipple piercing if this is something you would like to do - please don't do it yourself.

There isn't a "normal" side to get a nipple piercing if you are just getting one. Like any piercing - go with what feels right - where have you "imagined" it to be. That is where your body is expecting it.

However - if you live in the BDSM culture in Australia or the USA there is a code. Right for bottom/submissive, and left for Top/Dominant. In Europe this is the opposite. But again - this only matters if it matters to you.

Breast feeding is a common concern for women considering this piercing. If the piercing is done properly - by a knowledgeable Piercer - it should not affect the ability to breast feed - if in fact you are able to do this in the first place.

I do advise though not to get the initial piercing done beyond 12g, as the scar tissue generated from a larger piercing may block major milk ducts. Stretching the initial piercing should not result in the same issue. We have had many women successfully breast feed with nipple piercings

Jewelry size and style can make a big difference to healing times. The biggest problems we see are caused by rings that are too small in diameter - particularly in women. Rings are fine for the initial piercing but must be the correct diameter.

My preference is to use an internally threaded barbell in initial female nipple piercings. Remember with any piercing that the aim of the game is to get it healed - and nipple piercings do heal well when the piercing and jewellery is right.

As nipple piercing crosses into the sexual realm, I should discuss a little about sexual safety. Any open wound is susceptible to disease or infection, and piercings are no exception.

Restrict exposure to anyone's bodily fluids that are not your own while the piercing is healing - AND if it has gone through a major "workout" which may have resulted in slight tearing. Mild salt water soaks will soothe and assist this healing stage. The older a piercing gets, the more it is able to withstand without negative results.

Changing jewellery and stretching should only be done once the piercing has healed - unless it is for better jewelry that will aid the healing process. In many cases, the piercing should be left alone, in this regard, for at least 3 months.

Women may find that their nipple piercing goes through cycles where one week it feels "healed" and the next it is sensitive again. This can be frustrating until you realise that nipples are affected by hormones and during the first year or so they can become sensitive at either ovulation or mensuration. This does settle - but can pop up again even years down the track in my experience. This is just another added bonus of hormones in <our> world :)

Quick Tips

• padded/t-shirt bras will assist if you need to conceal a nipple piercing
• fresh nipple piercings are sensitive to cool temperatures!
• it is normal for male and female nipple piercings to secrete from the entry and/or exit while healing
• do not remove a nipple piercing within the first 12 months if you wish to keep it
• piercing will usually increase nipple sensitivity
• inverted nipples can be pierced - and is effective as a treatment to this condition
• "3rd" nipples can be pierced
• any male nipple can be pierced - even if you think you haven't got one!
• nipple piercings will usually heal and close when the jewellery is removed

If this post has inspired you to have your nipple(s) pierced, then here is a special present for all our blog readers, we would like to make you this great offer:

Book your nipple piercing at The Piercing Urge for between now and Friday the 20th of June 2008 -  mention this post - and receive your nipple piercing for half-price. Conditions do apply but they are very reasonable - I promise :) To make your appointment Call on 03 9530 2244 or email us.

To see more pics and read some more about nipple piercing, please visit The Piercing Urge main nipple webpage.

The Model Register Is Here!!!

Well! I must say that the response to our call for models for our Course Trainees was PHENOMENAL! A big Thank You to everyone who contacted me to offer their "bits" :)

Now I did say that places were limited - and I know that there a lot of folks out there who missed out. The people who were pierced left with great piercings, the current Trainees all passed, and everyone was happy. I was a wee bit tired - but very impressed - after all that learning and excitement....and they were fantastic days all 'round.

What I learnt from the success of the exercise was that if I am going to get the new websites finished I need a better system to manage all our great model requests!

So - if you would like to join our Model Register - whether you have already personally already emailed me or not - please click on the link below:

Free Piercing Register

That way you'll get personally updated whenever we post for models - and have a chance to receive a FREE piercing at The Piercing Urge!

Once again - a very big Thank You to everyone who modeled beautifully for us over the past couple of weeks, and we hope you enjoy your new piercings.

The Dreaded Rejection

So - you are enjoying your long awaited piercing and then things begin to change.....

You may notice one or all of the following start to happen:

• the distance between the entry and exit holes begins to shrink - e.g you can see more of the bar or ring than before - this is the most significant sign
• your piercing feels sore, irritated or itchy
• it looks dry
• it looks shiny
• you can see the jewellery just under the skin

These are the signs of rejection and unfortunately they don't have a fixed time frame in which they may occur. Usually once a piercing reaches its first birthday, the chance of rejection is significantly reduced. Your body has adjusted to its new addition and you'll probably have it now until (and if) you choose to remove it :)

Rejecting Vertical Tragus. Just plain wrong. 

Piercing introduces a foreign object into your body - something that we were not born with - and therefore it is the body's natural response to try and get rid of it. This is great if we get a splinter in our finger, or a blackhead in our skin - but it's TERRIBLE when a much loved piercing begins to leave us :(

It is for this reason that extremely high quality materials are necessary for body jewellery, and unfortunately it is like everything else - you get what you pay for!

Since the late nineties there has been a flood of cheap quality jewellery that may sparkle (temporarily), jingle, flash, or show the logo of your favourite sports team, which then entices you to buy it. Usually body jewellery that is available from most shops that are not body piercing studios (and even some that are) is of this quality.

Low quality jewellery will dramatically increase the chance of your body seeing it as something to get rid of - and therefore - grow it out.  Incorrect size or style of jewellery for your initial piercing will also be a problem, incorrect aftercare, and if the initial piercing is too wide, deep, or shallow.

So what to DO if this happens to YOU?

• See your Piercer for advice promptly - there are things that can be done in some cases to stop this process. (If you think you may need a better Piercer please contact us for a referral)

• Don't let the jewellery reject completely as this will increase the scarring and discomfort. Have the jewellery removed before it falls out, or it is torn out accidentally.

• Nothing you put on it will stop the process on its own.

• If it is an older (+1yr) piercing, think about any changes in your life such as illness, stress, or lifestyle that may have started the process. Everything in our bodies is connected.

Even if a piercing rejects though, there are still times where it can be redone with a successful outcome. BUT - if nothing changes that may have caused the problem in the first place - then the result will usually be the same. Better/correct jewellery, better piercing, correct anatomy in the first place, good aftercare, and good health, will signifcantly increase the likelihood of you being able to enjoy a FANTASTIC piercing :)

(Please Note: None of these piercings were performed by The Piercing Urge)

Piercing Preparation

So the time has come. You've decided to get a new piercing and may be wondering "What now?", "Is there anything I can do beforehand?". These are common questions so here are a few tips to get you started. Always check in with your piercer as they may have specific things they would like you to do.

• Remember that your body behaves as a complete, synchronized machine. To give your piercing the best start focus on your health:
  • Sleep well
  • Eat well
  • Reduce drug or alcohol intake
  • Try to RELAX
• Eat a nutritious meal or snack within 2 hours of your piercing appointment.


• Arrive well hydrated. This means drinking enough water (1-2Litres/per day). Coffee and soft drinks/sodas don't count!


• Imagine the best possible result from your piercing. There is no reason for this to fail if you choose your Piercer carefully.

• Choose who you talk to about your upcoming mod - everyone has a horror story!


• Don't give your body too much to handle at once e.g. don't get pierced when you are sick or stressed.


• If your mod is a genital piercing:
  • and you normally practice hair removal e.g waxing, shaving or laser, do this at least 48hrs beforehand. A fresh piercing will need time (a couple of weeks) before these processes will be comfortable again.
  • if you don't normally practice hair removal this is not the time to start! Irritation and ingrown hairs around a fresh piercing are NOT fun. However - your Piercer will appreciate a trim if you have an "old growth forest" down there :)
  • Jewellery should not be removed for hair removal procedures within the first 12 months. Many practitioners can work around it for you.
  • Women can be pierced if they are menstruating (tampons in place of course) and sometimes have a higher pain tolerance at this time.
  • Don't get a new genital piercing before a weekend of "sexual athletics" - bad plan. It will end in tears or disease. He/She will just need to take you as you are - for now....


• Arrive at your appointment clean. Dropping in to see your Piercer after a day on the building site - before you have showered - is not generally a good idea.

• Don't arrive drug or alcohol affected.

• Wear clean, comfortable clothing that is suitable for the piercing e.g know that if you wear a dress for a nipple piercing appointment - it will be coming off!

• If you want to - arrange for a supportive friend to go with you. Most piercers will allow this. However - a crowd of hysterical teenagers is NEVER a good idea.

So there you have it. A list of things that will help you before, during, and after your piercing. One last piece of advice:

If you choose your Piercer well, the piercing will NOT hurt as much as you think it will, and will be over very quickly. Try to relax as your appointment approaches and think about how FANTASTIC it is going to look once it is done.