Body Jewelry - The Height of Modern Fashion

The traditions of humans decorating their bodies date back to our earliest ancestors. Tribal cultures all over the world used techniques such as piercing and tattooing to signify changes in a person's life, a rite of passage if you will. Throughout our history, these techniques changed and improved, becoming a safe, personal way to express a person's inner self. While many in our modern society shy away from what some would call "mutilation" the market for body jewelry continues to grow.

The most common form of body jewelry is earrings. Many cultures are accepting of women who pierce their ears to display jewelry. In the middle ages it was also common for men to pierce both ears, and possibly trade the jewelry they wore for goods and services. Today it is only popularly acceptable in the mainstream for a man to have one ear pierced, but there are many subcultures that still pierce both ears.

The nose ring is also a fairly common way for people to wear body jewelry. The practice is one of the earliest forms of piercing, and ancient cultures were commonly known for piercing the septum, the piece of cartilage between the nostrils, usually wearing a piece of bone through the hole. Today many nose piercings are made through the outer parts of the nose, such as through the top of a nostril or through the skin at the bridge of the nose.

A fairly modern advancement in the art of body jewelry is the belly ring. These articles of jewelry are made of various glittering and sparkling materials (typically surgical steel or acrylic to prevent allergic reactions) that are made to highlight the beauty of the female abdomen. This practice is much less common in men.

While there are people who may find body jewelry distasteful, there is a cultural connection to our human roots that will continue to attract followers of the body art phenomena. As we grow as a culture, it is important to remember where we came from, and express our feelings in personal ways. It is how some people demonstrate the freedom of our modern world, a place where we can be what we want to be.

If you are a person who is interested in body art, and particularly body jewelry, you should educate yourself on the potential risks of infection and other health complications. Learn how to take care of yourself before attempting new body modifications. Once you are prepared, feel the freedom of turning your body into a work of art.