new thread
For many of us here, one of our stated reasons for long hair is that it is the natural state for humans to have long head hair and that cutting it is a culturally derived and usually imposed, though temporary, body modification. Yet, as a group, longhairs are often accepting, and often participate in, other forms of body modification, both temporary, such as hair removal on the face or body, or purposefully getting a suntan, or more permanently, such as with body piercing and tattooing.
I thought that it may be interesting to get some insight on this group's ideas and on who of us have some form of body modification, what and where it/they may be, and perhaps a comment on how it may or may not relate to the hair that grows from the top of our heads. Perhaps I should specify that this is voluntary body modification I’d like to explore. I don’t want to get into the infant circumcision debate with this. Nor do I want to include modification for medical reasons (amputation, reconstructive surgery, etc.).
To start, I am usually “clean shaved” (boy, does that term carry a lot of cultural baggage) with a currently quite conservative single earlobe piercing. (It wasn’t as conservative when I got it more than a quarter century ago.) Like my hair, in part, it is/was placing myself a bit out of the societal mainstream (but not too far — independence and not self marginalization). Another aspect is, on a very basic or primitive level, like my hair, it’s a way to ornament or decorate my body in a more intimate way than with just clothing.
I got a tattoo on my left arm (close to my wrist) which didnt suit me when I had short hair, but for some reason now that my hair is getting longer it is looking better and better on me... and I really want to get more of them. I also would love to get my left eyebrow pierced... And I am thinking about doing that for summer!
I have two tattoos, a Capricorn symbol on my left upper arm, and an ivy tattoo on my right leg extending from my ankle to my hip. Eventually, I want my tattoo to extend all the way from my ankle to my neck and down my right arm.
My lobes are stretched to 1½", and I have what's called a "Madison" piercing at the base of my neck.
Hey Jon that tatoo is awesome!! no seriously that is a kick ass tattoo man. i used to have my lobes stretched i had 2 gauges i was reaching to go up one more to a 0 but i changed my mind and got rid of the piercings all together.
im thinking of getting an ear peircing, but does it hurt, and what do I have to watch out for?
It doesn't hurt at all. When the lady did mine she was very gentle and professional. After she pierced it i said "is that it?", i really did anticipate unnecassary pain when there wasen't any. Get it done at a beauty palor or a chemist as they are professional and you can be assured that everything is well sterilised and clean, unless you want HIV or some other disease.
im thinking of getting an ear peircing, but does it hurt, and what do I have to watch out for?
nope, i used to have both my ears peirced and i DIDN't FEEL A THING!
and this was at a cheap little shop the girl working there was like 20 or something. go for it man it doesn't hurt at all as long as you don't do it yourself.
I've had both my eyebrows, tongue, nose and lip pierced..not to mention my ears.
I had my first piercing 5 years ago (eyebrow) when I was 14 or 15 and some months later the lip piercing and my one and only tattoo.
Nowadays only one of my ears are pierced..as you can see in the pic.
im looking to get my eyebrow pierced.....anything important i should know???? like care or whatever
Well, I have a lip piercing, which I've had for almost 2 years now. I used to love it, but now that I see alot of other people with it, it's not quite as exciting.
Other than that I don't have any tattoos or anything.
I've been growing my hair out for almost 3 years now, too.
I don't know that humans really have a natural state any more. I think the argument is more that short hair is a modification and long hair is not. OTOH, I have no problem with others wearing earrings and/or tatoos etc, but have no desire to do so myself. The real issue is the right to self expression.
