Art that runs skin deep
The benefit of this type of body piercing is that it can be done anywhere.
Piercings have been a part of our culture even in the ancient times when they were used to show social ranks and power. But, of late, piercings have become a trend where artists are getting more and more innovative — as are the clients.
While some are going for a new trend in piercing — dermal insertion — where the piercing is completely inserted into the skin with no end sticking out, others are even more daring and are going for nipple piercing and genital piercings. Al’s Tattoo and Body Piercing Studio is the go-to place for most of these body-art aficionados and it is Al’s brother Ajit aka AJ Alba, who takes care of most of the piercing work. “I have done generic piercings and ones that are really difficult to do. I’ve even practiced on myself a few times,” says AJ, who has done piercings for the likes of Jacqueline Fernandez and Sanjay Dutt. He adds that the trend for more daring piercings has especially cropped up over the last few years.
One of the most recent trends in piercing is a dermal insersion wherein a metal plate is inserted into the skin so that the other end of the piercing cannot be seen at all. The benefit of this type of body piercing is that it can be done anywhere. “The most common ones are on the neck or the hollow of the throat, but I’ve also done piercings just above the butt-cheek, under the tongue or in front along the panty-line. Some also get it done as part of a tattoo,” AJ elaborates.
Nipple and genital piercings are another trend that has taken over the youth and, according to AJ, even a few not-so-young enthusiasts have come in to get their privates pierced. “I’ve had a doctor come in to get his nipples pierced with rather thick bars. Once, I had a client who wanted a genital piercing. People are very private about these things and insist on private set-ups to get their piercings done. Some do it for an edgy look, most do it to spice things up in the bedroom,” shrugs the piercing artiste.
However, off-beat as they may sound, genitals are not the strangest or the most difficult piercings that AJ has done. “I think the most difficult piercing I had to do was an eyelid piercing. The piercing went right at the fold in the eyelid and I had a lot of trouble helping the client keep his eye open while I was doing the piercing,” he recalls.
However, whether it is a simple ear piercing or the most complicated and intricate work, the one thing AJ absolutely insists on is aftercare. “Each piercing takes its own time to heal according to where it is and how quick the person’s healing speed is. However, what one must do is follow a proper aftercare procedure. You need to clean the pierced area with saline water and then apply antiseptic to it. We usually provide a herbal concoction but haldi also works,” he signs off.