International Body Piercing Day Date in the current year: June 28, 2024

Body piercing is a form of body modification. It is the practice of piercing a part of the body to create an opening in which special jewelry may be worn. Eye piercing and nose piercing are the most widespread types of body piercing, but other parts of the human body can be pierced too, including the lips, tongue, nipples, navel, and even genitals.

The practice of piercing has existed for thousands of years in various cultures across the world. Piercing was often practiced for ritual and spiritual purposes; in some cultures, body piercings were a sign of a person’s status. The popularity of body piercing in Western culture has waxed and waned throughout history; most recently, the practice gained popularity in certain subcultures in the 1970s and became mainstream in the 1990s.

In the modern world, there are many reasons why people practice body piercing. They include self-expression, aesthetic value, spiritual and religious reasons, and sexual pleasure (especially in the case of nipple and genital piercing). Some people pierce as a form of rebellion, while others do it to conform to their culture.

Piercing is an invasive procedure that has a number of associated risks such as allergic reactions to metal in the jewelry, infection, scarring, and injury. To prevent all of this, safe piercing practices, jewelry and tools have been developed since the mid-20th century. Proper aftercare that promotes the healing process has evolved, too. So as long as you get your piercing at a reputable studio and take proper care of it, you’re as safe as you can be.

The date of International Body Piercing Day, June 28, was selected to commemorate the birthday of Jim Ward, an American body piercing pioneer. Together with Doug Malloy, he developed the basic techniques and equipment for body piercing that have become industry standard. Ward developed many jewelry designs and opened the first professional body piercing studio in the United States, The Gauntlet. The 2004 MTV documentary The Social History of Piercing referred him as “the granddaddy of the body piercing movement”.

International Body Piercing Day was created by a friend of Jim Ward to celebrate his impact on the piercing industry and continue his legacy of promoting safety standards. On the occasion of the holiday, body piercing studios organize various events such as workshops and demonstrations, as well as offer promotions and discounts.

If you’ve wanted to get a body piercing, International Body Piercing Day is the best day to do it! However, you should still weigh all the pros and cons before making the decision and take your time to find a reputable body piercing studio near you. If you’re a piercing artist, celebrate the holiday by promoting your work on social media with the hashtag #InternationalBodyPiercingDay.