[Dragonrain]

I still have quite a few piercings...I think the only one I 'retired' was my tongue piercing. I currently have 8 piercings, but 6 of the 8 are ear piercings.

No tattoos yet, although I have a few planned for the future.

I dyed my hair blue once in college. Only it didn't work out so well, because after only a few days the blue dulled into a greyish color lol. I haven't dyed my hair any crazy colors since then, although I do highlight it (a normal color) once in awhile.

Jess maybe you are thinking about when piercings are done with a piercing gun? Those only work with studs, but aren't recommended. It's actually a lot more hygienic to get piercings done with sterile hypodermic needles, usually at a tattoo/piercing studio. The hoops are better while healing because they are easier to clean and allow for more swelling - but you can find really pretty hoops (they are technically called 'captive bead rings" or CBR's) too.

 

[Dragonrain]

Wouldn't the needle hurt more though?

No, I don't think so. Needles, from my experience, actually hurt less. They are a lot sharper than the studs they use to pierce in guns so they go through a lot smoother. After the needle is through, they put the end of the jewelry against the end of the needle so they can pull the needle out and put the jewelry in at the same time - or at least that's what my piercer does.

Plus when you get pierced by a needle it's a new sterile needle...with the gun you don't know how many people got pierced with that gun, and because they are usually made of plastic, you can't really sterilize the piercing guns very well.