The Piercing Bible: The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing

by Elayne Angel

The Piercing Bible The BEST Piercing Guide available on the Market today!! A Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing Piercing pioneer Elayne Angel has performed over 40,000 piercings since the 1980s and has brought many practices, such as tongue-piercings into the mainstream. She brings knowledge to this groundbreaking manual that covers everything you need to know about the piercing. # Includes:The best piercings & placements for various body parts # Terminology, tools & techniques of the trade # Vital sterility, sanitation & hygiene information # Jewelry designs, shapes & materials # Advice for people with stretch marks, plastic surgery & unique anatomy # Healing, aftercare & troubleshooting for problem-free piercing. 308 Pages

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Reference

320 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2009

Reviews

[Ashley Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read, or at least a must have, if you have any interst in body mods/piercings; or even if you have a loved one with an interest in that culture. Very informative and nicely written.

[pixelchu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for piercing newbies and the experienced alike. So much information, I read it from cover to cover like a novel as I found it such a great read!

[Carrie Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Piercing Bible is a fascinating book, even for those people like me who have never considered getting a body piercing. Elayne Angel deftly teaches the reader about every aspect of piercing from its origins in ancient times to its general acceptance today. You will learn how to decide on a piercing, what style of jewelry is appropriate, what to expect from a piercing studio--and how to avoid the bad ones! Aftercare is discussed in detail to assure your piercing will not migrate or become infected. I read the book from cover to cover and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'd recommend this excellent read to anyone, even if they are not getting a piercing; it's mandatory reading for anyone who plans to be pierced!
~ Author Carrie Cross

[Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably will never actually read all of this. I just never have and never will be able to stand the author. Too high and mighty and super condescending.




added 11/29/2014:

Rollllllling my eyes, hardcore Liz Lemon style, because I should have added to my review my prediction of the author commenting on my bad review because the fact that I've seen her do this to other people is part of the reason she just rubs me the wrong way. It is creepy and I should be able to leave my review and that's it. Just let it go.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me learn all the basics on body piercing and gave me confidence. Goes into deep details on different situations and reasoning as well.

[Astra · Rating 5 out of 5]

probably the best piercing guide

[Nicol · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, no one is more qualified than Elayne Angel to write a definitive guide to safe body piercing. She is a master piercer and a legend to the industry. This book is a must-read for piercing enthusiasts, people thinking about getting pierced for the first time, and most importantly, people in the medical/dental professions. I cannot tell you how un-informed so called "professionals" are about body piercing. This book could change the medical & modified world and hopefully it will!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is thorough, detailed, thoughtful, and full of anything you ever wanted to know about piercing, and some stuff you didn't want to know! I highly recommend this if you are planning on ANY piercing.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is thorough, detailed, thoughtful, and full of anything you ever wanted to know about piercing, and some stuff you didn't want to know! I highly recommend this if you are planning on ANY piercing.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I was introduced to it, oddly enough, when I interviewed the author, Elayne Angel, so I might be a little biased, but it really is a very informative book about all types of piercings, how to care for them, and how they're done properly. Ms. Angel, appropriately, was giving me an ear piercing at the time, and if it's any reassurance, she did an amazing job!

The book also has beautiful, detailed illustrations and related medical advice to different piercings, which I think is highly essential for any type of body art. The first type of piercing I got was done incorrectly, which can lead to injury, and these are the types of incidents that the book is trying to prevent. I highly recommend it for anyone who's interested in getting pierced or just wants to learn more about the subject!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elayne Angel's The Piercing Bible is a must read for anyone interested in piercings, either as a piercee or someone who studies the body modification culture. The information in this book is easy to understand and also detailed. I now know why my navel piercing went wrong and was able to find a suitable place to get my tragus and daith pierced. Elayne's passion for body modification is evident on each page and is truely infectious. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

[Aliee Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very informational and gives good advice to someone who isn't a piercer. However, there are some area I felt that should have been give more detailed. If I could give this book a 4.5 stars I would!

[Cissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent read wether you're an apprentice or just someone interested in piercings in general. highly recommended

[ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this for work since i’m a newer body piercer who had a subpar apprenticeship and it was super informative!! good read for body piercers or those who get pierced regularly

[Jade Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, shame about the author

[Sarah Castagnaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great information and advice. Not necessary to read every section. Will definitely use as a reference in the future.

[Cissie Hubbucks]

Brilliant book for both piercers and piercees alike. I highly reccommend this book to anyone with an interest in piercings.

[Sev · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book to be condescending and strangely preachy. I understand who Elayne Angel is, I worked as a body piercer for seven years, but I don't understand who this book is aimed at. I totally believe that people should be as informed as possible in their piercing choices, but to me this straddles a strange line between being informative, and being a half-assed instruction manual for doing it yourself.
My advice to anyone reading this is that there's more than one way to do things, no matter what the author says. There are a lot (and I mean a lot) of different body shapes and configurations and you don't necessarily need to storm out of a shop because your piercer deviates slightly from Elayne Angel's gospel.

Also, unrelated to the book, but she's said some pretty horrible, transphobic things in her time, and I can't in good conscience rate this higher than one star.

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It's informative on the levels of both the customer and the trainee piercer. I read this book before I went on my first body piercing course, and it left me feeling really prepared and knowledgeable about the basics before I even go there, which was a relief. From a piercing customer's point of view, it's a great guide because it makes you informed of what the piercer should be doing, so you don't just wander in there and set yourself up to get a bad piercing or worse, a blood-borne infection. I'd definitely recommend this book to those interested in getting piercings or becoming a body piercer.

[Rik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good if overly detailed explanation of safe, professionally done piercing practices. Too much information for the casual reader, though. It seems this would be useful for someone interested in becoming a professional piercer but falls short of being a how-to guide (which is probably a good thing given the health risks of badly done body modifications).

[Jace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely going to be on and off reading this book for the next couple years, it's really informative and I really enjoy all the outlined sections, there isn't a chapter that doesn't captivate me.

[Will G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poking holes in yourself and others.