From the Latin word Labrum, or lip, the labret was a traditional piercing among the Northwest Indians of North America, and among the Tlingit of Southeast Alaska.

This piercing was a sign of status, and easily recognized on the skeletons of these people by the indelible tooth wear that the jewellery caused.

This piercing also has a significant history among the Suya tribe of South America, where the boys of the tribe would have their lip plugs painted red for confidence in speech, war, and ideas.

In southeastern Sudan in Africa, the women of the Kichepo and Surma wear lip discs that can be stretched to over ten inches in diameter. In Meso-America, the labret was a sign of nobility and masculinity, and has evidence of dating back to 1800 B.C.

First performed in the Middle East about 4,000 years ago, the nostril is most commonly associated with India, where it is worn on the left side.

The belief is that this piercing placed on the left side makes childbirth easier.

This piercing also has a history among the Tlingit of southeast Alaska and ancient Mexico, where this piercing was considered a mark of distinction and prestige.

Everyone has seen the cartoon depiction of the caveman with the bone through the nose, but there is no archeological evidence to support this.

However, the First Nation's People of the Pacific Northwest were known to have septum piercings; straight whale bones for the men and rings for the women.

We have found no historical relevance for the nose bridge piercing, also known as an earl. If anyone knows of any history to this piercing, let me know!

We have been unable to find any historical reference for the eyebrow piercing, which would lead me to believe that it is a relatively new piercing to the history of body piercing.  If anyone out there knows something more, please let me know!

Ears are one of the most diversely piercable parts of the body. Historically, children of the Suya tribe of South America would have their ears pierced at adolescence to help them "listen" and act like adults. Their plugs were painted white for passivity and good listening. Sailors and pirates would travel to various parts of the world and come back with pierced ears.

Stretched Lobe with second
lobe and
Conch piercing

Images of Buddha include his stretched ear lobes. African tribes would pierce their ears with a green coconut, partially breaking the coconut and clamping it onto the ear. After several hours (or days) it would work its way through the ear. A wooden plug was then inserted. To stretch the ear lobes up, they would wrap banana leaves around the plug in a method called a subang.

0 Gauge
dermal punch
with stretched lobe

This is still the best way to stretch any piercing, but I recommend using plumbers tape or electrical tape instead of banana leaves. Some of the more technically difficult ear piercings that are more and more common today were created by Eric Dakota of Anubis Warpus in San Francisco and include the Daith and Rook.

14 Gauge Project with
16 Gauge Tragus

This relatively obscure piercing is historically based in Savite Hindu ritual. The third eye was pierced during piercing rituals to open the third eye for enlightenment and power. Frequently performed during the Thaipusam festival in honour of Lord Muragan, Son of Shiva and Brother of Ganesha. This is typically a temporary piercing, and should be approached as such when considering getting this done.