International Body Piercing Day intends to educate people on the importance of piercings and any body modifications. This day also shows the cultural significance of piercings as well as any safety rules/standards for practicing piercings.

June 28 was chosen as International Body Piercing Day because it is the birthday of Jim Ward who was considered a cosmetic pioneer. He opened Gauntlet which was the world’s first piercing studio in California in 1978. This day was created by a friend of Ward to continue his ideas of piercing education and promote safety standards within the industry (International Body Piercing Day).

May 16 was National Piercing Day, but there are more differences between the two days than just the area covered. International Piercing Day focuses on the education of piercing and the basic rules, regulations and standards to practicing the art of  piercings. On the other hand, National Piercing Day focuses more on the history, different cultures, and how they go about with piercings.

The art form of piercing dates back to Mayan civilizations as well as Ancient Rome. Piercing the Ear Lobe is very common but different piercings hold more significance within their ceremonies. (National Day Calendar) .

If you are considering getting a piercing, make sure to look at the reputation of the artist. Take a look at the studio where you will be pierced to make sure everything is sanitized and professional. Take the steps to make sure your experience is safe and clean. And as always, make sure to always clean your piercings (International Body Piercing Day).