Like any type of body modification, piercings attract attention and make a statement. Whether it is an expression of one’s beliefs, personality or simply someone’s style, body piercings have become more prevalent today. Once considered a form of rebellion, body piercings have become mainstream.

Tattoos are quite similar to piercings in the way that they exude a certain look, can change meaning over time and can be perceived differently to each individual.

I remember different piercings which were all the rage at one point in time. The naval piercing was and still remains to be a popular area to be pierced, especially among young females. The tongue piercing is another popular area to be pierced, although I just cringe at the thought of it being done. I remember being a fan of Melanie B from the Spice Girls and seeing her tongue piercing, which was my first exposure to a piercing as a fashion statement.

Celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan, Lenny Kravitz, Travis Barker and Amy Winehouse all have piercings, which can start trends and can influence fans to get them done.

Piercings go back to prehistoric times and represented love and status to the Egyptians.

“Almost every well-to-do Egyptian wore earrings ... to display their wealth and accent their beauty,“Lori Wilkerson states in A History of Body Piercing. “Elaborate enameled and gold earrings frequently portrayed items in nature such as lotus blossoms.”

Body piercing jewelry was worn as a sign of wealth and beauty to both the Romans and Egyptians, and was a sign of attractiveness to the Aztecs and Mayans. Each type of body piercing was significant and represented power, wealth or was used to scare away enemies.

During the Renaissance era, men took piercing to a more fashionable level by adorning themselves with pearl drop earrings and diamond studs to display their wealth.

Since then, piercings have gone in and out of fashion throughout the hippie era and during the ‘80s punk decade as well.

Other piercings include the ears, which are very common for both females and males. I’ve also seen numerous ear piercings on one ear or both creating a design with the type of earrings the person chose.

Facial piercings such as eyebrow, lip and nose are all common areas places for piercings and can actually accent the face quite nicely if done in the right place with the proper facial features.

English designer Vivienne Westwood used body piercing in her ‘70s punk collection and explored the idea of using punk as a style in her designs. Inspired by the punk rock style, she included bondage trousers and leather goods in her collection as well.

Body piercing jewelry comes in an extensive array of designs and materials. The range of jewelry for piercings goes from simple barbells to gold accented with diamonds. Popular high-end jewelry shops sell body jewelry in sterling silver and gold with diamonds, which goes to show the range of jewelry available.

Wooden body jewelry is also available for a more tribal look, while the majority are made in sterling silver designs. From pink flowers, skull heads to dangling designs, body jewelry can be worn to match the outfit you’re wearing or can be a bold piece to display what you’ve had done.