 May 2011 |
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Spring Celebrations
|  Hello May! While it might be autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, spring has sprung around here and the weather couldn't be more enjoyable! Everyone at Anatometal is looking forward to warm nights under the stars, around a campfire at the beach.
Did you know that no other month starts or ends on the same day of the week as May does? Or that according to the Roman poet Ovid, the month of May is named for the maiores, Latin for "elders," and that the following month (June), is named for the iuniores, or "young people"?
May is also a month filled with festivals and celebrations. There is May Day, Cinco De Mayo, International Nurses Day, Towel Day, and Memorial Day at the very end, issuing in summer. When the weather is this nice and summer is right around the corner, how can you not be in the mood for some fun! |
These are a few of our favorite things...
|  - Threaded Plumeria Ends -
Available in solid silver or solid 18k gold; 18ga - 12ga. Choose from any of our Brilliant-cut stones to be set in the center: see the Gems/Metals section of our main site for options. Click to see Threaded Plumeria Ends in cheek piercings done by Way Body Arts in Santa Cruz, CA.
 - Ipsa Nostril Screws - Cast in solid 18k, nickle free white or yellow gold; 20ga and 18ga. Available with 1.5mm stone/3.5mm outer diameter or with a 2mm stone/5mm outer diameter. Any of our Brilliant-cut stones can be set in the center.
- Spirals - Made in titanium, niobium, or solid 18k gold; 18ga - 8ga. Our Spirals are handmade and polished to a mirror finish. The variety of sizes they are available in allows for a delicate or heavier look and when made in titanium or niobium, our Spirals can be anodized in a wide range of colors.
- Threade d Ipsa Ends - Cast in solid 18k, nickle free white or yellow gold; 18ga - 12ga. Available with 1.5mm stone/3.5mm outer diameter or with a 2mm stone/5mm outer diameter. Any of our Brilliant-cut stones can be set in the center.
- Threaded Polaris Ends - Available in stainless steel, titanium, solid 18k gold, or solid silver; 18ga - 12ga. The gems set in the center are 1.5mm; choose from any of our brilliant-cut stones.
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Meet Anatometal
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We know how much you love your Anatometal and what it stands for: handcrafted right here in the USA, made with only the highest quality materials. There is so much that goes into each piece as it moves from our machine shop, to the polishing room, to the gold room, through quality assurance, packaging, and to our shipping department. We thought you would like to get to know the people who make that Gemmed Eyelet, Heart Navel Curve, and Nostril Screw possible! In the coming months, we will be invading all the departments here at Anatometal Headquarters and bringing our hard workers right to you!
This month we bring you...
From Sales, Kelly Sheets!
Anatometal: What do you do here at Anatometal?
Kelly: I am in the sales department and shipping and sometimes I am a guest steamer and polisher.
Anatometal: How long have you worked for Anatometal?
Kelly: Oh gees, I started at Anatometal 9 years ago.
Anatometal: What is your favorite piece that Anatometal makes?
Kelly: Wendy's coffee! *laughs* No really, um... our regular Gemmed Eyelets . They are classic.
Anatometal: Tell us 3 things about yourself.
Kelly: Really? I hate talking about myself... Let's see... I'm from the East Coast, I am in school, studying to be a hair stylist, annnnnnd now I am stumped. Oh. I hate the Easter Bunny.
Anatometal: Ninjas or Pirates?
Kelly: Ooooo good one! I think I have to go with pirates but I have always wanted to be a ninja...
Thanks for letting us get to know you a bit Kelly! Who will be featured next month? Be sure to check back to find out!
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Piercing Guns = No Good
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 It is rare nowadays to find any professional piercer who supports the use of piercing guns for any type of piercing at all. In fact, the piercing gun has been under attack from piercers and health organizations for years; some states have gone so far as to ban their use. There are many reasons not to allow someone to pierce you with a gun, some might be familiar to you and some may come as a surprise.
Piercing guns were originally developed for tagging livestock and while multiple styles have emerged over time, they all work off the same basic design. There is the traditional model (also the most common), which uses a spring that stores potential energy when part of the ear piercing instrument is pulled back. There is a disposable cartridge model and with this type of piercing gun, the stud holder and clasp holder are entirely disposable. Lastly, there is a hand clasp model, this is a newer design which does not use a spring to force the starter earring through the earlobe; instead, the operator must manually squeeze a hand grip in order to force the stud through the ear.
Sterility is a huge issue with these instruments; any kind of procedure which involves contact with blood or bodily fluids requires strict adherence to cross-contamination prevention. Piercing guns are generally made of plastic which means they cannot be placed in an autoclave (they would melt). While the piercing gun may be wiped down with an alcohol wipe in between uses, this does not guarantee sterility, and because the piercing gun can never be adequately sterilized, they are capable of passing along hepatitis and other diseases.
Even though the gun may never come in contact with the piercees ear, the hands of the piercer do; if they touch the lobe and then the gun, it is now contaminated. Another worry is that when the gun drives the stud through the flesh and the skin starts to bleed, there is no way of knowing whether or not tiny particles of blood were dispersed into the air contaminating everything around it.
Another
 | Piercin g gun studs
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issue with piercing guns is the trauma they can cause. The gun forces a blunt stud through the skin, causing it to literally rip in order to make room for the jewelry. Then, it pinches the back of the jewelry in place snugly against the skin, allowing no way for the new wound to breathe and heal properly. A piercing needle on the other hand, is actually hollow and extremely sharp. It slices through the skin, safely pushing the tissue aside to make room for the jewelry to be inserted. Believe it or not, the sharper the instrument going through the skin, the less painful it is.
Piercing guns were never designed to be used on anything other then the lobe of the ear but that does not stop people from piercing cartilage or other body parts with them. The force the piercing gun exerts when it pushes the starter jewelry through cartilage, has been know to shatter it. Improper usage of piercing instruments upon areas of the body not intended for their use can lead to additional problems. Jewelry that is too short for the tissue, or inappropriately shaped (especially jewelry used in the mouth) can embed itself into the body, with the wound effectively healing over it.
Finally let's take a look at the training of the person using the piercing gun. As discussed in last month's newsletter, piercing is not something one can learn overnight and it is not easy! The most common place you come across piercing guns nowadays is at mall jewelry/accessory boutiques. The employees are generally trained on a teddy bear and are allowed to use the equipment within 2 weeks of starting. Improper or lack of training can lead to misaligned piercings, cross contamination, and more headache then the piercing is worth.
With all the things piercing guns have going against them, it is hard to believe that they are still in use and readily available for anyone to buy. Next time you hear of anyone considering having a piercing gun used on their body, even if it is "just for a lobe piercing" remember the reasons not to:
1) Risk of Infection and Disease Transmission
2) We Don't All Have "Standard" Size Earlobes (sizing of the starter jewelry may not work for you!)
3) Piercing Guns Cause Blunt Force Trauma to Earlobes
4) Possible Lack of Piercer Training
5) Poor Quality Jewelry
6) Uneven Piercings
Take care of yourself and treat your body right! You only have one after all...
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Ask a Piercer
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The Question:
I heard getting your nipples pierced can make you lose or decrease sensitivity in them. Is this true?
The Answer: - By and large, this is an urban myth. - When you get your nipples pierced, you are introducing something that will be in contact with the nipple from then on. What that means is, your nipples will be stimulated and therefore, make it seem as though they have gained sensitivity. Once you have had your piercings for a while and they have healed, you have become used to them and it can seem like sensitivity has been lost, when in fact you are simply comfortable with the sensation once again. - You will still feel your nipples, just not as acutely as when you first got them pierced. For some people, having their nipples pierced can provide too much stimulation and they may choose to remove the jewelry. It's also possible someone may find the piercing does not provide as much stimulation as they had hoped. When all is said and done, piercing your nipples will not decrease their sensitivity. - Think of it like this: the first time we ride a rollercoaster, it's exhilarating. If you ride it several times after that, it's still fun, but not as intense as the first time. Keep riding the same ride all day long and by the end, it feels like nothing. Can you no longer feel the speed of that ride or the wind in your face? Of course not, you've just gotten used to it.
*To have your questions answer by one of our resident piercers just send in email form to heather.anatometal@gmail.com
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Summer is right around the corner folks! Have you stocked up on new bikinis yet? How about new navel jewelry to coordinate? Just something to keep in mind as the season for bearing your midriff approaches...
In the meantime, enjoy the spring weather, the May flowers, and the countdown to beach days. Thanks for joining us once again! See you next month!
Sincerely,
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Your friends at Anatometal
Questions? Comments? Please send them to heather.anatometal@gmail.com. If you know someone who will enjoy this publication as much as you do, don't hesitate to pass it along.
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