Body Decorations, Tats, Piercings, Ornaments

[Greenbare Woods]

I've had my nipples pierced for close to 20 years.  When I first started wearing nipple rings some nudist "factory farm" places outlawed body jewelry although ear piercings were allowed.   By now body jewelry has become more common and acceptable in most places.  One of my old friends has a pierced cock through which he wears a large ring, and often other dangles from the first ring.  My wife has tats, but I don't.  I thought I would start a topic for body decorations, tats, piercings, and other body ornamentation.

Historically, every human culture from the most primitive tribes and clans to the most modern civilizations have ornamented their bodies in some way or other.  Various kinds of body tats, piercings, or modifications have sometimes been an identification with the tribe or culture, like long neck rings of some Asian women.

Last year I noticed that many young men are now wearing metal or leather rings on their scrotum or penis, in addition to the genital piercings.  I found that the cock rings are sold at amazon.com, so I ordered one up and lately I have been wearing 2 or 3 cock/scrotum rings for decorations when hiking free range naked.  No tats, just the shiny metal nipple rings and now cock/scrotum rings.  And of course my hat.

What do you other folks wear when free range?  Are you decorated?  Do you wear jewelry of any sort?  Do you have tattoos?

[stuart]

I have no tattoos and no piercings, however they don't bother me in the slightest if others have them. It always amazes me when people, especially naturists, complain about someone's tattoos or piercings.

[ric]

ive no tattoos or piercings and not planing on getting any , .
ill go as far as saying ive seen a lot of naff tattoos and cant off hand remember seeing  one that i thought enhanced the person wearing it..
even if you think your tattoo looks good now whats it going to look like when you get old and wrinkly and yer skin starts to stretch and sag?
i dont really see any sense in poking holes through my flesh to stick bits of metal in either.
but if its your thing dont let me stop you ..

[jbeegoode]

These more permanent decorations are not my taste. I couldn’t feel naked or natural. Clothing is such a silly impractical thing to wear where I live, most of the time. When I do have to dress, it is less abhorrent to me to enjoy it as decoration and play, but these decorations are temporary. For example, sometimes they adjust the being into a more festive mood.

Everything in the Universe is static, it is said. So, attempting to change that, is to me, unhealthy and messes with my philosophical experiments. I also, just enjoy the ability to change and flexibility.

When I was involved with a non-landed club, back in the 90’s, there used to attend, a guy with penis adornments. We all liked him. I remember, that I used to wonder at the why of his decoration. Why didn’t he take them off to be naked? Was he wanting to draw attention to his genitals, advertise some bondage lifestyle for his sexual purposes? He never seemed to have a girlfriend. I suspected that he might scare many away with overt sexual décor. I thought that he might be spending too much time alone, sexually. I wondered if he was hung up with being alone, and disassociated with a full being sexual context with a partner. But, that was his business and I didn’t find that our commonality had to do with his genitals. I enjoyed his other attributes.

When free range and encountering someone, the less sexuality displayed, the less alarm to them. Lord knows that many are already over-sexualizing the encounter, anyway. I’ve spoken to Canadians alarmed when they see a hiker with a gun strapped on. I suppose that people need to encounter and see things to develop normalcy.

Now, you tell me of these leather gizmos around the genitals. Doesn’t leather shrink when it is wet?!

Just a curious question, Bob. I notice how jewelry gets hot. It has to be taken off in a sweat-lodge or one soon feels a branding process. Is there a potential for this being a problem with these piercings?

Jbee 

[skin]

Hi Bob,

I've not got any tattoos, but I do have seven piercings, three in my ear, both nipples and two in my navel.
jbeegoode mentions jewellery getting hot. I've been in saunas without any discomfort.

[JOhnGw]

I don't have any body modifications apart from those done for medical reasons and a certain amount of beard trimming and hair cutting (but not as often as my wife would prefer).
I don't really understand why some people want to have piercings and  tattoos or why they want to shave their body hair, but if that's what they want it's OK by me.

[nuduke]

I could have sworn I commented on this a while ago - maybe it was another thread?

I can't see the point of tattoos.  To have a design permanently scarified into your body seems so thoughtless of the future.  You may tire of it, it may go out of fashion.  When I was a lad, tattoos (and piercings) were the territory of sailors and low paid manual workers and definitely not women.  The almost ubiquitous fashion for crudely representational designs on one's parts is a source of constant amazement to me.  And for those that have their partner's name emblazoned somewhere and then part company - how do they cope with that? What of the tight abbed young girl with a bunch of flowers or a load of Chinese proverbs proudly emblazoned round the navel?  After a couple of kids and a caesarean and the passage of a further 40 years, the blooms will be a bit wilted or the meaning a bit distorted I reckon!  Will people have tattoos redesigned as the mural of Washington Crossing the Delaware across their chest sinks bilaterally as the youthful pectorals sag in old age?   

I've often wondered if people who have Chinese letters tattooed bother to have them translated before they start.  And if they ask the tattooist will he/she give them an accurate answer?  My guess is that there are folks striding out on a hot day, singlet revealing their bold Chinese  tattoo on bronzed, well-muscled shoulders that, unbeknownst to them, says 'Hi I Am A Right C***!!!

Digression:  Referring euphemistically to the 'C' word there reminds me how many people are savvy enough to give their phone a rude name so that when you look at the bluetooth signals available on a crowded train the result is a whacky collation of all manner of ribaldry!

And as for piercings!  If I had any I'd be in constant fear of catching the ring or bolt on something.  Imagine peeling your shirt off rapidly on a hot evening after a hard day's work and ripping yer nipple off or worse circumcising yourself as you tear through yer Prince Albert!   Don't balanular or labial rings get in the way of intercourse?  I guess they must not as plently of people have them.  Must be hazardous if both partners in a heterosexual coupling have them!  Could get inextricably locked together.

Why don't dark skinned people have light coloured tatoos?

OK, enough 'cant' from me on this one.  It is beginning to look like prejudice and bigotry!  I'm not like that - to each his own preference I say.  However, Bob, have you ever caught a ring and done yourself a nasty?

John

[JOhnGw]

John, you have reminded me of the story about a lady who knitted some Chinese characters from a menu into her jumper.
It read "This is a tasty dish and very cheap."

[Greenbare Woods]

However, Bob, have you ever caught a ring and done yourself a nasty?
John

I've never had any problem except that the automobile seat belts tend to rub right where nipple rings cause tender flesh to protrude. 

Humans have had body ornamentation for as long as history has been recorded and probably a lot longer, and that applies to virtually every so-called "primitive" tribal culture. 

On the whole, I've suffered more crippling injuries from a lifetime wearing poorly designed (standard) shoes.  Shoe toes are permanently bent inward at the front rather than naturally splaying outward, for example.  A lot more people lose an arm or worse by catching a sleeve, jacket, etc., in a machine.   

[nuduke]

Indeed Bob, well observed.
I do recognise that body ornamentation is nothing new by a long chalk and don't decry or criticise those who want to so decorate themselves and can appreciate its attractiveness where encountered.  I am a naturist and along with that comes mutual toleration and acceptance. 

I don't understand why semi-permanent or completely removable forms aren't more prevalent - then you could change the tattoo as often as your clothes!  I have seen, in the theatre, where a character has to be tatooed but the actor not having tattoos, the use of transparent nylon sleeves with the tattoos painted on.

And having written that, I googled and there are lots of temporary tattoo products and tattoo 'sleeves' as described above.
 

John

[Greenbare Woods]

I don't have any tats, but I get why they don't use temporary art.  Much of the art takes a lot of work to draw and apply, so it would be prohibitive if it had to be redone every few days.  A sleeve or external paint also doesn't feel like natural skin, not naked, and has to be dealt with all the time. Its OK for theater, makeup before going on stage, but not for every day life.

I probably would have gotten a tat but I'm not sure that I've seen any that I want permanently.  Lots of younger people aren't so choosy.  Some are good, but a too many is just an ugly blur, in my opinion. 

Bob

[midnightrider]

Hi Bob, I have no tattoos and no piercings. Personally I haven’t got anything against people who like to wear them.  And as a naturist I also don’t understand why some of us are making such a fuzz about it.  The only body modification that I have is a circumcision, that was done to me when I was a child and I still have problems with the fact that I had no say in it. I am sure my parents had it done with the best intention but I still see it as an unneeded mutilation. But that is a different subject. Anyway I think tattoos and piercings are someone’s personal choice, but I prefer to stay natural. 

[jbeegoode]

Henna is kinda fun, once in a great while, but I find the creators taste is much better, beautiful and enduring, ie. Natural. Hair, tan, skin, makeup, the works.
Jbee

[gymnoagori]

I don't have any and have no plans on getting any.   I'm not opposed to them I just don't feel the need.   I also think when it comes to tats or piercings the phrase "to much of a good thing"  could often apply.

[tanman]

What do you other folks wear when free range?  Are you decorated?  Do you wear jewelry of any sort?  Do you have tattoos?

I don't and don't intend to.  My 34yo daughter is covered in tattoos and used to have excessive ear/nose piercings ... but, these things detract from her natural beauty, in my opinion.  So, I don't understand why people do this.  I think it's done with the intent to 'enhance' attractiveness or to 'make a statement' (like bumper stickers, which I also DON'T have), but, I think these things rather distract and detract from an otherwise natural beauty.

I am aware of 'appearance,' however, and do make effort to 'enhance' my natural appearance.  I comb my head hair regularly, shave my face, and shave parts of my bits.  I shave the shaft to it's root, and have adjusted the shaving of the scrotum to only shave the textured 'colored' part.  I 'like' the resulting appearance, and I feel good about the way I look.  I used to shave the entire scrotum, but, found that in pictures, the 'white' sides of my scrotum would 'stand out' noticeably as being 'white' while all the surrounding skin and bits are uniformly darker in color.  I could never get the scrotum white sides to tan.  So, I let that portion of hair to re-grow.  I like the resulting appearance better as it is uniformly tan/dark.

Have fun, naked!
Larry (tanman in Texas)