🔩✨ June 28 – International Body Piercing Day: Poke It Like It’s Hot 💥👃💎
Gather ‘round, body mod aficionados and curious cartilage connoisseurs—it’s International Body Piercing Day! Observed every year on June 28, this offbeat holiday is your official excuse to celebrate the ancient art of poking holes in ourselves and decorating them with shiny bits of rebellion, expression, and flair. Whether you're into tasteful nose studs or full-on constellation piercings, today’s all about celebrating individuality, body autonomy, and maybe, just maybe, that piercing you’ve been thinking about but haven’t quite committed to... 👀
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Just so you know, this post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click through and buy something, I might earn a tiny commission—enough to keep the lights on and maybe snag a celebratory cupcake. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, pinky promise.
💡 Origin Story: Who’s the mastermind behind this needle-happy holiday?
International Body Piercing Day is believed to be inspired by Jim Ward, a true legend in the body modification world. Ward is often hailed as the grandfather of the modern body piercing movement. He founded Gauntlet—the first professional body piercing studio in the U.S.—and helped bring piercing from back-alley taboo to mainstream(ish) body art. His birthday? You guessed it: June 28. This day honors his pioneering influence and the whole culture of creative bodily adornment.
🤯 Fun (and slightly sparkly) facts about body piercing:
The oldest known body piercing? A 5,000-year-old mummified man with stretched earlobes. (Otzi was the original trendsetter.)
In ancient Rome, centurions pierced their nipples as a symbol of strength and unity. (You heard me—nipple bro badges.)
The Guinness World Record for the most piercings in a single sitting? Over 4,000. (Do not try this at home. Or like, ever.)
Nose piercings have been around since at least 1500 BCE in the Middle East and were brought to Western fashion by hippies in the 1960s.
Body piercing was banned in many parts of Europe in the 1600s…because people were having too much fun with it. 😏
🎉 10+ Delightfully Daring Ways to Celebrate International Body Piercing Day:
Get Pierced! 🔥
Been thinking about a second lobe piercing? Or maybe finally going for that septum ring? Book an appointment with a reputable piercer and treat yourself.Flashback Fashion Show 👗
Showcase every piercing you’ve ever had with a throwback pic parade on social media—bonus points for sparkly filters and cringey early 2000s eyebrow rings.Host a "Pierce & Tell" Party 🥳
Invite friends over for a storytelling night where everyone shares their most memorable piercing tales. First-timers, horror stories, and grandmas with belly rings welcome.Bling it Up 💎
Upgrade your jewelry! Go for opals, black titanium, or a little tiny lightning bolt—something that screams you but in piercing form.Support a Local Piercing Studio 🏪
Post a rave review, buy a gift card, or shout them out on social media. These pros keep our piercings clean, safe, and stylish.Piercing-Inspired Art Project 🎨
Create art inspired by piercings—think earring mosaics, nose-ring sketches, or a portrait of Jim Ward surrounded by glitter and studs.Learn the History 📚
Take a deep dive into the cultural significance of piercings across time and geography. Spoiler alert: it's way more fascinating than you'd expect.Curate a Piercing Playlist 🎶
Think: "Titanium" by Sia, “Sharp Dressed Man” by ZZ Top, and maybe a little “Needle in the Hay” for dramatic flair.DIY (Safely) Ear Cuff Crafting 🧵
Not ready for a new hole? No prob. Make your own ear cuffs or faux nose rings for that edgy look without the commitment.Piercing-Inspired Makeup Look 💄
Think metallic shadows, glitter accents, and maybe some drawn-on faux piercings just for the ‘Gram.Start a Piercing Journal 📝
Yes, really. Document what you’ve gotten, when, where, why, and how it felt—physical and emotional vibes included. (Like a piercing diary but less angsty.)
✨ Dinner Theme: “Studs & Suds”
🌮 Main Dish: Piercingly Good Tacos
Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema & Pickled Red Onion
Because nothing says “bite me” like shrimp with a kick and onions that are as bold as your new septum ring.
Ingredients:
1 lb shrimp (peeled & deveined)
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cayenne
Salt + pepper
Corn tortillas
1/2 cup sour cream + zest & juice of 1 lime
Pickled red onions (make ahead or store-bought)
Shredded cabbage or slaw mix
Cilantro, jalapeños, hot sauce
Instructions:
Toss shrimp in spices, sear in a hot pan until pink and curled.
Mix sour cream with lime juice/zest for a tangy crema.
Layer tortillas with slaw, shrimp, pickled onions, crema, and herbs.
Serve with an unapologetic smirk.
🥗 Side: Studded Couscous Salad
Pearled couscous tossed with:
Roasted cherry tomatoes
Cucumber
Feta crumbles
Kalamata olives (like little black studs)
Lemon-oregano vinaigrette
This one sparkles with Mediterranean vibes.
🍸 Drink: The Piercer
Lavender Gin Fizz with Edible Glitter (or sparkling lemonade mocktail)
A dazzling, slightly dangerous-looking drink to toast to self-expression.
Ingredients:
2 oz gin (or lavender lemonade base)
1 oz lemon juice
1 oz lavender simple syrup
Club soda or sparkling water
Pinch of edible glitter (optional but fabulous)
Shake, strain over ice, top with soda, and sparkle like a dermal anchor on a summer night.
🍰 Dessert: “Pierced Velvet Cake Pops”
Red velvet cake pops with silver dragees and candy stick “studs”—like jewelry for your mouth.
Ingredients:
1 box red velvet cake mix (or homemade if you're ambitious)
1/2 cup cream cheese frosting
Candy sticks or skewers
White or dark chocolate melts for coating
Silver dragees, edible glitter, or metallic sprinkles
Instructions:
Bake cake and let it cool completely. Crumble into a bowl.
Mix in frosting a spoonful at a time until the mixture holds shape.
Roll into balls, chill for 20–30 min.
Dip sticks in melted chocolate, then insert into cake balls.
Chill again, then dip the whole pop in melted chocolate.
Before they dry, stud with dragees or sprinkles. Make them look badass.
💡 Ambience Ideas:
Metallic table settings: silver chargers, chrome cutlery, and mirrored trays
Temporary tattoos at each place setting
Industrial playlist: think alt-pop, synthwave, or a little punk
Maybe even a piercing station (BYO-Professional) if you’re really feeling bold
✨ Quirky in the Workplace
"Pierce the Corporate Veil" Craft Station
Set up a desk or breakroom table as a temporary faux-piercing studio—minus the needles, plus the glitter.
Supplies:
Magnetic or stick-on faux nose/lip/eyebrow rings
Bedazzle stickers (for face jewels, not spreadsheets—for once)
Mini clip-on earrings and binder clips (for the brave)
Mirror and name tag printer (because everyone needs a new identity with their new look)
Invite coworkers to create their alter-ego office persona and wear their “piercing” of choice for the day. Bonus: Take headshots for a mock “Wall of Who’s Who in HR’s Nightmares.”
Winner gets: A tiny gold hoop for their office plant and the title of “Most Likely to Start a Cubicle-Side Tattoo Parlor.”
🧷 Tagline for the day:
“International Body Piercing Day: Because sometimes the only thing sharper than your look... is your email tone.”
🎬 Movie Pick: Tattoo Nation (2013)
Why it fits:
While this is a documentary about tattoos, it deeply explores the evolution of body modification culture in the U.S., especially among marginalized communities. Piercing is often intertwined with tattoo culture, and the film features body artists discussing the importance of self-expression through body modifications, making it thematically aligned with the spirit of the day.
📺 TV Episode Pick: Ink Master – Season 2, Episode 1: "Tattooing the Dead"
Why it fits:
Although focused on tattoos, this competition reality series often features contestants with extensive body piercings and celebrates extreme body art. This episode kicks off with bold, unconventional designs that reflect personal identity and push boundaries—echoing the spirit of piercing as art and rebellion.
📸 Hashtag It Like It’s Hot:
#InternationalBodyPiercingDay
#PokeItLikeItsHot
#PierceTheDayAway
#ShinyAndProud
#BodyModBabes
#JimWardForever
#JewelryWithEdge
#HoleYeah
#PierceLoveRepeat
#CelebrateQuirky
