International Body Piercing Day

International Body Piercing Day is another case where the birthday of a particular person became a holiday. Jim Ward was born on June 28, 1941, in Western Oklahoma, and he is considered the grandfather of modern piercing. Today, you will not surprise anyone with metal jewelry in the most unexpected places, but in the 1970s, a pierced nose or tongue was considered outrageous. By opening the first US piercing studio in West Hollywood, Ward created the piercing industry and developed many of the basic techniques.

History

International Body Piercing Day was invented by one of Jim Ward’s friends to ensure people remember Jim’s achievements in the field of piercing every year. He developed the basic forms of barbells, rings for fixing chains, and safe techniques for nipple and intimate area piercings. Today, this international holiday is a professional holiday for many piercers around the world. International Body Piercing Day is also an opportunity to spread awareness about the culture of body modification and emphasize the importance of doing it safely.

Interesting Facts

To achieve true mastery in the field of piercing jewelry, Jim Ward studied jewelry making. Piercing was inspired by fan and piercing promoter Doug Malloy.

Barbells were first made in Germany. This type of jewelry was introduced to Ward by Malloy, who befriended German piercing pioneer Horst Streckenbach (“Tattoo Sam”) and his student Manfred Kohrs.

How to Take Part

Celebrate International Body Piercing Day if you love piercings:

1. Take a photo of your jewelry and post it on your social networks.
2. Share your experiences with piercing, discuss safety measures, and talk about aftercare practices.
3. Many piercing studios offer discounts on this holiday. You can get a new decoration or even your first one if you don’t already have one.

When is International Body Piercing Day in 2025?

International Body Piercing Day is observed on June 28 each year.

Observations