Piercings are one of the oldest forms of body modification, and they have become progressively more and more popular in society.

Earrings became a fashion statement among men in the 1590s during the English Renaissance.

The style was quickly forgotten in the 1600s.

But piercings emerged again in the 1960s.

By the mid-1960s, some physicians or nurses offered ear piercing as a service.

But with the service not being popular, teenage girls were known to hold ear piercing parties, where they performed the procedure on one another.

Ear piercing parties were often kept a secret from parents, since earrings resembled rebellion among teens in the 1960s.

In the motion picture, “Grease” (set in 1959), Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) is persuaded by her friends to let them pierce her ears.

Piercing ears by hand is unsanitary, and if not done safely, it can lead to infection.

Manhattan jewelry stores were some of the earliest, non-medical locations for getting ear piercings.

In the late 1960s, ear piercings began to gain popularity among men in the hippie and gay communities, although they had been popular among sailors for decades.

Many years ago, if a male had his right ear pierced it was a sign of his sexuality, showing that he likes other men.

By the early 1970s, ear piercings were most common among women, thus creating a broader market for the procedure.

Department stores throughout the country would hold ear piercing events, sponsored by earring manufacturers.

At these events, typically a nurse would perform the procedure. They would push a sharpened and sterilized starter earring through the earlobe by hand.

Later, an ear-piercing instrument modified from the design used by physicians was introduced to the world.

In the late 1970s, amateur piercings, sometimes with safety pins and/or multiple piercings, became popular in the punk-rock community.

Using an unsanitary safety pin is not recommended.

By the 1980s, the trend for male popular music performers to have pierced ears helped establish a fashion trend for men.

This was later adopted by many professional athletes. Michael Jordan, for instance, was among one of the first professional athletes to have his ear pierced.

British men started piercing both ears in the 1980s. Singers George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of Wham! experimented with ear piercings, and they surely stole girls’ hearts all over the world with their fine jewelry.

The heavily jeweled Mr. T is an early example of an American celebrity wearing earrings in both ears. However, this trend did not become popular with mainstream American men until the 1990s.

The location of an earring no longer symbolizes one’s sexuality.

Today, ear piercing is common among men and women and is even becoming popular among younger generations.

Malls and shopping centers are popular places to get ear piercings for younger children.

Some parents believe it is best to get their infants’ ears pierced when they are young because they will not be tempted to tug or pull at their earrings. In addition, infants will not be scared to get their ears pierced because they will be unaware of the procedure taking place.

Some children refuse to get their ears pierced because they fear the pain, thus making it a difficult process for parents who want their children to get their ears pierced.

Making the decision to get your ears pierced is something that should come with a lot of thought.

Earrings cannot be taken out immediately after getting them put in. It takes six to eight weeks before earrings can be taken out, and earrings have to be cleaned at least three times daily.

It is a good decision to get your ears pierced if you are looking for a way to express your personality.

Senior Carryn White always wears earrings. She believes they are a great fashion accessory.

“Earrings are great accessories for any outfit,” White said. “They make me feel more feminine, and I enjoy the way they look with all of my outfits.”

White believes that earrings can give men or women more confidence.

“Feeling good about yourself and the way you look makes it easier to walk with confidence,” White said.

Earrings show personality and expresses one’s fashion interests.

Smaller, less flashy earrings are subtle and draw little attention. They can be a perfect accessory for men and women.

Large earrings are perfect accents to an outgoing outfit.

In addition, several earrings can draw attention to the ear.

Senior Diane Bond enjoys adding accessories to her outfits, including earrings.

“I enjoy wearing earrings because they are simple but add class to a lot of outfits,” Bond said. “I like them because I can wear them with anything.”

With fashion statements always changing, it is common for teens to pick up on the trends.

Whether you follow the new trends or not, it is important to feel confident in your own skin in whatever it is you are wearing.

The piercing chart image is from Flickr.