Body piercing is the latest trend. And people aren’t just stopping at earrings; people are getting their ears, tongues, eyebrows, nipple, navels and lips pierced. It seems that almost every part of the body is open to piercing. It’s no longer just a female’s thing, but males have joined the clan. Paul Kalisa, 46, explains that the youth in particular are attracted to piercings. Incidentally, children too are not excluded from the trend. Often times they have their ears pierced at such tender as 1-year-old. Mary Akanyana, a mother of three, says there’s no medical reason to wait till a baby is a bit older to pierce their ears. The practice of body piercing greatly varies with different rings and studs in different parts of the body. According to Dr James Dusabe a skin specialist, there is no limit to the number of holes. “One can pierce as many holes as wishes as longer as you don’t interfere with the nerves,” explains the doctor. Lately, body piercing is available at almost all beauty salons of Kigali and by professional piercers who also offer to their clients with expert advise on how to clean their pierced areas. Gone are the days when the only method of piercing was only by the use of a needle or a thorn which were very delicate and cause too much pain. The most current and protected method is by the use of gun. Pascal Mubirigi, a piercer at New Salon Center in Kigali, says guns are less painful and much safer. The piercer inserts the ring into the pistol and pinches into the body once without necessarily rubbing the skin. Why is the trend of piercing spreading like bush fire? Maureen Uwase has her ears pierced. She says that the act is a new fashion that reveals the art of the body. Others want to establish their individuality, Uwase explains. Contact: lindaonly2005@yahoo.com
