Have you pierced your labia yet or did you wimp out with a little diamond in your bellybutton? One in seven Americans between the ages of 18 and 50 has a piercing somewhere other than the earlobes. Feel like getting your mojo cranked up a notch? Try getting pierced in one of the pleasure zones. Of course, you may feel an intense pinch or maybe even some real pain. But you can also get a rush of adrenaline from the process. So says master piercer Elayne Angel, author of The Piercing Bible, who’s visiting New York City on tour from her home in Merida, Mexico. She’s in town with her husband, FTM porn star Buck Angel. He’s known as the “Man with a Pussy” because he’s chosen to keep his vagina even though he’s otherwise transformed into a guy.
In her 30-year career as a piercer, Elayne has performed more than 40,000 piercings, so last Friday night when she hosted a book party at Leroi Inc., a piercing studio on Rivington Street, various body mod aficionados milled about the shop wondering which part of their anatomy would be next. Some had traveled in from New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and even as far as Vermont. There was lots of ink and florescent hair colors in the shop, in addition to face jewelry. “I’m booked solid all weekend,” Elayne told me when I asked for a one-on-one. “But we’ll be in town until July.”
I just missed Buck at the party. He was resting up to get ready for his show at The Box on Chrystie Street. Buck performs a "strong man" number, displaying his muscles and also revealing a glimpse of his famous mangina, all the while chomping on a cigar. Sex activist, writer, and porn producer Audacia Ray came by for "conch"—ear cartilage—piercings. Elayne's friend Andi Shay, pink-Mohawked lead singer of punk band Snap-Her, was also waiting for a session.
Elayne has a number of piercings herself, in addition to her shaved head and some delicately etched purple shadow-flames over her brows. She is famous for her elaborate full back tattoo of angel wings designed by Bob Roberts.
If I were to get a piercing, I’d like it to be with someone I trust. I love my body too much and who needs an infection or scar to mar perfection? The Piercing Bible has information to get safe work done, but if you’re into heavy-duty rough sex, maybe skip the genital piercings. With over 8,000 nerve endings, I’m also a bit wary about the clitoris. Hell, if I became a man, I would probably keep mine too.
