Ask Fashion Girl

Dear Amanda:

I think whether to get a either a bellybutton piercing or multiple ear piercings should be a matter of personal taste, not a matter of group popularity. Remember, this is a permanent change you are making to your body! It’s a really big deal, and should not be made casually. The marks on your ears from the piercings often remain visible even if you decide to take the rings out somewhere down the line. I assume the same would be true for the holes on your belly. So you've got to really want to have a piercing because it means something to YOU, not because of a passing fashion. Fads lasts a season, and piercings and tattoos are long-term commitments. Ask yourself if you’re going to be OK with a piercing, or its evidence, for a lifetime. Talk to your friends, your parents, adults you respect. See how they view it from a different perspective than your own. If the answer really is yes, then make sure it’s done in a hygienic, safe environment. If you decide against piercing, try a henna tattoo, bleaching or dyeing your hair a new color, or colored contacts. Change is fun, and it there are lots of ways to do it that aren’t permanent!

Sincerely, Fashion Girl