How to Hide Your Body Piercings for the Holidays

You knew this when you got your piercing, but it bears repeating: Some of your family members might not appreciate your body modifications. Whether it's to avoid a painful discussion during holiday meals or to prevent giving Grandma a coronary for Christmas, we've come up with some helpful suggestions on ways to keep your piercing and be yourself, just more discreetly.

Tongue: Get an acrylic tongue retainer. Many companies, such as Painful Pleasures, have reasonably priced retainers in a variety of sizes and colors such as clear and pink. Otherwise, just remember to avoid drastic moves like laughing while shoveling Christmas ham into your face.

Navel: After you've gorged yourself on a giant meal, don't stretch! I did this at Thanksgiving one year, and Aunt Gertie started World War III at the dinner table.

Learn how to hide the rest of your piercings after the jump, and check out our countdown of the top 20 most outrageous piercings in the gallery below.



Labret and Lip: These can also be hidden with acrylic retainers, similar to the tongue, but shorter. In extreme circumstances where you only need it out for a short while (like a visit to Granny's) removing the ball from a labret stud will do the trick -- just be careful while eating and talking, or that sucker will go right down the hatch with Christmas dinner.

Eyebrow: Painful Pleasures also makes acrylic eyebrow retainers, which are practically invisible. In a pinch, a barbell can be used to hide your eyebrow piercing -- just unscrew the balls!

Nostril: Since acrylic should not be used for nostrils, monofilament nose bones or screws can be inserted. They are tiny, inexpensive and very hard to see unless you really look for them. For the rest of us mod freaks with piercings not so easy to hide, just rock a Santa mask and check out our top 20 list of Mystic Piercing & Tribal Tattoo's weirdest piercings.