A tattooed person suspends from hooks, laying flat, one leg higher than the other. Their head is back, and they seem to be smiling, dark hair dangling like an anime character.

Tag: Branding

  • A Personal Story About Significance and Triangle Bromance

    Polareyez was kind enough to submit this photo of their four day old solar brand.

    triangle brand

    Now this photo hits home for me because back in 2008 when I was but a mere 17 years old, My best pal and I were featured on ModBlog by Shannon. Here’s the link to the original post. When you get done cracking up at my baby face, you’ll notice that we’re also branding triangles on each other. Believe it or not that was one of the more significant modifications in my life. The triangle symbolized my friend and I taking in another friend on a special night. The branding was highly ritualized and we took the photos specifically to share with BME. It was a really important bonding experience with one of my best friends that we’ll always remember. I actually remember the day I saw it on ModBlog thinking that it was the most significant day of my life, and that I belonged to this community.

    I’m sharing this little story with you because while this is not the most intense, extreme, eye catching, or conventionally “beautiful” piece of scarification…you can never tell the weight that something so simple can carry. My little triangle changed my entire life, and you can’t even see it today. In life you never seem to know when your turning points will be, but the thing that I love about this community is that you always have a reminder of where you’ve been.

  • When life gives you keloids, make eyeballs

    I think that’s how the old expression goes, right?

    Ighlif Rendina, owner and piercer at H.F. Body Art in Turin, Italy, had a customer who’d previously gotten a transdermal implant. The transdermal itself did alright, but in time, a large unsightly scar built up over the insertion incision. The microdermal was removed, and the scar reworked using a combination of cutting and cautery branding. The insertion scar became the pupil of the eye, and the scar that formed in the transdermal scar was covered up by the bottom line of the eye. In the picture where you can see the entire eye, it’s quite fresh, about two months after being done, and the picture where it’s partially covered by clothing is current, showing the piece at almost two years old.

  • Less than three

    This little heart branding belongs to IAM: 4wheeler.  As you probably have already guessed, this isn’t the whole picture.  Well that’s because the heart is only the tip of this elaborate brand.

    Keep on reading to see the rest…

    Lots more photos in the male genital scarification gallery.

  • Not Quite Jieba

    I saw this branding in Alejandro Hernandez Salazar’s portfolio (Tattoos by Spooky, Mexico) and the first thing I thought of was the scalp brands that some Buddhist monks wear, but after looking further into the gallery I realized that these were actually very intense strike brands, done by using a propane torch to heat up a very large bar of metal that must carry an incredible amount of heat inertia. I actually spent some time wondering which method would be “worse” for the person having it done. The Buddhist brands, known as “jieba” (ordination scars), are done in rows of three (which I guess should have been my instant tip-off) making either 6, 9, or 12 scars, which take about five minutes flesh slowly sizzling from the incense… but the amount of energy in that big bar once heated? A bit scary. Click here for the photo credit on the monk by the way.

    jieba1

    jieba2

  • A Wednesday Follow-up

    I’ve gotten quite a few requests for a follow-up to Naoise-Ryan Isreal‘s foot branding that was featured a few weeks back.  Now normally the follow-ups come on Friday, but since these photos were taken only a few days after the branding, it’s only fair that the first follow-up come a little early as well.  For those that don’t remember, here’s the initial branding by Samppa.

    Yep, it still makes my toes curl up when I see it, which makes this one of the very few things capable of doing that.  Of course, these healing photos make me cringe even more.

    Now remember, these were taken only 4 days after the initial branding.  Be sure to keep an eye on Naoise-Ryan’s IAM page, as well as his BME Bonus Gallery for more updates.  I’ll also be doing a Friday Follow-up for these once they’ve had a couple of months to heal.

  • Branding with purpose

    I’m going to start this post of with a quick advisory.  This is a unique situation that was brought about at the recommendation of a medical doctor.  However, just because it was recommended in this situation does not mean it can be applied to everyone.  Glans branding isn’t anything new, and if your goal is strictly aesthetic, then by all means do whatever it is you wish.  That said, if you’re contemplating this because of the medical reasons, please consult your doctor to make sure that it is right for you.

    Well, now that the ominous warning is out of the way, lets take a look at this glans branding by Eroswastika.

    What makes this branding unique is the story behind it.  This is what Ighlif had to say…

    A guy contacted me, directed by a physician, to make a genital branding, exactly on the glans. suffered from premature ejaculation and after several visits and tests your doctor has concluded that at the root of the problem was an acute sensitivity to the base of the penis, below the urethra. The solution was to him or use EMLA or other anesthetic creams before intercourse, or numb the area with a possible intervention to elettrocautere …. or through a decorative branding!!

    As you can see, this was a pretty interesting way to solve a medical problem.  To see the unblurred photo, you’ll have to keep reading.

    Be sure to check out the galleries to see the rest of the photos of this unique branding.

    Eroswastika works at Happy Family Body Art in Torino, Italy.

  • Hot foot

    Over the past two years of writing for ModBlog I’ve found that I’ve become somewhat desensitized to a lot of things.  But every once in a while something comes along that makes even me wince in pain.  This foot branding by Samppa on Naoise-Ryan Israel is a perfect example of something that makes me cringe.

  • Forever 13

    This brand-new branding was done by Brett Turner from Talisman Tattoo Art Studio located in York, UK.  Given the size and location, I’m hoping we get a follow-up photo down the line to see how it heals up.

  • The Friday Follow-up

    For the first time, the Friday Follow-up is actually going to be hidden behind a click through.  If you’ll recall, back in January we saw Naoise-Ryan Israel‘s scrotal branding.  Well, six months down the line, and by popular request, we’ve got a follow-up.

    To see the full photo, as well as how it looks today, keep on reading.

    And here’s how it looks today, along with a better look at some of his piercings.

    Given how difficult it is to predict how things will scar there, I’d say that’s turned out really well.

  • The Friday Follow-up

    This week’s follow-up is of a branding that we saw back in February.

    Normally when it comes to scarification 2 months in is still pretty fresh in terms of overall healing, however when the brand is over heavy blackwork, the end result is easily visible.

    If you haven’t guessed by now, this was done by none other than Brian Decker.

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