So you want a new mod, and you want it to be a piercing. But for some reason or another, (usually due to a boss or a parent), you're not allowed to have it visible. Dear reader, do not despair, for you are in luck! These days, it's relatively easy to hide piercings. If a parent's waning visionary aptitude isn't sufficient, the myriad of available jewelry and piercings is more than help enough. Allow me to elaborate.
At A Glance Author broken_wings Contact [email protected] IAM broken_wings When N/A Firstly, as your body is your "property" we can think of it like real estate. No, I'm not saying you should buy or sell your body. That is bad, and it would be taking my analogy in the completely wrong direction. The point I'm trying to make, is that with hidden mods and with real estate there are three very crucial determining factors: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Obvious? Yes. But it had to be said.
The amount of clothing you wear at any given time is an imperative consideration. Do you drown yourself in long sleeves and hoodies, or do you compulsively bare your Britney-esque mid-drif? Keep in mind that while a piercing may be hidden while clothed, family vacations may involve swimming, and consequently, bathing suit wearing. So as I've illustrated for you, some piercings are hidden only some of the time. Examples would be nape, sternum, collarbone, wrist, and navel piercings.
However, assuming your family or employers (or anyone else it's necessary that you hide your piercing from) won't be seeing you naked, nipple or genital piercings can be very viable options. (NOTE: If your goal is to hide piercings from your parents, be sure that you are of the legal age to get the piercing you desire. You do NOT want to get a vertical clitoral hood piercing (VCH) by a hacker simply because your parents won't sign for a nose piercing.)
The aforementioned piercings are easily hidden by clothing. And as no employer or parent should demand that you strip, you're considerably safe in the confidentiality of those piercings. It would be your choice whether or not you display your acquired piece of metal. But, keep in mind that it will be hard not grimace or yelp if someone unknowingly bumps or hugs your new piercing, and that in itself can give you away even without visual confirmation.
Okay. So those piercings are all fine and great.... but maybe you want a different piercing, and if you can't make it entirely hidden from view, you'd want to make it at least discreet? Different techniques for different piercings can and usually will work.
Septum. The septum piercing is a popular choice because it gives the wearer the option of visibility or concealment. Wearing a septum retainer or a circular barbell makes it extremely easy to flip up or down the jewelry (once the piercing has healed). Furthermore, choose black jewelry will make the piercing even less likely to be detected. Although the jewelry can be tucked up into your nasal passages, beware of speaking to people shorter than you, or people that are standing below you (e.g. on a staircase). Even throwing your head back while laughing can lead to the discovery of your septum piercing. Personally, I've found that my biggest problem has been the reflection that the steel gives off. My mother would sometimes see the reflection, but so far she has luckily mistaken it for a build up of snot. Ha.
Tongue web. This piercing is not as easily healed as the septum; it is notorious for migration and rejection. However, sometimes it works out just fine, so it's worth a shot if you have your heart set on it and have the appropriate anatomy. With my tongue web piercing, I experienced no slurring during the healing period, but this is a complication that could blow your cover. This piercing is underneath your tongue, so it is completely covered up 98% of the time. Do be careful during laughing and sneezing, as this can sometimes expose the piercing. Also, when choosing jewelry, a barbell is considerably less noticeable than a captive bead ring (CBR) or circular barbell. Dentist visits can be tricky, but they're manageable; especially if you practice hiding your piercing before you go. I've survived multiple dentist and orthodontist visits, but they are stressful. (And in some places, it is illegal for your dentist/doctor to inform your parent/guardian of your piercing, as that violates doctor-patient confident iality.)
Smileys and Frowneys. Smiley piercings can be discreet, but as people generally wear CBR's in them, a wide smile is all it takes to get you caught. I believe that a barbell would reduce visibility, but that may also reduce the actual point in getting that particular piercing. Frowney piercings are more discreet, but less common. Both of these piercings would also be something to keep in mind during Dentist visits.
Ears. Most work places allow a few ear piercings, and most parents are lenient in that area... but if you need to make them subtle, try clear jewelry! Quartz is your best bet, as it's clear glass of a really strong sort, but it will still be visible if someone were to look really closely. Clear acrylic is another option, although the quality is questionable. And, if you have stretched ears that you need to look more "normal", there are flesh-colored plugs available via multiple retailers that are made out of acrylic, silicone, or dental acrylic. If your lobes haven't been stretched too big, solid plugs can sometimes emulate "normal" earrings. Long hair can also be a godsend, as it can hide most if not all ear piercings when worn down.
Tongue. This piercing is extremely visible on some, while almost completely unnoticeable on others. It really depends on how far back it's pierced and whether or not the wearer plays with it. Again, flesh-colored or black jewelry tends to be the least noticeable.
Nostril. The tiniest little stud on the side of your nose is extremely discreet, but not at all invisible. Quartz jewelry will minimize its appearance, but it'll still be fairly obvious due to the fact that it's ON YOUR FACE.
Some things just can't be hidden, and frankly, you shouldn't have to. But if ever becomes absolutely necessary, hopefully some of the above information helps you out.