Branding (for body art)     by Orthia

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 8 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Body Art By Burning

Branding was most often used historically to mark property, most often livestock but also sometimes human.  It was also utilized as a method of marking or punishing criminals both in Europe and Asia, and as recently as the founding US Pilgrim fathers.

In modern day body art, the technique is being explored as a way of making a monochromatic, permanent skin design which is more organic in line and color than what is created by tattooing.

What Branding Looks Like 

Fakir Branding Daemon by firechick

I photographed the International Mr Leather convention in Chicago in 1992. There...

Raven Branding Daemon by firechick

I found another of my photos from this session on a website recently:

Daemon Branded - Chicago Hotel by firechick

Daemon and Raven still have Urban Primitives at this

the two of us by MimRedBeard

Brands done by Myk E'Light. Cauterizing pen used.

Bicep......Curl !!!!! by {A Queen's Perspective} Need A BREAK!

OUCH!

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Types of Branding 

  • Strike Branding - this is where a branding iron is made, heated and then pressed against the skin. DO NOT USE ANYTHING MADE FOR BRANDING ANIMALS, WOOD OR FOOD UNLESS YOU WANT A GIGANTIC BLOB OF SCAR TISSUE.
  • Electro-Cautery Branding - this technique is done using a medical device originally designed to stop bleeding by sealing the bleeding blood vessels.
  • Direct Fire Branding - this method involves putting something in direct contact with the skin and lighting it on fire so that it leaves burns.

Modern Discussions of Body Art Branding 

All of the books listed here, I own. They discuss and show branding in the modern body art context. Info includes techniques, story of specific brands and pictures of brandings in action. This is not something that should be undertaken lightly or done at home by person's without training in the procedures.

The last book I actually contributed to, and it includes pictures of my own brandings.
Modern Primitives (Re/Search)
Modern Primitives (Re/Sea...
ModCon: The Secret World Of Extreme Body Modification
ModCon: The Secret World...
Spiritual Tattoo: A Cultural History of Tattooing, Piercing, Scarification, Branding, and Implants
Spiritual Tattoo: A Cultu...
Tattoos - A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References
Tattoos - A Medical Dicti...

Branding Links and Info 

Multi-Strike and Electro-Cautery Branding
Featuring branding, the deliberate use of burning for aesthetic body decoration. Includes multi-strike branding, electro-cautery method.
Leg Branding
I had 3 rings branded around my calf on September 3rd, 2000, Labor Day Weekend, with an electrocautery by Steve Haworth along with assistant Beki.
Fakir Intensives - Basic Branding Course
The Basic Branding Course is designed for those who wish to expand their skills in the Body Arts by learning "The Kiss of Fire".
Aftercare from Infinite Body
The healing of a branding goes through two stages: a initial healing period during which the skin is open and scabbing (2 - 6 weeks), and a longer period during which the scar tissue forms and stabilizes (2 - 12 months).
NecroRogIcon » Blog Archive » My Branding
I love my branding! I've wanted one for years, and when a friend said that she was learning how to brand and needed an initial 'victim' to test her skills on, I jumped at the opportunity.
Branding
Much as designs can be inked or cut into the skin, they can also be burned. Designed and executed by an experienced body artist, branding can produce subtle and organic body art designs.

Let Us Know What You Think Of Branding! 

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Branding Irons for Anything EXCEPT Humans 

antiques and collectibles, cooking accessories, art and woodworking

None of these branding irons should be used on human skin. The nature of our flesh combined with several healing factors is such that to use any of these items will result in a huge blob of unrecognizable scar tissue and not an aesthetic design.

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eBay

Branding Q&A 

I got the following question sent to me recently and thought I'd share my reply with all of you...

Q: Is it safe to get branded right on your spine? Could it cause damage?

A: I would not recommend branding right over the spine at all. It really doesn't have enough meat and padding to support a brand well. And, since these are deliberate 3rd degree burns down into the middle skin layers, I personally would not brand someone right on their spine. On the off chance that an accident happened and a deeper burn occurred, it would be probably be lawsuit-level damage.

Brands are best done on the areas of the body that are flatter with more muscle and body fat. The shoulder blade area of the back is more suitable as it has much more muscle mass on it. Upper arms, thighs and calves are also good locations. Remember the more this area flexes and moves, or gets rubbed by clothing, the harder and more painful it is going to be to heal. And healing a brand takes forever compared to a tattoo.

To Brand or Not To Brand 

How do you feel about branding?

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I really like branding

Heather says:

I want one yesterday. Anyone know some place in Ohio or Orlando?

Posted April 30, 2008

JuliaFantasy says:

wow.
Would love to have one

Posted April 14, 2008

Orthia says:

I've had both struck branding and electro-cautery branding and I really liked the struck experience. I'd consider doing it again at some time in my life.

Posted March 07, 2008

Getting burnt is not my idea of body art

 
 
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