CUSTOM ORDERS FOR PLUGS AND TUNNELS

We intend to offer the best service we can, and therefore provide a totally custom service to suit your needs.

If you see something you like, but want to change it just that small amount, please let us know and we'll see what we can provide! If you want something special, email us with a sketch or idea - we have an in-house artist who can draw you a design.


WOOD;

We have 8 different types of wood:

Raintree - a hard wood which can vary in color from tan to quite dark brown.
Blood - a hard wood which is normally red/brown in color though the color will vary in intensity depending on species and area in which it was grown.
Coconut - a fine grain hardwood with unusual colored natural markings which compliment both the sides and ends of the plugs.
Para - cream to light tan in color with occasional streaking.
Ebony - a gorgeous dark hardwood with small streaks.
Maple - a hardwood which is normally yellow/tan in color with cream streaking.
Kanoon - a yellow wood, which darkens with age.
Mulberry - ranging from a bright yellow to a light tan.


STYLE AND SHAPE;

We can provide tunnels with smooth or flat edges, plugs with a concave or covex edges, stash plugs, teardrops, ovals, bullets or iron crosses.

You can choose from double flare, single flare, double o-ring, single top hat, or double top hat.

We can carve or inlay (using bone) any design, or inlay any wood into tunnels or plugs.


INLAY COLOUR;

Bone inlays can be natural, black, red, pink, green, blue, lime or purple.


SIZES;

As standard, we stock from 11.1mm upto 76mm and hold the biggest range we can.

However, custom orders can be made upto a massive 160mm, which is probably some of the biggest jewellery in the world.

Full size list;
11.1mm - 7/16"
12.7mm - 1/2"
14.3mm - 9/16"
16mm - 5/8"
17.5mm - 11/16"
19mm - 3/4"
22mm - 7/8"
25mm - 1"
28.5mm - 1 1/8"
32mm - 1 1/4"
35mm - 1 3/8"
39mm - 1 1/2"
41mm - 1 5/8"
44mm - 1 3/4"
48mm - 1 7/8"
51mm - 2"
54mm - 2 1/8"
57mm - 2 1/4"
60mm - 2 2/8"
63.5mm - 2 1/2"
67mm - 2 5/8"
70mm - 2 3/4"
73mm - 2 7/8"
76mm - 3"

Wearable area;
4.8mm - 3/16"
6.4mm - 1/4"
7.9mm - 5/16"
9.5mm - 3/8"
12.7mm - 1/2"
16mm - 5/8"
19mm - 3/4"


HORN;

Similar deal, but custom horn plugs are available in the same sizes, only upto 35mm - 1 3/8".




Here at Zen Cat's, we love a challenge, so please let us know if you want something just for you...

Ask any questions, just drop us a message on here, and someone will get back to you...

It usually takes a few weeks to produce custom pairs, but they're definitely worth the wait!


Peace.

DEFINITION;


Organic matter (or organic material such as wood and horn) is that which has come from a recently living organism; is capable of decay, or the product of decay; or is composed of organic compounds (ie. carbon-based).



MATERIALS;


Wood is composed of fibers of cellulose (40%–50%) and hemicellulose (15%–25%) held together by lignin (15%–30%).

Bones are rigid organs that form part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They function to move, support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. As bones come in a variety of shapes and have a complex internal and external structure, they are lightweight, yet strong and hard, in addition to fulfilling their many other functions. One of the types of tissues that makes up bone is the mineralised osseous tissue, also called bone tissue, that gives it rigidity and honeycomb-like three-dimensional internal structure. Other types of tissue found in bones include marrow, endosteum and periosteum, nerves, blood vessels and cartilage.

A horn is a living, vein and artery filled, pointed projection of the skin of various animals, consisting mainly of keratin as well as other proteins. True horns are found only among the ruminant artiodactyls, in the families Antilocapridae (pronghorn) and Bovidae (cows, buffalo, yaks, goats, antelope etc.). Those animals have one or two pairs of horns, which usually have a spiral shape.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OUR ORGANICS ARE FROM ETHICAL SOURCES. OUR WOOD IS RESCUED FROM DEMOLITION SITES AND OUR BONE OR HORN PRODUCTS HAVE COME FROM WATER BUFFALO HAVING DIED FROM NATURAL CAUSES. BY USING THE BONE AND HORN FOR THESE BEAUTIFUL PIECES, THE BUFFALO'S LIFE IS CELEBRATED, AND IT'S SPIRIT IS SAID TO BE HELPED TO REACH THE AFTERLIFE.



WHY ORGANICS?;


Wood is a common material for plugs and other shapes as it can be easily worked. Wooden pieces tend to keep warm in cold conditions, they are lightweight, they often stay in place better than other plugs and also they allow the body to 'breathe' so the piercing is less likely to smell as it might with other materials. Wood is also an excellent basis for more advanced jewellery. The flat faces of a plug can be inlaid with crushed bone or horn, gemstones or metals.

ALL OF OUR ORGANICS ARE MADE FROM THE BEST HARD WOODS, TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS, FINISHED AND POLISHED TO A BEAUTIFUL SHINE USING NATURAL BEESWAX. ALL WOOD IS THOROUGHLY TESTED TO MINIMISE ANY ALLERGIC REACTIONS. ALL JEWELLERY IS INDIVIDUALLY CRAFTED, AND PAIRS ARE MATCHED AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE.



WHAT IS 'EAR FUNK' AND HOW DO ORGANICS HELP?


Sebaceous glands in the skin secrete an oily substance called sebum (Latin, meaning fat or tallow) that is made of fat (lipids) and the debris of dead fat-producing cells. In the glands, sebum is produced within specialised cells and is released as these cells burst; sebaceous glands are thus classified as holocrine glands.

Sebum is odourless, but it's bacterial breakdown can produce odour. Sebum is the cause of some people experiencing 'oily' hair if it is not washed for several days, and is the cause of the dreaded 'ear funk'.

Organics allow the piercing to 'breathe' due to their porous nature, and allow a small exchange in material. With use of other materials such as glass, metal, silicone or plastic, the jewellery is impenetrable to the sebum, and this causes a build-up of dead tissue, leading to a bad smell.



LOOKING AFTER YOUR ORGANICS;


Beeswax or olive, peanut, or jojoba oils are recommended to keep your plugs looking their best, and should be lightly polished with a soft cloth. They should be washed periodically with a mild non-chemical soap or with a small amount of tea tree oil.

"Anything you can pinch, you can pierce.
Anything you can pierce, you can stretch."



HISTORY



    Since the dawn of man, we have been piercing and stretching ourselves. Be it for pleasure or pain, rights of passage or fashion, warning or aesthetic value, it is one of the simplest forms of body modification. Modern piercing is much more researched, talked about and safer than the previous primitive techniques, and now there are many ways of piercing and stretching, and many types of jewellery.     The ways and places we pierce, stretch, maintain and heal our piercings are constantly evolving, as are people who push the boundaries of our bodies. As piercing and body modification (and the practice of tattooing) is more and more socially acceptable, many people are exploring their right to self - expression.

    Most piercings and jewellery are worn for their aesthetic value, social status, heightening the senses and to please our ego.
    That is why we do it.

    Stretching has become somewhat of a fashion in the West over recent years, and with the invention of the Internet and the growth of mass media, it has become a large trend amongst 'the alternative scene'. It is now shown to cross many social barriers, and is prevalent in all walks of life.
    Many tribes people have been stretching for thousands of years, and use primitive organic materials to create jewellery. The designs of the jewellery have increased with intricacy with the introduction of metal and tools, allowing for beautiful carving and adding other materials into the piece.
    One of the most prolific icons of stretching is that of Buddha. When he was a prince, he was a very wealthy man, and wore large gold earrings in his lobes to show his social status. This was common practice, and the wealthier you were, the larger and more expensive the jewellery would be. Over time, piercings would stretch under the weight, and create larger holes. Therefore, the larger the stretching, the more status you held. When he decided to renounce his wealth and worldly possessions, he also refused to wear jewellery, and was left with large, permanently stretched earlobes, which are distinct on the statues and images of Buddha we see today.



STRETCHING TODAY



    Stretching a piercing is a simple process, and can be achieved by putting larger things through a piercing.
    It is seen as a form of body–modification, and should not be taken lightly. Often, stretched piercings can go bad if they are incorrectly stretched or not looked after properly. It is a very time consuming process, and as with all fashion, some people plainly do not like it, or understand the process or reasons why people wear them. Thankfully, with education and the existence of organisations such as the infamous BMEzine, people are more accepting of it, and the inquisitive nature of humans is prevailing.
    As with piercing, stretching will leave a permanent scar on the body. If a piercing is worn for a long period of time, the skin forms a fistula of scar tissue around the jewellery, and this will harden in time, and leave a small visible scar when the jewellery is taken out. Thankfully, the body has an awesome ability to heal, and many small piercings do not leave obvious scarring. However, this depends on where the piercing is, what it was pierced with, jewellery worn, gauge of the piercing and jewellery, longevity of the piercing, and on the individual's ability to heal. One of the most important factors is how the piercing is maintained. If it is kept clean, and correct jewellery is worn, piercings heal fast, and minimal scarring is possible.
    Even the initial piercing of one's body should be a decision made only by the individual. It should be for the right reasons, and the best way of making correct decisions is to educate in order to cover all possibilities.
    Stretching a piercing should be thoroughly thought through beforehand, with all necessary criteria clearly covered. If you stay informed, then not only can you stretch safely, but you can pass on important information to those who are thinking of stretching, those currently stretching, and those who have taken out their jewellery and are shrinking their piercing.

THIS SECTION DEALS MAINLY WITH THE STRETCHING OF EARLOBES, BUT MOST OF THE INFORMATION CAN BE APPLIED TO OTHER PIERCINGS.

    Stretching a piercing will almost definitely leave some sort of scarring. This is usually seen in the shape of a small white line of scar tissue on the lobe, and may have a small indent into each side. Generally, if people stretch correctly they can go to around 10mm and still shrink the piercing down to standard sizes, or completely remove the piercing and the lobe will heal fully. Again, remember all people heal differently in different times, and it depends on the actual piercing and maintenance.
    Once past 10mm, the piercing may not heal fully, but good results can be achieved by good practice. Generally, I have found lobes to shrink and create a full lobe in time, from around 14 – 16mm of stretching. The larger the stretch and the longer it is left in, the longer it will take to heal. Expect to wait near 2 years for a 10mm stretch to fully heal, although the lobe may show signs of a full lobe (no visible light showing through the piercing) after only a few weeks. Many stretched piercings when left out for even just a few hours will shrink, especially when concerned with smaller-gauge piercings (up to 10mm).
    Once past 14mm or so (depending on the elasticity of the skin and lobes and their size to begin with) you start to reduce the probability the piercing will fully heal. Most stretched piercings can be downsized, but once the elastic limit of the surrounding tissue has been passed, this is more difficult.
    Large-gauge piercings can be shrunk and smaller jewellery can be worn. In some cases, people are left with simply large holes stretched in their flesh, and are happy that way. If people feel they made a mistake in stretching their piercings, or feel they have to drastically down-size or remove the stretched effect for whatever reason, surgery can be performed. The middle of the earlobe is simply cut off using a scalpel, and the remaining ends sutured or stitched together. This leaves a remarkably healed full lobe with minimal scarring after time. This operation is considered as plastic surgery.

    Make an informed correct decision before you start stretching, or give thought to your sizing before you regret it. The body is a beautiful thing and the most advanced object that we know of in every detail, and it's healing power is phenomenal.

    Respect it, and if you want to modify, do it correctly and safely.



METHODS OF STRETCHING



    First, start with a piercing. Normal ear-gun style piercings are not advisable, as they only create a small gauge hole, and are not specifically the most hygienic of tools. I advise you go to a reputable tattoo shop or piercer, or ask around for the best local piercer. Visit the piercer and ask advice, don't scrimp on prices, and make sure they hold the correct Health and Safety requirements. Trust is a large part of any piercing process, and the more at ease you are, the less pain you will feel.
    Most piercers will use a needle at around 1.6mm, and some may initially pierce your lobe slightly higher than normal if you wish to stretch to large-gauge sizes.         This is so there is slightly more lobe to stretch downwards. They will pierce you ears, and should give you care advice on how to maintain and help the initial healing process.
    If you wish to start even larger, it is possible to find experts who use small scalpels to make a larger initial subcision, or a dermal punch to create a hole in your lobe. This can be more painful than needle piercing, and can be more difficult to look after. These methods can also make healing in the long-term more a longer process with differing results.
    Using the correct aftercare of leaving the piercings alone, regular cleaning and minimising any impact to the area, and with a little bit of patience, around 4 – 6 weeks later your piercings will have healed.
    Congratulations! You are now ready to start stretching!

    There are a few ways of actually stretching your piercing, but the 3 main ones are via jewellery, tapers or tape.

    Stretching should only be done on healed piercings, and you should listen to your body. If it hurts, stop!

    Don't let others stretch your piercings, they will not know the pressure they are applying to the piercing, and may cause it to tear or rip.
    Only you know best.

    If using tapers, go up the smallest increment you can find, for most people, this is to 2mm. You can also stretch using larger-gauged body jewellery.
Go slowly, don't force the jewellery or taper through, use something to lubricate such as Vaseline.
    I find the best time to stretch is after a shower or a soak in the bath, when the flesh is warm and supple.
    Stay straight to do it, no drinking or drugs, as you could hurt yourself and permanently damage your body.
    Make sure your hands are clean, and so is the jewellery. I strongly urge you to keep a good hygiene practice for all your piercing, body modification or tattooing. This minimises the risk of infection.
    Once you have the jewellery in place and it's safe and clean, well done, you have performed your first stretch!

    Wait a couple of days after each stretch before you first take out any jewellery to clean it, wait until the initial swelling subsides for minimal pain and ease of cleaning and re-inserting the jewellery. This will lessen infection of the piercing. Be careful when re-inserting jewellery back into the piercing too.
    Wait at least 4 weeks before going up a size, this is to give your lobes a chance to accommodate for the new jewellery, and avoid any problems the larger you go.
     The more patience you have and the longer you take, the more chance you have of healthier lobes during stretching and healing. If you stretch again while your lobe is swollen, it will cause pain and the risk of tearing, blow-outs and forming further scar tissue. Be patient.

    By wrapping tape around a piece of jewellery, a larger diameter can be achieved, and the jewellery is then re-inserted back into the piercing. This method offers minimal stretching each time it is performed, and carries fewer risks of certain things going wrong with the stretching. The best tape to use is adhesive-free 'bondage' tape, because it is strong, smooth easy to clean and re-useable. Adhesives on tape can easily irritate the piercing and the surrounding area, and should therefore be avoided. PTFE pipe tape can also be used, and can be bought cheap from a hardware store.
    Only add one or two layers of tape every few days, and keep the lobe and jewellery clean. This can provide a virtually pain-free method of stretching, and carries minimal risks if performed properly.

    Body jewellery is an excellent way of stretching slowly and surely, and you can continue with this until you are at your target size. Make sure you have patience, keep your piercings clean, and wear high-quality correct jewellery.
    Silicone plugs are not an advised form of body jewellery to use, as the material is easily deformed, and this can cause uneven stretching or ripping.

    Tapers are shaped specially to slowly increase the gauge of your piercing. However, tapers have their dangers. They can allow you to stretch too fast. If you are going to use tapers, make sure you are only going up 1-2mm at most, and do not force them through the piercing. DO NOT SKIP SIZES – IT STRETCHES TOO FAST, AND CAUSES MAJOR PAIN AND COMPLICATIONS IN THE FUTURE! Again, follow the instructions from above, and wait between stretches.



    Weights are not a good way to stretch a piercing, as they can cause migration of the piercing, uneven stretching, thinning of the tissue at the base of the lobe, and also carry the risk of the lobe ripping.


KEEPING A STRETCHED-PIERCING HEALTHY

    For every 6mm of stretching, I find it a good idea to double the healing time between increasing sizes, and wait 8 weeks before stretching again.

    When you have reached your target size, or have stretched to over 10mm, the lobe should have sufficiently healed to allow you to sleep with your jewellery out and re-insert in the morning. This is so the lobe has time to relax, keeping the blood supply in good order, and further minimises thinning and the knocking, pulling or any other unwanted movement of the jewellery whilst sleeping. If the piercing is a little tight in the morning, just massage and pop in a smaller gauge piece of jewellery for the first half hour of the day.
    Creating large holes in flesh reduces the blood supply to and around the area, but by massing daily this can be helped. The best time to do it is after a shower or bath, and by using Jojoba oil. If this cannot be sourced, then try using Vitamin E oils or even olive oil. This causes greater bloodflow to the lobe due to stimulation of the area, and replaces valuable oil to the skin where it may have been lost when cleaning.
    If your lobes start to thin out, then downsizing is a good way to bulk out the stretched flesh. Inserting smaller jewellery or taking it out completely will allow the lobes to relax and shrink. This can be performed over a week to a few months, but the idea is to re-stretch up again, your lobes having had time to heal more, and the resulting flesh around the piercing will have thickened. This is vital if you wish to stretch to large or extreme gauges.
    If you have any pain or bleeding, take out the jewellery, gently clean the piercing with water and leave to heal before attempting to stretch any further.
Buy the best jewellery you can afford. It is the safest way of maintaining your piercing, and you will benefit from not putting anything else in there.
Surgical grade steel is safe and easy to clean, but can be heavy.
    Acrylic plastics are also easy to clean, but can cause irritation of the piercing and the surrounding tissue. This is especially prominent when sleeping on large gauge acrylics, when they rub against the skin of the neck, causing minor irritation, redness, and swelling.
    Glass is good and looks cool, but can be fragile and heavyweight in large sizes, and dangerous if it breaks.
    Silicone can be used when the target size is reached, and can reduce the visibility of stretched piercings, especially when sourced in colours close to that of the wearer's skin. It can be comfy to wear, and allows a little movement of the stretched flesh. However, it is not suitable for stretching and has limited designs.

    Organic body jewellery (made from other 'living' tissue or plant material) is the best quality jewellery. It comes in many materials, including wood, horn, bone and coral. Due to the materials and their hardness, many colours, designs and inlays are possible. Organic material 'works' with your body, allowing the transfer of heat to keep the jewellery warm and surpasses other materials in its compatibility with your own body. It allows the body to recognise it as 'made from our own' meaning it does not reject it and reduces the stink. Wooden jewellery of high quality which is maintained properly is seen to naturally thicken the surrounding flesh, and reduces the amount of 'bad-smelling gunge' which is associated with any stretched piercing. The jewellery is hardwearing, comfortable and will not fuse with your body. Organics are also lighter than metals, acrylics or glass.


WARNINGS



    Infection from improper hygiene routine can cause a range of problems, from small bacterial infections which clear in a few days if washed properly and treated, to serious ones which can end in tissue necrosis and the loss of either part of the lobe, the full lobe or even more serious problems with the whole ear.

    Stretching over the skin's elastic limit will cause a permanent piercing, and will never return to being fully healed.
    Over-stretching and going too fast will cause migration of the piercing. This leads to further scar tissue being formed, reducing the ability to stretch further or heal. It can also cause thinning of the stretched flesh, which can result in ripping or tearing. Over-stretching can also lead to nerve damage, which causes loss of feeling. This can be minimal, and feeling will return within weeks to a year or so. In extreme cases, it can cause permanent damage to the piercing and surrounding tissues. Serious damage to surrounding blood vessels can cause a reduction in circulation, and lead to tissue necrosis (similar to frost-bite) where permanent damage will hinder the healing process, and in extreme cases, cause loss of tissue.
    'Blow-outs' or 'lips' can form on the back of the edge of the piercing. They originate from the flesh being stretched quickly, and are the edge of the fistula formed inside the piercing being forced outside due to the pressure of the jewellery against the ear. They can be reduced by instantly downsizing for a period of time (a good idea for thickening the lobes anyway, just take your time and stretch back up), putting the jewellery in from the back to front, or by folding and rotating the lip back into the piercing. This will help it to assimilate back into the tissue, but they can be more permanent if not caught early. If this is apparent, lips can be removed by 'tying them off' against the back of the tunnel. The resulting loss of circulation causes the skin to die and fall off or it is removed, and will be healed fully after a few of weeks.

    Having stretched ears, especially in large sizes, can increase the chance of the piercing being ripped out, so take care of yourself.

    Beanie hats can serve as good protection for stretched lobes.







WITH DUE THANKS AND MUCH RESPECT TO BMEZINE.COM AND PAULY UNSTOPPABLE.

    To add to this, give feedback or to ask any further questions, please feel free to email me;

zencats@hotmail.co.uk

    For an awesome range of hand-made organic jewellery in sizes up to 160mm;

www.zencats.co.uk
www.myspace.com/zencats