Translated into 37 languages and available in more than 100 countries, the Guinness Book of World Records is a well-known compendium of facts and feats. A bestseller since its inception in 1955, this annual volume collects, verifies and records more world record data than anyone or anything else on the planet.

Feats of human endurance and the natural or made uniqueness of the human body have long been a popular section of the book’s records. Some of these records are established and vigorously defended as a claim to fame, others happen because an individual just wanted to see if it could be done. There are a good variety of world records that involve tattooing, piercing and body art.

Fingers and Toes
The longest toenails record belongs to Californian Louise Hollis who has managed to grow and maintain toenails that are approximately six inches long. This is facilitated by wearing nothing but open toed shoes, something that would be possible with the mild climate in her hometown of Compton, CA. Maintenance for her toes takes a total of two days each week when all the time for filing and painting them is combined.

For fingernails, the record length for a woman is nearly 43 times that, with Lee Redmond of Salt Lake City, Utah having grown her fingernails out to a length of 261 inches combined. At that length, they are very long, curling extensions of her fingers. The Book of World Records does not explain how the basics of day to day life are handled but we can presume Ms. Redmond has a lot of assistance.

Most Body Piercings
One world record for most body piercings was set by Canadian Brent Moffat who had 700 piercings all done with 18g surgical needles in one session of just over seven hours. This form of piercing is “play piercing” where the skin is pierced for the effect and not for permanently healing to wear jewelry. In the UK, a record for most body piercings in one session was achieved by piercer Charlie Wilson and subject Kam Ma, who endured 600 permanent piercings in just over eight and a half hours. The titanium rings were set in long rows up and down his arms and torso, with the rings being pierced about one per minute. All in all, the entire weight of the new jewelry came to about nine ounces.

The record for most permanent piercings is held by Elaine Davidson of Scotland who now has 1,903 permanent piercings in her body, most done by herself. Officially she holds the title of “most pierced woman.” She first broke or created this record in 2000 when she was verified by Guinness judges to have 462 body piercings, with 192 at the time being around her head and face. She is originally from Brazil and, after being verified in Europe for the record this past year, expressed concerns about going back to her home country for fears of being robbed or attacked due to the attention.

For more information about world records or how to set one, please visit Guiness World Records