Comanche men wore pierced ears with shell earrings or loops of brass or silver wire dangling from them. Six to eight holes will be pierced in the outer edge of the ear by a female relative. The men also had abstract patterns tattooed on their faces, arms, and chests, as well as face and body painting. Traditionally, they used berry juice-based paints and Comanche colored clays. They were later supplied with vermilion (red pigment) and vivid grease paints by merchants. On their weapons, Comanche men wore leather bands and metal strips. On their weapons, Comanche men wore leather bands and metal strips. There was no uniform color or pattern for face and body painting, aside from black, which was the color of war: it was a matter of personal choice. One Comanche, for example, may have one side of his face painted white and the other red, while another may have one side of his body painted green and the other with green and black stripes.