Piercing care
New piecings are exciting, but don't let your piercing after care become an afterthought. Each piercing location requires specific care, and we outlined them below for you so your piercing healing journey
is as smooth as possible.
Every body is different. The healing process will be impacted by every individual’s lifestyle, diet, climate, and body chemistry. A positive healing experience comes from a combination of not touching, or interfering with the natural healing process and proper aftercare and cleaning techniques.
Hole Spray: Saline solution
Make sure your saline powder-to-water ratio is correct- read the directions on the packet. A stronger or weaker solution is not better and may actually harm your piercing.
There is no single cleaning solution or aftercare regimen that works for every body. Different bodies + lifestyles demand different aftercare. Geography, variables in air + water quality, diet, even climate can greatly affect healing. The aftercare solution and how you clean your piercing is one part of the equation.Find what works for you. Our suggestions are based upon our experience, experiences of others who came before us, and the APP [Association of Piercing Professionals]. These are only suggestions- the most important thing is pay attention to your body and listen to what it’s telling you.
AFTER CARE
If the new piercing gets inflamed or irritated: add this step: clean with 70% isopropyl alcohol after washing + before saline
spray until the irritation or additional inflammation calms down. Then switch back to unscented soap and saline spray only to avoid over drying.Professionals]. These are only suggestions- the most important thing is pay attention to your body and listen to what it’s telling you.
HEALED
While healing times vary for everyone and every piercing, it’s dependent on your overall health + stress levels, as well as your aftercare regimen. You’ll know your ear is healed once any swelling, redness, flaking, or discharge completely stops and your piercing sits comfortably in its place. In general, your piercing should continue to feel better with time and consistent cleaning.
DO NOT listen to your friend’s advice over ours. Call or visit the studio, we have experience + want to help. Taking care of your piercing is key for optimal healing.
SPECIFIC PIERCING CARE
- Avoid contact with any makeup, skin or hair products
- To prevent irritation from friction or contact use a doughnut shaped
pillow or travel pillow to isolate the ear in the middle of the hole while you sleep
- Avoid wearing glasses or using headphones that may rub the piercing area
- Use gentle water pressure in the shower or saline on a q-tip to clear debris
from behind the earring
- Refrain from using any harsh face wash
- Avoid putting makeup, creams, and serums directly on the piercing
- In have a cold or during allergy season, be gentle when blowing your nose
- Avoid any nasal sprays that are not saline
- Use gentle water pressure in the shower or saline on a q-tip to clear
debris from behind the earring
- Refrain from applying body creams directly on the piercing
- Make sure only clean clothing comes in contact with the piercing
- Avoid restrictive clothing, lace bras, and exposure to other bodily fluids
- Use gentle water pressure in the shower or saline on a q-tip to clear debris from
behind the earring
- Showering is suggested for the first few weeks, avoid taking baths
- Refrain from putting body creams and perfumes directly on or around the piercing
- Avoid clothing that may rub or rest on the piercing. Ex: one-piece swimsuits, high-waisted
pants, stockings, belts etc.
- Use gentle water pressure in the shower or saline on a q-tip to clear debris from behind the earring
- Be mindful of alcohol and any spicy + acidic foods that come in contact with your mouth
- Avoid applying makeup and creams directly on the piercing
- Use gentle water pressure in the shower or saline on a q-tip to clear debris from behind the earring
FULL HEALING TIMEFRAMES
- Lobe: 4-6+ months
- Upper Lobe: 4-6+ months
- Snakebite Midi: 6-9+ months
- Helix: 6-9+ months
- Flat Helix: 6-9+ months
- Forward Helix: 6-9+ months
- Conch: 6-9+ months
- Tragus: 6-9+ months
- Anti-Tragus: 8 months – 12+ months
- Rook: 8 months – 12+ months
- Daith: 8 months – 12+ months
SIZING DOWN/ HEALED JEWELRY
Our team will help curate your initial jewelry selection + advise whether you’ll require
downsizing at a future appointment. With proper aftercare, after a few weeks, you may
need to downsize jewelry. Jewelry should always be downsized by a professional piercer. If you do not downsize after healing, it can result in undesired movement of your piercing, and higher risk for an extra long bar to snag or get pulled, causing unwanted irritation.
POST PIERCING TIPS
- Do not clean your piercing with chemical based products that may cause irritation
- Do not pick at the piercing site because it is attached to the healing tissue
- Be cautious while washing and styling your hair with towels + fibers
- In the shower, keep scented soaps + shampoos away from the pierced area
- Avoid swimming in chlorinated water or freshwater lakes
- Be careful about performing any strenuous exercise and avoid tight clothing
- Avoid putting makeup, moisturizers + perfumes directly on the piercing
- Try to avoid sleeping on your piercing, use a travel pillow to isolate your ear
