Heal it right
These are the same instructions you'll leave the studio with. Your piercing, jewelry gauge and material, and your healing timeline are written on your aftercare card. Questions? Call or text the studio.
Do this
Wash your hands with soap before any cleaning
Clean hands first, every time. Otherwise, don't touch the piercing at all.
Check your piercing daily
Any yellow crusty material that builds up is white blood cell discharge, a normal part of healing. It can be cleaned away with a good rinse in the shower, or using sterile saline spray. If no build-up is visible, cleaning is not necessary.
Use sterile saline, and clean q-tips
If you use q-tips for cleaning, make sure they are thoroughly wet so the cotton strands do not snag on your jewelry.
Dermal anchors and surface bars: soak once daily
Soak for 5–10 minutes using a shot glass or small cup of warm saline. To make it at home: dissolve ¼ teaspoon sea salt in 250ml (8oz) warm water. Make fresh for each soak.
Come in for your downsize
Initial jewelry is longer to allow for swelling. Once swelling settles we switch to a snug fit. Your downsize date is on your aftercare card. The downsizing service is free, you only pay for the shorter piece.
Not this
No swimming pools or hot tubs for a minimum of 12 weeks
That's the standard for every new piercing. Lakes, rivers and shared water count too.
No pets in your bed
If unavoidable, change your bedding every other day.
No soaps or cleansers directly on the piercing
Sterile saline is all you need.
Do not rotate or twist the jewelry
Avoid touching it as much as possible.
Do not change jewelry yourself before the recommended time
Wait for the minimum time on your card, and let us do the first change.
Do not sleep on cartilage piercings
It can cause excess swelling, piercing bumps and migration. A travel pillow helps.
Avoid pressure on the piercing
Helmets, glasses, hats and headphones can all irritate a fresh piercing.
Specific care
Oral piercings
Smoking, vaping and using mouthwash dries the mouth and can lead to prolonged swelling. If using mouthwash, make sure it is alcohol free and mix it half and half with water. Do not use any whitening products, including toothpaste. Rinse your mouth with clean water after eating.
Navel piercings
Keep the piercing area as dry as possible. Dry the area carefully after showering with clean paper towel or a hair dryer on low. Do not soak in the bathtub.
Ear lobe piercings
Keep the back of the ear as dry as possible. Use a blow dryer after showering or tie hair back away from the ears. Never go to bed with wet or damp hair.
Additional tips
Drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy diet will help your piercing heal. It is your immune system that heals your piercing, so things like poor sleep, excess stress and illness can negatively affect the healing process and even cause flare-ups in healed piercings.
Two things that help
Chamomile tea soak
For anti-inflammatory and piercing bump reduction, pure chamomile tea may be used as a soak once daily. Submerge the piercing entirely in a small bowl of warm chamomile tea for 5–10 minutes. For areas where this is difficult, the tea bag can be used as a warm compress. Reheat the bag as needed by dipping it in warm water.
Dry heat compress
Dry heat is beneficial for irritated piercings as it brings blood flow without adding moisture. Fill a clean sock partially with dry rice and secure with an elastic band. Microwave until warm and apply to the piercing area. May be used as often as desired.
Need a downsize or a check-up?
Check-ups are always free, and there's no charge for the downsizing service, just the shorter piece. Call or text and we'll take a look.