General Aftercare Advice

While this is applicable to all piercings, for more specific aftercare, keep scrolling!

Disclaimer: This advice is used as a general rule of thumb for the smoothest healing for your new

piercing, but is not to be used as a substitute for advice from a medical professional.

Use the saline twice a day. Let the saline sit for a minimum of 2 minutes, and then pat dry with a

single-use paper towel, gauze, or cotton pad. Do not attempt to pick off any crusties or build-up with a

cotton swab or pad. Shower daily and let the water run over your piercing. If your build-up becomes too

excessive or resistant to washing away, you may soak a single-use paper towel, gauze, or cotton pad in

warm water and place it on the piercing for up to 5 minutes to loosen the build up. Check your piercing

balls regularly, but do not twist or rotate your piercing. If you need to touch your piercing to tighten a loose

ball, make sure you do so with freshly washed hands. Your own sweat and other bodily fluids are safe,

but avoid bodily fluids from others. You may use a clean cold pack during the first 48 hours (except for

nipple piercings), and warm compresses after the first 48 to soothe the site. After using a compress, make sure the site is dry and free of moisture. Do not use any products

other than saline to care for your piercing, unless told to by a medical professional.

Recommended Saline

A bottle of saline is given with piercings, but if more is needed, you can return to our studio and purchase another bottle for $15.

Alternatively, you can buy your own. These are our recommended brands, but any isotonic, sterile saline solution is acceptable. Look for the ingredients to only contain water and 0.9% NaCl.

A note that anything labeled “wound wash” will have a strong stream that may irritate fresh piercings.

Do not make your own saline for healing piercings.

    • Make sure that any phones or

    earphones/headphones are

    clean at all times. This is

    especially important with a rook,

    tragus, or daith.

    • Don’t sleep on your piercing(s).

    If you are a side sleeper and got

    pierced on both ears, I

    recommend a donut shaped

    pillow so as to not put pressure

    on the piercing(s).

    • Clean your pillowcase regularly.

    • The T-shirt method for

    keeping your pillow

    clean: Night 1, put a

    clean T-shirt over your

    pillowcase. Night 2, flip

    your pillow over. Night

    3, turn the T-shirt inside

    out. Night 4, flip the

    pillow again. After night

    4, wash or replace the

    T-shirt and repeat the

    process

    • Don’t sleep with damp hair

    • Take care when using brushes

    or combs, so as to not snag the

    piercing.

    • Take care with eyeglasses, and

    clean them regularly.

    • Avoid blowing or picking your

    nose

    • Take care not to get any lotion,

    makeup, or other products on

    your piercing

    • These sites are among the most

    likely to swell, bleed, and or

    bruise.

    • Use extreme caution with any

    eyeglasses, so as to not snagon any piercing(s). Keep

    eyeglasses clean.

    • Take care not to get any lotion,

    makeup, or other products on

    your piercing

    • Sipping ice cold water can

    provide temporary relief with

    any pain and swelling.

    • Any white-ish discharge is

    normally. This is normally the

    “crusties” that form with other

    piercings, but due to the wet

    environment, it does not form

    the hard build-up.

    • Fasting or a liquid diet is not

    necessary. Avoid any sticky,

    spicy, or sour foods, but

    otherwise you may eat normally.

    Certain other foods may

    aggravate the site, so it is very

    important to listen to your body

    to determine what foods are

    best.

    • Sleep with your head elevated

    to ease any swelling and pain.

    • Plaque can form on oral

    piercings just like with teeth! It is

    most common with tongue

    piercings, and likes to form

    under the tongue between the

    ball and post, but it can form

    anywhere. You can carefully use

    dental floss to clean this off.

    • Avoid any lipstick or other

    products while your piercing is

    healing.

    • For labret piercings, you may

    use dental wax if your gums get

    sore.

    • Avoid fidgeting with and sucking

    on your piercing.

    • Rinse your mouth at least twice

    daily with saline, distilled water,

    or mouthwash that is

    alcohol-free and-or contains

    Hypochlorous Acid (HOCL). Use as instructed by the product, and take care not to over-use it.

    • Brush and floss normally, but

    use caution to not hit your

    piercing.

    • Smoking and alcoholic

    beverages should be avoided

    during healing

    • Avoid oral sexual activities, and

    “French kissing” any partners,

    so as to not exchange saliva or

    other external bodily fluids

    • Wear low rise or loose fitting

    garments to avoid clothing

    irritating your piercing.

    • Use caution with any exercise

    that involves your torso.

    • You may use a plastic eyepatch

    to cover your piercing for any

    sports to reduce the risk of

    physical impact.

    • Be mindful of friction and

    rubbing during any sexual

    activity, and contamination of

    the site from your partner’s

    bodily fluids. Waterproof

    bandages may help reduce the

    risk of injury during this.

    • “Flare-ups” due to hormonal

    changes during menstruation

    are normal and usually happen

    just before and after your

    period, even after your piercing

    is fully healed.

    • A snug undershirt, or

    smooth-cup bra is helpful for

    protection and comfort