Heal it right.
A clean piercing heals faster, looks better, and gives you fewer problems down the road. Here's exactly what we tell every client who walks out of our chair.
Twice a day, that's it.
Clean twice a day
Spray a sterile saline (0.9% sodium chloride) solution on the piercing morning and night. We sell pre-mixed saline at the shop, or look for one with no additives.
Leave it alone
Don't twist, spin, or rotate the jewelry. Don't touch the piercing with unwashed hands. The less you mess with it, the faster it heals.
Pat dry, don't rub
After showering or cleaning, gently pat dry with a clean paper towel. Cloth towels trap bacteria and snag jewelry.
Skip these.
Most piercing problems we see are caused by something on this list. Avoid them until you're fully healed.
- Alcohol, peroxide, Bactine, or ointments — they kill the cells your body needs to heal
- Pools, hot tubs, lakes, or ocean water for at least 4 weeks
- Sleeping on a fresh ear or facial piercing
- Makeup, sunscreen, or hair products directly on the piercing
- Changing jewelry before the piercing is fully healed
How long until it's done?
Healing times vary by body, lifestyle, and aftercare. These are the ranges we see most often. Don't change jewelry before the low end of your range — even if it looks healed on the outside.
Worried? Call.
If you have heavy swelling that won't go down after the first few days, green/yellow discharge with a strong odor, rejection symptoms, or jewelry that suddenly feels wrong — call the studio. We'd rather take a quick look than have you guess.