Aftercare advice for all piercings. We have done everything we can to make sure your piercing will heal well, but a healed piercing is a team effort between piercer and client! Please follow the instructions listed here to care for your piercing.
The Aftercare Golden Rules
- Piercings must be kept clean.
- Piercings must be kept dry.
- Touching must be kept to a minimum. This means no twisting or turning the jewellery.
Body Piercing Aftercare- all piercings unless specified
- Clean piercing twice daily with sterile saline.
- TO CLEAN: First, wash hands with soap and water. Spray on a small amount of sterile saline both front and back to soak and soften crusties. Use a piece of non-woven gauze or clean, folded kitchen roll to gently remove any debris. Dry piercing with a piece of clean kitchen roll.
- Don’t use any products or chemicals unless recommended by your piercer.
- Do not twist, turn or fiddle with your jewellery! This damages the healing piercing and can extend your healing time. Leave it alone for at least 12 weeks.
- Follow downsize instructions and book a checkup when your piercing is 2-4 weeks old.
- If you’re unsure then contact us! We’re happy to help. Contact us via email or through our instagram.
Nasal Piercings- Nose, septum etc.
- For nasal piercings, follow the aftercare instructions as above to clean the outside of your piercing only. It is not necessary to clean the inside of your piercing unless there is a visible build up on the jewellery. The inside of the nose is self-cleaning and cleaning may cause irritation to the sensitive skin. For this reason, septum piercings should only be cleaned when there is visible buildup.
Oral Piercings – Lips, Tongue, Cheeks etc.
- Clean outside of piercing twice daily following body piercing aftercare as shown above.
- Use an alcohol free mouthwash morning and night and after each meal for a maximum of 5 times a day.
- Rinse mouth out with clean water after eating, drinking, smoking or having sexual contact using your mouth (this includes kissing).
- Avoid spicy foods for 2-4 weeks.
- Avoid sucking or using straws as this can exacerbate any swelling.
- Avoid ice, but you are welcome to drink lots of cold water to soothe swelling.
Surface Piercings – Surface, Microdermal etc
- Follow Body Piercing Aftercare as above.
- Use a dental floss pick to help remove large buildups between jewellery and skin.
- Wear a disposable bandage for 12 hours on, 12 hours off for first 5-7 days.
Intimate Piercing
- Follow Body Piercing Aftercare as above.
- Use a sanitary towel/liner for the first week (change twice daily).
- Keep other people’s body fluids away for 4 weeks minimum.
- Wear a condom for sex for the first 4 weeks.
- Listen to your body. If it hurts then stop!
Downsizing
Downsizing is important for a happy, healthy piercing that lasts a lifetime. Downsizing means switching the post or ring to a shorter one to give a snug fit after swelling has gone down. A snug, well-fitting piece of jewellery minimises the risk of snagging, and is much more comfortable to wear permanently. 2-4 weeks after being pierced is the common time to downsize. Your piercer will let you know what is ideal for your piercing, as every body is different. Book your appointment for a downsize here.
A checkup 2-4 weeks after piercing is recommended even for piercings which don’t require a downsize. This helps us make sure your piercing is healing well and we can help solve any issues early on. Check below to see the advised checkup times for your specific piercing. Book your check up online here.
Inner Oral Piercings – 7-14 days
Oral Piercings (Lip/Cheeks) – 2-3 weeks
Ear Piercings, Body Piercings, Surface Piercings – 4-6 weeks
Jewellery Maintenance
Once a week tighten any threaded ends, or squeeze together threadless ends and posts to ensure jewellery isn’t lost.
Gold body jewellery can slowly tarnish over time. A simple buff using a polishing cloth will bring your gold back to full shine.