The next 6 weeks of after care for your piercing is vital to proper healing! You want to keep the piercing as clean as possible by doing routine cleansing, avoid touching the area, keep your hair out of the way, and avoid removing or changing the piercing for the 6 week healing. The products used to cleanse the piercing do not do the healing, nor do they speed up the healing process — they keep the piercing (aka wound) clean of any debris or anything that may alter the healing process, which will happen naturally over time. I will ensure the piercing process in my studio is a sanitary process, but after you leave my studio a sanitary healing journey is up to you.

I recommend a warm salt soak 2 times a day for 2 weeks and then 1 time a day for the remaining 4 weeks of the 6 week healing process. To make your salt soak, mix 1/4 Teaspoon of non-iodized SEA SALT (NOT TABLE SALT OR EPSOM SALTS - these have different chemical compounds that may alter proper healing or cause infection) with 8 oz or 1 cup of warm DISTILLED water. Let the piercing soak 3-5 minutes in the solution and then rinse with distilled water.

If you are not able to do the salt soaks, use a saline rinse specific for piercing care. I recommend one similar to this on Amazon - Saline Rinse. Follow the same routine as the salt soak and spray liberally on the piercing 2 times a day for the first 2 weeks and then 1 time a day for the remaining 4 weeks.

Things to avoid:

  • rubbing alcohol - too harsh and drying for long term use on piercing

  • hydrogen peroxide - destroys new skin growth healing around piercing

  • antibiotic ointments - contains petroleum jelly which will create a warm moist area for bacteria to grow

  • Bactine and ear piercing solutions with Benzalkonium chloride - irritating, slows healing, and short shelf life

  • Cotton swabs and cotton balls - can be irritating and fibers may get stuck around piercing - you do not want to dab on the salt water or saline rinse because that will not really help clean the “wound.” You want to irrigate the area to ensure it is free of any debris.

  • Pools, Ponds, Rivers, etc. for minimum of one week to reduce risk of infection from the water. The piercing will not be fully healed until around that 6 week mark, so the longer you can avoid irritants or infection risks the better.

I am responsible for the piercing process inside my studio, but please remember, following the piercing I am not responsible for the healing of the piercing. These are my recommendations to guide you in a successful, happy piercing.