Piercing has come such a long way over the years and gone are the days of using a gun (we hope). Hollow needle piercings are the way to go for a piercing that will heal wonderfully without any complications. Following good aftercare advice is key to a beautiful piercing that, once healed, will not hurt or cause any discomfort whatsoever. Make sure to follow your piercer’s specific recommendations, as they might differ slightly from one another.

Rule Number One: Keep it Clean

As a new piercing heals, it will likely develop “crusties” made from good ole’ lymph, dead blood cells, and extra bits of tissue. As tempting as it may be to pick at this substance around your new jewel, you’ll want to avoid that. Instead, it should be kept clean with a saline or salt water based healing solution, twice a day, until fully healed. This solution can be sprayed directly onto the piercing and left alone, or if you’d rather get in and around it with a saturated q-tip, that’s an option as well. Lip applicator brushes work very well for this because they are lint free and won’t leave cotton strings on your gem.

keep it clean

Risk of infection is greatly mitigated when aftercare is followed properly.

Rule Number Two: No Swimming or Bathing

Submerging your new piercing, especially in a swimming pool or hot tub, can wreak havoc on the healing process. These chemicals are not great for any fresh wound, and can easily infect something that is trying to heal. Not to mention the bacteria and germs floating around in public pools… you get the picture. Showering is completely fine (please don’t skip that), and bathing is okay as long as your new piercing is not hanging out under water for a while. After the shower is a great time to clean your new piercing, as the “crusties” may loosen up a bit and naturally slough off when cleaned.

Rule Number Three: Don’t Twist New Jewelry

Back in the old days (we’re aging ourselves here..) we’d leave Claire’s with that little purple bag of goodies and new gems in our ears, beaming because of our bravery for getting our ears pierced. I vividly remember part of their aftercare being to “spin the earring” regularly. Like.. what?! I once had an amazing piercer who has devoted his life to his craft and he gave me the best advice ever. He said “LITFA. You know what that means? Leave it the f—- alone.”

Clever and true! Keep it clean and let your body do the rest, what it was made to do- heal.

Rule Number Four: Don’t be Impatient

As tempting as it is to run home and change your jewelry right away, fight the urge! You’ll want to wait 4-6 weeks before you do and we promise it will be worth it. Introducing new jewelry too soon can lead to infection or your body rejecting the jewelry all together. If you are sensitive to certain metals, be sure to look for something hypoallergenic before making the purchase.

Rule Number Five: Use Only Approved Cleaning Solutions

Be wary of the solution you’re using to clean your new jewelry, because some can prolong the healing process and ruin it entirely. Hydrogen peroxide seems like a great option because of its ability to disinfect, but what it can actually do is disrupt the white blood cells from coming to the rescue and helping your body heal. Alcohol will work in a similar fashion, over drying the skin which will extend the healing period. Most piercers will recommend a saline based piercing aftercare spray, so be sure to touch base with them and get their favorite recommendation.

sweet dreams

Avoid sleeping on your fresh piercing and rest easy knowing it will heal well!

Rule Number Six: Try Not to Sleep on it

Aside from the obvious, it being uncomfortable, sleeping on your new piercing can lead to issues such as infection and an elongated healing time by continuing to irritate the piercing. Consider sleeping on the opposite side if you’re able to, or invest in a little travel pillow to keep you comfortable on your back if you’ve had both ears done at once.

Whether you’re looking to become a piercer yourself, or get a fresh piercing done professionally, we are here to help! The Arizona Tattoo Academy teaches methods backed by years of experience both in piercing and excellence in the industry, and can change your life! If you’re in the Old Town Scottsdale area come pop in for the best hollow needle piercing experience you have had yet.

We hope you enjoyed this piece composed by Lanna of Bold Beauty Company. Thanks for reading!