✨ Piercing Tips!
Hey friends! As you can tell, I love getting pierced! I got my first lobe piercings at 10, then my second lobes at 14 ish. The day I turned 18 I got my first helix piercing on my own, and since then I’ve accumulated a total of 18 piercings, 12 of which I still have. I do a lot of research about piercing safety and healing, and it’s a really big interest of mine. While I am by no means an expert or any kind of professional, I’m very familiar with the consumer side of getting pierced, healing them, and buying jewelry. So here’s a post about the basics of safe piercings!
📍 Where should you go?📍
Avoid places like Claire’s, Rowan, Ulta, and Walmart. Most of these places use piercing guns, which can be harmful for your piercing - they force an earring through your ear. Also, most piercing guns can’t be sterilized, and even single use guns do not use the appropriate type of jewelry to allow for swelling during the healing period. Hollow piercing needles are much sharper and cause less trauma to the tissue, and more appropriate jewelry can be inserted into the piercing afterward. Even if they do use piercing needles or offer services by licensed nurses, (ahem, Rowan) nurses do not get any specific training on piercing aside from the store that employs them.
Instead, search for a reputable piercing and/or tattoo shop in your area. Piercers at these places typically go through apprenticeships where they study under an experienced piercer to learn the safest techniques and practices, as well as how to analyze a client’s anatomy to ensure the piercing will heal well and look good.
If possible, check online to see if there are any APP (Association of Professional Piercers) members near you. APP member requirements include CPR & First Aid certification, bloodborne pathogens training, and documentation of piercing experience, as well as equipment requirements like sterilizers and high quality jewelry. APP members are typically very reliable, but it’s important to note that it’s entirely possible to get a fantastic piercing from someone who isn’t listed as a member. Always do your research to make sure they are following the safest practices.
Here are a few things you should look out for wherever you plan to get pierced:
- They offer consultations before piercing appointments to look at your anatomy, discuss jewelry choices, and explain the piercing & healing process
- The studio appears clean
- The piercing area is separate from other areas of the shop (ie. you’re not getting pierced in view of other random clients/customers)
- The piercer uses disposable gloves & sterile tools
- They pierce with single-use hollow piercing needles, not piercing guns
- They offer a wide selection of jewelry in high quality materials such as implant grade titanium or gold, and in a variety of styles and sizes to work with different piercings
- The piercer provides you with aftercare information that is up to date (more on this in the “healing” section)
- The shop doesn’t allow minors to get pierced without a legal guardian present
- The staff/piercer makes you feel comfortable & safe
Remember, you usually get what you pay for. When I was younger, I used to go to a tattoo shop that offered $20 piercings including the (very poor quality) jewelry. I’ve had to remove almost every piercing I got there! At the place I go to now, I pay a $30-$40 piercing fee, which is separate from the cost of jewelry. Basic jewelry made of high quality metals typically starts around $50 for both the post & end, and prices go up from there if you want a fancier piece. I usually pay around $100 + tip total.
💍 What jewelry should you get? 💍
🩹 Choosing piercing jewelry is different from choosing a ring or a necklace, since piercing jewelry is making constant contact with a wound inside your body.
It’s important that your initial piercing jewelry is made of a safe material, and is the proper length and gauge for your piercing. Safe materials include implant grade titanium, niobium, gold, platinum, and glass. Those materials are great for most people who have sensitivities to certain metals. Surgical steel can be used for those who do not have a history of sensitivities to metals, but with caution. Only certain grades of surgical steel are safe for piercings, so you should check if they are listed as ASTM F-138 compliant. I recommend keeping high quality materials in your piercing even after it is healed to reduce the risk of irritation.
Your initial piercing jewelry should also be a bit longer to account for swelling. If it is too tight, it can restrict blood flow, and it won’t allow for fluids to leave the piercing while it is healing. When the swelling has gone down after 4-6 weeks (or 1-2 weeks for oral piercings), you should go back to a piercer to have your jewelry post downsized. It’s important to downsize after swelling goes down because with jewelry that is too long, you risk hitting it or getting it caught and causing more irritation.
The best type of jewelry to use is internally threaded or threadless (aka press in). These are made of a straight or curved post that is inserted through the back of the piercing, and an end that either screws or pushes into the post. The posts come in different lengths and gauges, and the ends come in a huge variety of designs that can be swapped out. Avoid externally threaded jewelry, which has a rough, threaded surface that can irritate the piercing. Also avoid butterfly back style earrings which can gather dirt, dead skin, and bacteria.
🧼 What’s after care and healing like? 🧼
Before cleaning or touching your piercing, you should always wash your hands. The ONLY thing you should ever use to clean your piercing is sterile saline. If the product is not advertised as a piercing cleanser, it’s also commonly sold as a wound wash or a contact solution for sensitive eyes. The only ingredient should be 0.9% sodium chloride. Thoroughly spray the piercing with the saline. You don’t need to move or twist the jewelry, and doing so can disrupt the healing process. When you are done, dry the area with something clean and disposable like a paper towel. Avoid cotton balls, since the fibers can get caught on the piercing, and cloth towels, since they can harbor bacteria which can enter your piercing.
It’s normal for your piercing to feel sore and swell up at first. It is also normal to see some clear or yellowish fluids seeping from the piercing or forming a crust around the jewelry. Irritation bumps may happen at any point during the healing process, especially if the piercing is irritated by improper jewelry or cleaning, or if it gets hit or jostled around. Using only sterile saline to clean the piercing and inserting high quality jewelry will usually get rid of the irritation bump. Many people are misinformed and believe that piercing bumps are keloids. Keloids are actually an uncommon but permanent type of scar tissue that must be surgically removed. Unless you are already prone to keloid scarring and have seen it on previous injuries, it is unlikely that you will get one on your piercing.
Depending on the piercing, complete healing can take anywhere from a few months to about a year. Each body will heal piercings a bit differently, so don’t be discouraged if your piercing doesn’t seem completely healed after a short time.
❓ What other questions do you have about piercings after reading this post? Let me know in the comments!
#piercingtips #piercings #piercing #piercingideas #piercinginspo
Hey everyone! Following up on my last post, I wanted to dive a little deeper into choosing your next piercing and what to actually expect when you walk into a professional studio. It's one thing to know where to go, but another to feel confident about what to get and the process itself! Picking Your Perfect Piercing: More Than Just Looks With so many amazing options for ear, face, and body piercings, it can be tough to decide! From classic lobes to statement helix, conch, or daith piercings, and even bold facial options like a septum, nostril, or vertical labret, there's a whole world out there. My own collection includes a mix, and each one was chosen with care. When I decided on my daith, for example, I first researched its healing time and potential benefits (some say it helps with migraines, though I got it for aesthetics!). For my nostrils, I considered the symmetry and how it would frame my face. It’s not just about what looks good; your anatomy plays a huge role. A good piercer will assess your ear shape for a helix or conch, or your nasal structure for a septum, to ensure the piercing will heal well and suit you. Don't be afraid to ask for their opinion! They are the experts. Also, think about your lifestyle: do you wear headphones? Play sports? These things can impact healing, especially for ear piercings like a conch or helix. Inside the Studio: Your Piercing Day Experience Once you've chosen your reputable studio (remember no piercing guns!), the experience is usually quite calm and professional. My favorite part is the consultation. This is your chance to discuss placement, jewelry options, and ask any last-minute questions. Your piercer will help you select the initial jewelry, typically made from implant-grade titanium, which is crucial for safe healing. I always ask to see the jewelry before it's sterilized – it's fun to pick out a little sparkle! They'll clean the area thoroughly, mark the spot with a pen, and let you check it in a mirror. This is your last chance to approve the placement, so speak up if something feels off! When it’s time for the actual piercing, they’ll use a single-use hollow needle. It’s quick! Take a deep breath as they count to three, and it’s usually over before you know it. Honestly, for me, the anticipation is often worse than the actual sensation. After the piercing, your piercer will insert the initial jewelry and give you detailed aftercare instructions. Listen carefully to these! They'll likely reiterate using only sterile saline and not twisting your jewelry. They'll also explain signs of normal healing versus potential issues. Beyond Basic Aftercare: What to Do If… Even with the best care, minor issues can pop up. Remember, the golden rule is always sterile saline. If you notice a small irritation bump (which, again, is almost certainly not a keloid unless you have a history), double-check your aftercare routine. Are you accidentally bumping it? Is your jewelry too tight or too long? A quick check-in with your piercer can often resolve these. They can assess if you need a jewelry downsize or if there’s another underlying cause. It's normal for a new piercing to have some mild soreness, redness, and clear or yellowish discharge. However, if you experience excessive pain, swelling, persistent heat, or thick, green/yellow pus, it's time to contact your piercer or a medical professional. Don't try to self-diagnose or remove the jewelry yourself if you suspect an infection, as this can trap the infection. Learning these distinctions can save you a lot of worry during your healing journey. Happy piercing!
Omg the septum jewelry is so cute