Heal It Right
Aftercare
Most piercing problems happen at home, not in the chair. The good news: healing a piercing is simple — it's about what you don't do, more than what you do.
The Rules
General Aftercare
Clean twice a day — no more
Once in the morning, once at night. Over-cleaning is the #1 cause of irritation.
Saline only
Sterile saline solution (we stock it). No alcohol, no peroxide, no tea tree, no Savlon.
Hands off
Do not twist, turn or play with your jewellery. Healing fresh piercings love being left alone.
Shower, don't bath
Clean running water is fine. Avoid baths, pools, hot tubs and the sea for at least 6 weeks.
Sleep smart
For ear and facial piercings: travel pillow or sleep on the opposite side. Change pillowcases often.
Cleaning Routine
Saline, Twice Daily
- 1.Wash your hands thoroughly with unscented soap.
- 2.Saturate a sterile cotton pad or gauze with saline solution.
- 3.Hold against the piercing for 2–3 minutes. Don't scrub.
- 4.Gently pat dry with clean paper towel — never fabric.
- 5.Leave it. Do not apply creams, oils or ointments.
Avoid Completely
- Swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, ocean (6–8 weeks minimum)
- Touching or rotating the jewellery
- Make-up, lotions, sunscreen, hair products near fresh piercings
- Sleeping directly on new ear piercings
- Oral sex, kissing or sharing drinks for new oral piercings
- Removing the starter jewellery before fully healed — retainers don't count as healing
- Tight clothing over body piercings (especially navel)
Healing Times
How Long Will It Take?
| Piercing | Typical Healing |
|---|---|
| Ear Lobe | 6 – 8 weeks |
| Helix / Tragus / Daith / Rook / Conch | 6 – 12 months |
| Industrial / Scaffold | 6 – 12 months |
| Nostril | 3 – 6 months |
| Septum | 2 – 3 months |
| Eyebrow | 6 – 8 weeks |
| Lip / Labret / Medusa | 2 – 3 months |
| Tongue | 4 – 6 weeks |
| Nipple | 6 – 12 months |
| Navel | 6 – 12 months |
| Surface / Microdermal | 4 – 6 months |
Times vary per person. Smoking, poor sleep and catching the piercing can all delay healing.
When To Contact Us
Something not right?
Most swelling, crusting and mild redness in the first 1–2 weeks is normal. But come see us (or call your GP) if you notice:
- • Persistent, increasing pain or throbbing after the first week
- • Thick yellow or green discharge (not the clear/light crusting)
- • Red, warm-to-touch spreading beyond the immediate area
- • A fever or feeling generally unwell
- • The jewellery migrating, rejecting, or embedding
Drop in any time during opening hours — we don't charge to check on a piercing we've done.
Jewellery Changes
When can I change it?
Don't change jewellery until the piercing is fully healed — see the table above. First change? Let us do it. It's easier, safer, and we can downsize at the same time.
Jewellery changes from £10 including a free check-up.