Piercing Aftercare
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* we recommend Sterile saline wound wash which can be purchased at the studio or at Any Drug Store in the First Aid section. *
Do not make your own salt water solution.
With any fresh piercing we recommend no pools, lakes and hot tubs for 3 months
We suggest keeping hair clean and washed daily. Keep longer hair up and off the piercing while healing.
Patience is key as most ear piercings take 6 months to a year to heal
Be careful of snagging your piercing, or bumping it, as this can result in irritation or pressure bumps.
If you wear glasses be careful when putting on and taking them off not to hit your fresh piercing.
Down-sizing the length of your jewelry depends on the piercing, please follow your piercers suggestion on when to downsize!
Do not turn or twist your piercing, it will do so naturally. Manually moving the jewlery can result in trauma to the healing area, which complications can arise.
Do not soak your piercing in sterile saline as that can lead to wet bumps. After cleansing, saline should be rinsed off with clean water and the area should be thoroughly dried, preferably with clean gauze. Moisture bumps can also arise from over-cleaning, or using saline longer then recommended.
To properly clean your piercing, rinse piercing site in the shower then spray with sterile saline (front and back) then pat with clean gauze.
Do not remove jewellery until you are 100 percent healed. With any piercing never remove jewellery even once healed as it may close.
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* we recommend Sterile saline wound wash which can be purchased at the studio or at Any Drug Store in the First Aid section. *
Do not make your own salt water solution.
Nose piercings at min take 6 months to heal
Do not downsize your post until after 3 months
Try not to get a cold or allergies as blowing your nose can cause complications, such as irritation bumps.
Do not turn or twist the jewelry
Do not remove the piercing to clean. Piercings can close within minutes. Even healed piercing can close quickly. If you like your piercing, always leave jewelry in.
Keep glasses pushed back to prevent a pressure bump.
Be careful when washing or drying your face, as bumping or catching can result in irritation bumps.
To clean; wash your face as you regularly do and then spray piercing site with sterile saline, pat dry with a gauze pad. For the inside you can use sterile saline on a q tip or warm water to soak mucous off your post, do not rub aggressively. Be careful not to move the jewelry when cleaning.
If you do get a pressure bump, give it time and take the reason why the bump appeared in the first place away. Bumps are because of trauma to the site and will go away after a period of 6 to 8 weeks.
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* we recommend Sterile saline wound wash which can be purchased at the studio or at Any Drug Store in the First Aid section. *
Do not make your own salt water solution.
Septum piercings take approx. 8 weeks to heal.
(If you are thinking of stretching, we recommend at least 4-6 months before starting your stretching journey)
To clean; it is recommend to use sterile saline wound wash. It is best to gently soak the crusty matter off as needed. This can be done using a piece of gauze held under the nose, or a small cup. Cleaning with saline is only recommend for the first 2-3 weeks. (Be sure not to over clean, as using saline too much can upset the natural moisture balance within the internal mucous membrane.)
Try not to blow your nose as the constant pressure can result in irritation bumps. It is normal within the first couple of days to feel as if your nose is running. Try to just gently dab with clean gauze.
Be sure not to move your jewelry around during the healing period. Septums take 8 weeks to heal, then can be changed to different jewelry.
Check-ups or downsizes are not required for septums. If you are unsure or need advice during the healing period please contact your piercer.
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Tongue Piercing Aftercare:
purchase a non alcohol based mouthwash to use whenever you eat, after you brush your teeth
after the piercing we recommend using Advil or Ibuprofen to help with pain and swelling
purchase a new toothbrush so you have no bacteria
Do not use salt water to rinse only non alcohol based mouthwash or cold water
cold water is wonderful to drink with a new oral piercing
straws are not good for a fresh oral piercing as the suction can cause irritation
No kissing or other activities for 6 weeks
downsize from 3 to 6 weeks after initial piercing
try to rest and take care of yourself
The first three days are the hardest as you have to get use to a bar in your mouth, as well as dealing with swelling and discomfort, this is normal
excessive swelling, ensure you see your piercer to ensure you are not overselling the bar
Heal times is approx 3 months.
your tongue might have discolouration while it heals, again this is normal
if you have plaque build up, ensure to use a soft toothbrush and gently clean it off the post and bead
be careful of hot, spicy otherwise foods that will irritate your piercing after the initial piercing
do not play, pull forward and grab the bead with your teeth. This is one of the reasons people have erosion and dental damage
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* we recommend Sterile saline wound wash which can be purchased at the studio or at Any Drug Store in the First Aid section. *
Do not make your own salt water solution.
Moisten the gauze with sterile saline, or warm it in the microwave for a brief moment.
After washing your hands, position the gauze over the piercing for briefly 20-30 seconds. This duration is usually sufficient for the crusts to loosen. Carefully rinse the crusts away and gently pat it dry.
Avoid touching, pressing, or moving the piercing during the healing phase. Eyebrows typically take around 4-6 months to fully heal.
During the healing, you will notice some swelling which tends to fluctuate. When the swelling is gone at the 1 month mark more of the bar may remain visible. At this point it is highly recommended to have your bar downsized. Please book in with your piercer to have the size adjusted. * refrain from wearing longer jewellery in this piercing as it may lead to rejection over time. *
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* we recommend Sterile saline wound wash which can be purchased at the studio or at Any Drug Store in the First Aid section. *
Do not make your own salt water solution.
We only recommend rinsing the area while showering. Making sure you use a mild unscented soap while washing the area. For the actual piercing you can spray sterile saline wound wash on the area to help soften the crusty matter. Then using gauze gently wipe away the crusty matter. *avoid soaking the piercing, and avoid submerging it or letting it sit under water. Avoid going into lakes or pools as the moisture can pocket which can lead to infections. *
Leave your bandage on as instructed by your piercer. You can gently remove the bandaid the next morning and clean as instructed.
Avoid catching it on anything as they can easily be pulled out by accident when fresh. Dermals take approximately 3-4 months to heal. Surface anchors take approximately 4-6 months to heal.
These piercings require maintenance during their entire lifetime, as matter can build up underneath the threaded top. Which can lead to the piercing becoming irritated even when healed.
We advise caution with changing the tops even once healed, as they can become irritated.
Please note even with proper care, dermals and surface bars may be less permanent then other body piercings.
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* we recommend Sterile saline wound wash which can be purchased at the studio or at Any Drug Store in the First Aid section. *
Do not make your own salt water solution.
Navel piercings take 6-9 months to fully heal.
Avoid submerging them under shared bodies of water such as lakes, hot tubs, pools, etc., for at least 8-12 weeks.
For cleaning, sterile saline wound wash 1-2x daily for the first 6 weeks. Shower as normal, the warm water will help soften the crusty matter. Try to use a mild fragrence free soap in the area of the piercing, but do not place soap directly on the piercing. Spray the area with sterile saline and use a gauze pad saturated in saline to gently remove/ wipe the crusty matter away.
After cleansing the piercing ensure you are throughly drying the area. Too much moisture in the area can cause issues with moisture or irritation bumps. Gently pat dry with clean gauze to remove the excess moisture.
If the crusty matter has hardened onto the jewelry, you can briefly warm some saline up in the microwave and gently using a gauze pad soak until the crusty matter has softened to gently remove. Ensure you rinse with clean water after, and throughly dry the area.
Navels can be more prone to irritation as it in a central spot on the body. Ensure you are not pressing on, moving or removing the jewellry while healing. We advise against wearing high waisted pants, tights, or anything that sits on the piercing as the friction from tight clothing can cause issues with irritation. We also advise not to sleep on your stomach as the pressure on the piercing can become severely irritated, migrate, or it may not heal.
Within the first 4-6 weeks you may see a slightly reddened area that is caused from the pressure of the bead pressing down when sitting, it is normal.
What is not normal is when the bead starts to dig into the skin and looking like it is over swelling. It usually is accompanied by a 'hot' , 'throbbing' or 'tight' feeling. Ensure you come in immediately!
A checkup is recommend at 6 weeks. You can send your piercer a clear photo. Ensure you are standing up straight so the piercer can visualize how the length is when standing. Depending on your healing, your piercer may recommend downsizing the length of the jewellry at 3-6 months. Leaving longer jewellery in can potentially irritate and cause issues.
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* we recommend Sterile saline wound wash which can be purchased at the studio or at Any Drug Store in the First Aid section. *
Do not make your own salt water solution.
Nipple piercings vary on healing time, depending on anatomy, and the natural hormones within the body. Biological female nipples take 9-12 months to fully heal. While biological male nipples take 4-6 months to fully heal.
Avoid submerging them under shared bodies of water such as lakes, hot tubs, pools, etc., for at least 8-12 weeks.
For cleaning we recommend the use of sterile saline wound wash, once daily for the first 6 weeks. Shower as normal, the warm water will help soften the crusty matter. Try to use a mild fragrence free soap in the area of the piercing, but do not place soap directly on the piercing. Spray the area with sterile saline and use a gauze pad saturated in saline to gently remove/ wipe the crusty matter away, followed by a rinse with clean water. Do not over clean the piercing as this can cause irritation as well as delay the healing.
After cleansing the piercing, ensure you are thoroughly drying the area. Too much moisture in the area can cause issues with moisture or irritation bumps. Gently pat dry with clean gauze to remove the excess moisture.
If the crusty matter has hardened onto the jewelry, you can briefly warm some saline up in the microwave and gently using a gauze pad soak until the crusty matter has softened to gently remove. Ensure you rinse with clean water after, and throughly dry the area.
Nipples can be more prone to irritation from catching them on clothing, towels, etc..
If you do wear a bra, please ensure it is not too tight (push up bras, or sports bras can initially irritate the piercings due to pressure or friction, which can lead to irritation bumps or pressure bumps.)
We recommend wearing a lightly lined, cupped bra or bralette as it will protect the piercings without adding too much pressure. Ensure you are washing these items weekly to keep a clean environment for your new piercings.
Ensure you are not pressing on, moving or removing the jewellry while healing.
During the healing process you may see some discharge, it is normal.
What is not normal is when the bead starts to dig into the skin and looking like it is over swelling. It usually is accompanied by a 'hot' , 'throbbing' or 'tight' feeling. Ensure you come in immediately as longer jewelry may be required due to excessive swelling.
A checkup is recommend at 2-3 months, depending on your healing, your piercer may recommend downsizing the length of the jewellry at 3 months. Leaving longer jewellery in can potentially irritate and cause issues.
Ensure you are checking the tightness of your beads as these piercings can close quickly if your jewelry falls out.
After you are healed you might experience issues that are related to your monthly hormone cycle which can change and fluctuate. Sometimes randomly one nipple might start secreting fluid and have discomfort. This is just a hormone issue and will clear up within a few days, if the problem persists or you are worried ensure you contact your piercer, or seek medical advice.
Piercing Troubleshooting
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Lobes piercings are prone to infection, it usually is a bump that grows on the back of the ear and looks like a bruised lump. This lump is filled with pus, blood, and fluid. It can be created from the following: the straps on masks, wet hair, touching your lobe with dirty hands, getting the post caught and pulled and of course, hair. When healing we always suggest keeping hair up and off your piercing, washing your hair daily, not touching your piercing with dirty hands, wearing an ear saver for your mask, ensuring hair is dry before sleeping, and trying to be careful not to catch your jewellery.
If you notice one, you should immediately do a hot saline soak (take a baking tablespoon fill with warmed saline solution wound wash, place the lobe into the solution and keep soaking for one minute and pat dry. Repeat this process until it pops. With clean hands you can massage the lump after the soak to see if it will release. Keep this process up for one week then let heal. -
Piercing that is over swelling: This can happen during anytime of the healing process and for many reasons but the one thing you should know that anytime your piercing is throbbing (heart beat feeling) that is over swelling. Signs that you need to see your piercer ASAP; your piercing has the following issues - red and hot, throbbing, piercing site is filling the entire post, painful, purple or dark red. The only thing that will resolve this is getting a longer post placed in immediately. This is an issue that will get worse and not better.
If you can not get into your piercer, remove the jewellery and clean the site with warm saline to drain the piercing site. NOTIFY YOUR PIERCER ASAP.
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Bumps that are under the top piece of your jewellery can be created from several issues. Number one is sleeping on it, excessive direct pressure can create scar tissue build up.
Jewellery is too tight from swelling
If the piercing has become tipped or is tipped from initial piercing. This happens from constant pressure on the piercing site. Causing it to migrate from the original angle. Once it has migrated, usually the best option is to remove the piercing, as there is no way to correct it.
*It is important to listen to your piercers advice on aftercare and recommended downsizing timeline to minimize the chance of migration due to improperly fitting jewelry. Downsizing is an ESSENTIAL step in your successful healing of your piercing *
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Unfortunately you do not get to pick what shape your navel is. To have a successful navel piercing, you have to have what we call a lip or a ledge on top of your navel. Some like this one shown has no lip at all and the issue is you don't have anything to hold the bar in once pierced. Every time you apply pressure to the area with bending, sitting, pants, etc you are risking the piercing to migrate out. Another issue is having no opening and getting your stomach pierced instead of your actual navel, again will reject. WEIGHT has ZERO TO DO WITH YOUR ability to get pierced.
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The best way to get rid of them is to stop whatever is creating the issues, for example place longer bars in your ear if its from swelling or prop your head so you can not sleep on that side. They will only go away if you remove the original source of irritation.
Keep hair pinned away form piercing site. Hair can harbour a lot of bacteria even when washed daily, constant pressure from hair sitting on a piercing can cause irritation bumps or potentially bring bacteria into the area. This can potentially lead to an infection.
Piercing FAQ’s
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All piercings are anatomy dependent. Before the piercing begins your piercer will assess your anatomy to see if you are a good candidate for that piercing. It is good to talk about lifestyle activities as well to see if this piercing is a good fit for your lifestyle. An example; If you are a swimming athlete, all piercings require a certain waiting period before being submerged in shared bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, pools, hot tubs, etc.. It may be better to wait until a time period when you can take a break from being in the water.
Our piercers will openly communicate any questions or risks you bring up. Having a conversation about a potential piercing is a great way to see if it is appropriate for you and your current lifestyle and activities.
We want you to have a successful healing journey, reach out to us if you have any questions before booking. It is a good idea to always have a back up idea of a piercing in case the selected one will not be successful with your anatomy or lifestyle.
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Our shop prides itself in having the largest selection in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan of ASTM F-136 grade titanium jewelry, and niobium. We also have a large and expanding selection of solid 14k gold options.
We also offer custom orders!
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Hoops are okay for initial piercing depending on anatomy and where the jewellery and piercing lies.
However, usually they are not what you expect them to be. The hoop size needed to allow for proper swelling needs to be larger typically in gauge for stability and larger for diameter. Most people see themselves wanting a dainty smaller diameter ring, which is not suitable for initial piercing. The reason is hoops need that larger almost 'straight' portion through the fresh channel. If too small gauge or diameter is used it can result in a very unhappy piercing, due to the pressure placed on the channel and exit and entry holes. If you are wanting a smaller snug fitting hoop, it is best to wait until the piercing is fully healed and the cells within the channel have matured enough to not get irritated by the change in shape, and no swelling present.
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You want to avoid submerging a fresh piercing in shared bodies of water for 8-10 weeks. This includes lakes, pools, hot tubs, rivers, etc..
Bacteria can thrive in these, potentially leading to an infection. If you suspect an infection reach out to your piercer and seek medical advice.
While healing a piercing, it is generally safer to shower rather than bath. Bathtubs can harbour bacteria.
If you choose to bath, be sure to thoroughly clean the tub before EACH TIME, and rinse your piercing off after.
