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How To Prepare For Your Piercing

1. Good night’s sleep: the ultimate way to prepare mentally, as well as improving your pain tolerance

2. Eat well: this helps to stabilise your blood sugar and prevents any dizzy spells

3. Stay hydrated: drinking plenty of water before your appointment helps you feel your best (and promotes faster healing)

4. Don’t stress!

where we pierce

piercing placements

We can pierce most parts of your ears, with our Titanium or 14K Solid Gold jewellery designed using longer backs to help your piercing heal. And when the ears are full, we do nostril piercing too!

All piercing service is now FREE! Piercing jewellery option starting from:
- £34.99 for titanium styles

- £105 for 14k solid gold styles

Receive your 6th piercing free after completing 5 piercings with us

healing times

EAR LOBE PIERCINGS

Fully healed: 3–4 months

CARTILAGE AND NOSTRIL PIERCINGS

Fully healed: 6–12 months

It's normal for a piercing to look and feel healed before it has fully healed internally. Because healing happens from the outside in, changing your jewellery too soon can cause irritation and delay the healing process. 

We recommend keeping your original jewellery in place for the full healing period. Once healed, avoid leaving the piercing empty for extended periods, as it may begin to close. Even if it looks healed, healing happens outside in.

One of our piercing experts can check that your piercing is ready to safely change your original jewellery for a new style — and we know exactly where to find one you’ll love. When you’ve reached the recommended healing time, feel free to visit us.

piercing aftercare tips

sleep smart

Don’t sleep on your piercing as it can cause excess swelling, irritation and wonky angles. Try a piercing pillow!

don't freak out

Bleeding, swelling, bruising, crusties and soreness are all normal. Unsure? Just give us a shout and we’ve got you.

keep it clean and dry

Saline spray twice a day and gently remove crusties.

Moisture = trouble. After cleaning or showering, dry with a hairdryer on a cold setting.

Less is more — over-cleaning causes issues too!

downsize

After 4 weeks, if there’s lots of wiggle room, come back for a shorter bar, it helps prevent irritation and angle migration.

check your jewellery

Once a week, check it’s secure (clean hands only!). Natural movement, moisture etc can loosen your jewellery over time, a quick check helps avoid losing your jewellery.

what to avoid

Watch out for towels, hair, scarves etc, they love to catch on piercings!

No swimming, baths, sea or lakes for at least 2 weeks. Also avoid dirty environments (yes, gardening counts!).

BIG NOs: Don’t twist, touch unnecessarily, change jewellery early, or use anything except saline to clean it with.

once the initial swelling subsides

time to downsize

We use a longer post initially to allow for swelling. Once the swelling has settled (typically around 4-6 weeks, though this varies), we recommend visiting us for a downsize appointment. Replacing the longer post with a shorter one helps reduce irritation and lowers the risk of angle migration. 

Downsizing service is FREE, with the cost of the downsize post at:

- £10 each for titanium  

-£15 each for 14k solid gold


P.S the downsize is the only time jewellery should be changed during the healing process, which makes it the perfect time to switch it up to that piece you’ve had your eye on…

Frequently asked questions

How Long Does It Take For An Ear Piercing To Heal? 

Healing times depend vary depending on the placement, aftercare and other contributing factors.Ear lobe piercings typically heal within 3-4 months, while cartilage piercings can take 6-12 months to fully heal.

Can I Change My Earrings After The Initial Healing Phase? 

Even if your piercing feels comfortable, it’s best to wait until the full healing period has passed before changing your jewellery. Changing jewellery too early can cause complications with your healing journey.

Why Do Cartilage Piercings Take Longer To Heal? 

Cartilage has less blood flow than soft tissue, which means it heals more slowly and is more prone to irritation if disturbed too early.

What Happens If I Leave My Piercing Empty For Too Long? 

Even healed piercings can shrink or close without jewellery being worn. For the first six months, removing jewellery for more than 24 hours can cause the hole to shrink or close entirely.

What Jewellery Is Best For Healing Piercings? 

At Jewells, we only pierce with flat back studs made from implant grade titanium and 14k solid gold. Our piercing experts will help you to find the right piece for your anatomy to ensure your piercing can heal as happily and healthily as possible, whilst looking great. 

Can I Get Help Choosing New Jewellery Once My Piercing Heals? 

Yes — our Piercing Stylists can help you downsize, refresh your ear stack, or choose new styles that suit healed piercings and your personal style.

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