The most important part of ear piercing aftercare is following the written instructions you were given at your piercing, since those are made for your specific piercing and jewelry. Alongside them, a few everyday habits help: keep your hands clean, leave the starter earrings in, and avoid snagging, swimming and sleeping hard on the new piercing.
This post covers general jewelry habits, not medical advice. If anything about your piercing worries you, contact a healthcare professional.
What are the basic aftercare habits?
-
Follow your aftercare sheet. Clean the piercing the way, and as often as, your instructions say. Do not swap in a different routine you found online.
-
Wash your hands first. Every time you touch your ears, start with clean hands.
-
Leave the starter earrings in for the full time your instructions give. Taking them out early can make it hard to get earrings back in.
-
Keep it dry after cleaning. Pat gently with clean gauze or a fresh paper product, not a shared towel.
-
Hands off otherwise. Avoid touching, twisting or fiddling unless your instructions tell you to.
What should you avoid while it heals?
-
Pools, hot tubs, lakes and the ocean during the healing time your instructions give.
-
Hair products and perfume near the ear. Cover your ears or apply them before cleaning.
-
Snags. Be careful with hairbrushes, sweaters, scarves, headphones, phone calls and masks with ear loops.
-
Sleeping on the new piercing. Some people use a travel pillow so the ear sits in the open center.
-
Changing to heavy or dangling earrings before you are ready.
-
Dirty pillowcases and phone screens. Change pillowcases often and wipe your phone.
When can you change your earrings?
Go by the time on your aftercare instructions, not by how the ear looks. A piercing can look fine on the outside before it is ready. When it is time, these tips help:
- Wash your hands and the new earrings first.
- Choose a lightweight stud with a secure back for the first change.
- Do not leave the piercing empty for long. New piercings can close quickly.
- Keep your first earrings in a safe spot in case you want them back.
What kind of earrings are good for new piercings?
Many people with sensitive ears do well with solid gold. Ask us which options are right for you. A few things to look for when you choose your next pair:
| Look for |
Why |
| Solid gold, with the karat listed |
You know exactly what metal touches your ear |
| Small, flat-backed or simple studs |
Less to catch on hair and clothing |
| Secure backs |
Fewer lost earrings during daily wear |
| Light weight |
Less pull on the piercing |
Each product listing on our site shows the metal and karat, and gold-plated items are labeled as plated. For a new piercing, ask us before choosing plated earrings.
What if something does not seem right?
Some tenderness can be normal at first, but if you are worried about how your piercing looks or feels, or if it is getting worse instead of better, contact a healthcare professional. Do not take the earring out unless a professional tells you to. For questions about the jewelry itself, like the backs, the fit or switching styles, ask us.
How do you care for the earrings themselves?
Once your piercing has healed, clean solid gold studs with warm water and a little mild soap, and dry them fully. Our guides on cleaning gold jewelry and when to take off your jewelry cover everyday wear, including sleep and swimming.
Visit or text us
Ear piercing is done in store. For details, or if you have questions about your aftercare or your next pair, visit 260 Main St, Orange, NJ, or call or text (973) 673-3800. We are open 7 days. Browse our solid gold studs and earrings.
Ear Piercing Aftercare Basics
The most important part of ear piercing aftercare is following the written instructions you were given at your piercing, since those are made for your specific piercing and jewelry. Alongside them, a few everyday habits help: keep your hands clean, leave the starter earrings in, and avoid snagging, swimming and sleeping hard on the new piercing.
This post covers general jewelry habits, not medical advice. If anything about your piercing worries you, contact a healthcare professional.
What are the basic aftercare habits?
What should you avoid while it heals?
When can you change your earrings?
Go by the time on your aftercare instructions, not by how the ear looks. A piercing can look fine on the outside before it is ready. When it is time, these tips help:
What kind of earrings are good for new piercings?
Many people with sensitive ears do well with solid gold. Ask us which options are right for you. A few things to look for when you choose your next pair:
Each product listing on our site shows the metal and karat, and gold-plated items are labeled as plated. For a new piercing, ask us before choosing plated earrings.
What if something does not seem right?
Some tenderness can be normal at first, but if you are worried about how your piercing looks or feels, or if it is getting worse instead of better, contact a healthcare professional. Do not take the earring out unless a professional tells you to. For questions about the jewelry itself, like the backs, the fit or switching styles, ask us.
How do you care for the earrings themselves?
Once your piercing has healed, clean solid gold studs with warm water and a little mild soap, and dry them fully. Our guides on cleaning gold jewelry and when to take off your jewelry cover everyday wear, including sleep and swimming.
Visit or text us
Ear piercing is done in store. For details, or if you have questions about your aftercare or your next pair, visit 260 Main St, Orange, NJ, or call or text (973) 673-3800. We are open 7 days. Browse our solid gold studs and earrings.