Your piercing aftercare guide
Beautiful piercings are half placement, half aftercare. Follow this routine and your stack will heal cleanly and comfortably. Questions during healing? Text the studio any time — that support is part of your appointment.
Clean twice daily with saline
Use a sterile saline wound wash with sodium chloride (0.9%) as the only ingredient — homemade sea-salt mixes are no longer recommended. Spray or apply it to the piercing once or twice a day, then gently pat dry with a clean, disposable paper towel — never a cloth towel.
Do
- Wash your hands thoroughly before touching the piercing — every time.
- Clean with sterile saline twice a day, morning and night.
- Pat dry with a fresh paper towel; cloth towels harbor bacteria and snag.
- Keep makeup, lotions, hair product, perfume and sprays away from the area.
- Sleep on clean bedding and avoid putting pressure on a fresh piercing.
- Leave the original jewelry in for the full healing period.
- Support healing from the inside: rest, hydration, and good nutrition help.
Don’t
- Don’t twist, turn, rotate or play with the jewelry.
- Don’t use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Neosporin or harsh ointments.
- Don’t submerge in pools, hot tubs, lakes or the ocean while healing.
- Don’t change or remove the jewelry before it’s fully healed.
- Don’t over-clean — cleaning more than twice a day irritates the piercing.
- Don’t let anyone touch it, and keep pets, hair and phones away.
Healing times & tips
Every placement heals on its own timeline. Here’s what to expect for the piercings Syd offers — lobes and cartilage, nostril, septum, and belly.
Earlobe
- The fastest-healing piercing — but it still needs the full routine.
- Keep phone screens and earbuds clean and off the fresh piercing.
- Be gentle pulling clothing over your head.
Ear cartilage — helix, flat, conch, tragus, daith, rook
- Cartilage heals slowly; it looks healed long before it actually is — patience pays off.
- Avoid sleeping on it; a travel or donut pillow takes the pressure off.
- A small irritation bump can appear — don’t panic and don’t change the jewelry; message Syd.
Nostril
- Apply skincare and makeup carefully, keeping product away from the piercing.
- Be mindful blowing your nose and taking off clothing or glasses.
- Stay with the initial stud or hoop until fully healed before swapping styles.
Septum
- Light “crusties” and a slight smell early on are normal — keep cleaning gently.
- Avoid flipping the jewelry up and down while it’s still fresh.
- Keep fingers out of your nose and avoid irritating sprays and scents.
Belly
- One of the longest heals — protect it during exercise and sleep.
- Skip high-waisted, tight or stiff waistbands that rub the piercing.
- Pat dry after showering and avoid pools and hot tubs while healing.
Most healing is uneventful
A little redness, clear crusting, and tenderness in the early days is normal. Contact a healthcare professional if you notice any of these:
- Spreading redness, increasing heat, or swelling that worsens after the first few days.
- Thick green or yellow discharge with a strong odor (clear or white crust is normal).
- Severe or growing pain, or a fever.
Don’t remove the jewelry if you suspect an infection — it can trap it inside. Reach out first: hello@stacksbysyd.com.
Keep this guide handy
Download the printable version to save or screenshot, and book your next stack whenever you’re ready.