After Care

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We encourage you to visit us during our business hours for an aftercare consultation, even without an appointment, as long as you have some spare time in case there are other bookings. This will allow us to assess your piercings and determine if they are ready for downsizing or if any healing issues need attention. By discussing aftercare with our staff, we can provide personalized advice to enhance the healing process of your piercings.

Healing times can vary, but as a general guideline, we recommend contacting us before scheduling an appointment for downsizing your flat back post backing or initial JuLry piece, especially if you plan to switch to a ring. Downsizing is crucial for promoting overall healing and should be done in a timely manner to ensure proper and safe healing. For lobe and lip piercings, we suggest waiting 4-9 weeks, while for helix, tragus, conch, and other cartilage-related piercings, we recommend waiting 6-12 weeks. In some cases, multiple downsizings may be necessary to optimize healing. However, please keep in mind that healing timelines can vary per client and depend on your aftercare routine. If you're unsure about the readiness of your piercing, we can assess it during a walk-in check-up.

For nostril, helix, conch, and other piercings where you plan to transition to wearing a ring, it's important to consult with us first. In certain instances, it may require additional time and proper aftercare. We also recommend starting with downsizing your initial piercing to a shorter flat back post backing before transitioning to a ring. In some cases, multiple downsizings may be necessary to ensure optimal healing and facilitate the process of eventually wearing a ring. During a walk-in consultation, if your piercing is ready for downsizing, we'll do our best to assist you. However, if the piercing area hasn't healed sufficiently, we may decide not to downsize or change the jewelry. Our main priority is ensuring the safe healing of your piercings.

If you anticipate needing further assistance beyond the information provided, please let us know, and we'll be happy to help. If you require JuLry insertion, removal, or downsizing post backings based on a previous consultation, we recommend scheduling a "JuLry Shopping" appointment on our website. Please note that appointments are non-refundable, and we kindly ask you to review our appointment policy on our Appointment page for more details. We also ask that if you are unsure, please come in for a walk-in consultation first. We are open Wednesday to Monday from 1 PM to 7 PM, and appointments can be booked at https://julhead.com/appointments-1

To ensure proper care for your piercing, please follow these guidelines:

1. Do not sleep on or apply unnecessary pressure to your piercings until they are fully healed.

2. Thoroughly wash your hands before touching or cleaning your piercing.

3. Avoid rotating the jewelry through the piercing.

4. Clean the piercing area once a day by rinsing it with water. Additionally, once a day, rinse the area with saline spray.

5. Rinse the area thoroughly to remove any residue, but avoid using sink water.

6. It is recommended to use clean, disposable paper products, such as a non-woven gauze pad, for patting the area dry. Cloth towels may harbor bacteria and potentially harm the jewelry and piercing area.

7. If you experience aftercare issues, consider spraying the area with the solution twice a day or using a cold compress. Cold compresses often have a higher success rate in removing debris and aiding in the overall aftercare process.

8. Never use a q-tip on your piercing, as cotton fibers can impede the healing process.

9. To ensure proper healing and prevent post backing from shifting, especially for side sleepers, it is important to visit us for downsizing your piercing. If possible, try to avoid direct pressure on the piercing while sleeping until it has fully healed. Nonetheless, downsizing is still recommended for a quicker and safer healing process.

Following these instructions will help facilitate proper healing and care for your piercing.

HOW TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY PIERCING

During the initial stage of the piercing, it is normal to experience bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising. As the healing process progresses, you may notice discoloration, itching, and the secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid that forms a crust on the jewelry. The tissue around the jewelry may also tighten as it heals.

Once the healing process is complete, the jewelry may not move freely within the piercing, so avoid forcing it. Regular cleaning is crucial to prevent the buildup of normal but smelly bodily secretions. Even with a fully healed piercing, it can shrink or close quickly, so it is important to keep the jewelry in place to prevent this from happening.

To maintain a healthy piercing:

- Always wash your hands before touching the piercing.

- Refrain from rotating the jewelry during the healing process.

- It is safe to engage in exercise, but listen to your body.

- Clean and change your bedding regularly.

- Wear clean, comfortable, and breathable clothing while sleeping.

- Showers are preferable to baths to minimize bacteria exposure.

- If you take a bath, ensure thorough cleaning before use and rinse your piercing afterward.

- Be patient throughout the healing process and continue cleaning the piercing until it is fully healed.

THINGS TO AVOID:

- Avoid using alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, or harsh products that can harm your cells.

- Refrain from using ointments that hinder air circulation.

- Do not clean excessively, as it can delay healing and irritate the piercing.

- Avoid undue trauma, friction from clothing, excessive motion, playing with the jewelry, or rigorous cleaning.

- Steer clear of oral contact, rough play, and contact with other people's bodily fluids.

- Avoid stress, recreational drug use, excessive caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.

- Do not submerge the piercing in unhygienic bodies of water.

- Refrain from applying beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing.

- Avoid hanging charms or objects from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.

- Do not sleep directly on a healing cartilage piercing; use a travel pillow to protect it.

Hints and Tips for Piercing Care:

Jewelry:

- Keep your initial jewelry in place throughout the healing period unless advised otherwise.

- Seek professional assistance for necessary jewelry changes during the healing process.

- If you need to temporarily remove jewelry, contact your piercer for proper removal and reinstallation.

General:

- Avoid harsh cleaning products, excessive cleaning, and trauma to the piercing area.

- Keep your bedding and clothing clean and comfortable.

- Avoid oral contact, rough play, and contact with bodily fluids.

- Steer clear of stress, recreational drugs, and unhygienic bodies of water.

- Avoid using beauty or personal care products on or around the piercing.

- Refrain from hanging charms or objects from your jewelry.

- For cartilage piercings, utilize the "t-shirt trick" and ensure items that come into contact with the piercing are clean.

- Inform your hairstylist about your piercing to avoid irritation during haircuts or styling.

For specific types of piercings:

- Ear Lobe and Ear Cartilage: Wash your hands before touching the piercing, avoid unnecessary touching, and do not rotate the jewelry.

- Lip (Labret) Piercing: Expect swelling in the first 72 hours. Avoid spicy or acidic foods, sharing bodily fluids, drinking alcohol, sucking on hard candy or a straw, and smoking. Rinse your mouth with a non-alcoholic mouthwash after meals.

By following these guidelines, you can promote a healthy healing process for your piercing.

No. It's highly recommended to avoid communal bodies of water, such as lakes, oceans, swimming pools, hot tubs, and saunas for at least a month after getting a new piercing done. This precaution is important for the proper healing of the piercing.

It can be easy to confuse an infection with irritation when it comes to your piercing. However, it's important to note that only a doctor can accurately diagnose an infection and it must be treated promptly. Infections are typically accompanied by severe pain and a fever.

On the other hand, irritation can manifest as redness or a small bump, sometimes with minimal discharge. If you're concerned about your piercing's healing progress, you're welcome to visit us for an examination. It's important not to remove the jewelry if you suspect an infection, as it can trap bacteria and worsen the situation.