Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers!

Preparing for piercing:

At Pure Piercing we offer both prepaid bookings online and walk-in apointments where possible. We always recommend booking in avance to avoid disappointment on the day.

Where possible, try to have a good night’s sleep before a piercing. It is always best to eat something before being pierced and if you are prone to fainting we would recommend bringing a snack or sugary drink to have afterwards. We do allow one other person in the piercing studio, so you can decide if you are more comfortable alone or with support from friends/family. We have a wide range of jewellery in store. If you have prebooked online, this includes the basic titanium jewellery but can be upgraded in store. The amount you have paid online will be deducted from the final price.

The Process:

● When you arrive you will need to fill out a consent form. This includes questions regarding some personal details and a short medical questionnaire to ensure that it is safe to go ahead with the piercing. Once both you and your piercer are happy that it is safe and suitable for you to be pierced and both have signed the consent form, you will go into the studio.

● The area being pierced will be cleaned and marked out. You will then have a chance to check the marking in the mirror and ask any questions you may have. At this stage, adjustments can be made but be aware your piercer may advise against certain placements based on their knowledge of tissue and piercing process.

● Once the piercing is done and jewellery is fitted, check out your new look! We will then discuss how to look after your new piercing – don’t worry if you can’t remember this all straight away, you will receive an email with the aftercare as well.

For the safety of you and our staff, there are a few potential reasons why we may not be able to pierce you. This could include:

● Being noticeably intoxicated – We require informed consent before anybody is pierced and intoxication may compromise this ability. Please note, we also recommend avoiding alcohol the day before getting a piercing as it increases your chances of bleeding.

● The Medical Questionnaire – Before you are pierced, you will fill out a consent form asking a variety of medical questions. If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you may need to consult a doctor before being pierced. We cannot pierce you if you are currently pregnant.

● Anatomy – No two bodies are the same! Please be aware that all piercings are anatomy dependent. This means that not everyone is suited to every piercing and even if it can be done, it may not look exactly like it does on someone else. As experienced piercers, we will always try our best to adapt piercings and curate aesthetics that match your anatomy. Please note that we may be unable to perform some piercings on specific anatomy.

● No ID – Some piercings require photo ID, please see our age policies for more information.

It is important to follow that aftercare that your piercer gives you to ensure that your piercing heals well. Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning and handling your piercings. We sell pre-made sterile saline solutions in all of our stores. Some saline solutions, such as contact lens solutions, are not suitable for cleaning piercings. They contain additives that can irritate the piercing and are often not sterile. If you prefer to make your own solution, make sure to use sea salt or rock salt. Never use table salt or other fine powdered salts, as they may contain preservatives and anti-caking agents, which can cause heavy irritation. We recommend 250ml of cooled, boiled water mixed with ¼ of a teaspoon of coarse sea salt or rock salt. This solution must be made fresh for every cleaning session.

General Piercing Cleaning: Clean around the piercing and jewellery with sterile saline solution 1-2 times a day. This can be done with a clean cotton bud soaked in saline, or a sterile saline spray. Wipe away any loose debris and dry with a clean paper towel to avoid moisture buildup. Cotton pads should be avoided as they often leave loose fibres behind.

Ear Piercings: Things to Avoid: Avoid pressure on the area, such as sleeping on your new piercing, wearing headphones or wearing hats over them. This is to prevent migration and irritation. A travel pillow or piercing pillow can be used if you are a side-sleeper. This is not a complete fix, but it will help. Avoid hair products or ensure the area is covered when using them (dry shampoo, hairspray etc). You should also be wary of the initial length of the jewellery, be careful not to knock or catch the piercing.

Facial Piercings: Nose piercings can flare up during allergy seasons or colds, this is unfortunately not something that can be remedied with saline solution or aftercare. It will generally have to wait until the illness/allergy has subsided before it can settle down. Blowing your nose etc. should be done gently. Things to Avoid: You should avoid personal care and beauty products around the piercing for the entire duration of healing. This includes soaps, creams, makeup and tans etc.

Body Piercings: Things to Avoid: You should avoid clothing and accessories that may catch or put too much pressure on the piercing. This includes waistbands, belts, fishnets and lace. You should avoid personal care and beauty products in the area. You should also avoid swimming and hot-tubs for the duration of the healing.

Oral Piercings External Cleaning: See general piercing cleaning. Internal Cleaning: You should maintain a good oral hygiene routine throughout the entire healing time. This includes brushing teeth, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash to avoid trapped food debris, which can lead to bacteria buildup. Mouthwash should be mild and alcohol free. You should drink and regularly rinse with cold water during the healing process to calm swelling and keep things clean. Bottled or filtered water is best! Things to Avoid: All whitening products should be avoided for the duration of healing (check for peroxides and micro granules). Avoid over cleaning, for example using mouthwash after every meal etc. as this will impact the natural pH levels of the mouth, making it more susceptible to bacteria in the long run. Where possible try to avoid/limit smoking, alcohol, dairy products, spicy foods and any foods/drinks that are very hot. This can slow down the healing and cause irritation. Irritation caused by smoking will show as a yellow discolouration around the piercing as well as soreness or extra swelling. Vaping does not affect this as much as cigarettes, but can still cause irritation.

Dermal Piercings – These need to be kept covered with a plaster (small circular ones are best) for 10-14 days to allow the jewellery to settle under the skin. You may remove the plaster for a short amount of time to give it air when you aren’t doing anything active and are sure it won’t be knocked. This plaster must be replaced at least once per day. Maintaining and keeping your dermal free of debris buildup is important even after it is fully healed.

Cleaning: To clean the piercing, use sterile saline solution 1-2 times a day, just like any other piercing. Instead of cotton buds, it is recommended to soak the area. You can either use a sterile spray to coat the dermal, or soak a piece of paper tissue or gauze in saline solution and allow it to sit on the area for a minute. You should dry the piercing with a clean paper towel after any contact with moisture.

Things to Avoid: You should avoid swimming or bathing for the first few months, showering is fine. You should avoid personal care and beauty products around the piercing for the entire duration of healing. This includes soaps, creams, makeup and tans etc. You should avoid pressure on the area and clothing or jewellery that may catch, even after the piercing is healed.

There is not a straightforward answer, everybody is different! Some areas are generally less painful to pierce than others and pain thresholds vary significantly among individuals. Just bare in mind, piercings only last a few seconds. Due to government legislation, we do not use numbing agents on piercing sites. If you wish to, you can apply numbing creams beforehand but the pain experienced with a piercing is not as severe as you may think. Numbing the outer layer of skin often isn’t fully effective and can lead to complications when the numbing agent wears off and the sensation of pain is reintroduced to the area.

A new piercing may be red and tender for a few weeks. The healing time for piercings can vary depending on where it is and how well you look after it. As people heal at different speeds you may have to wait a little longer until changing your jewellery but the minimum healing times are:

● Lobe Piercings: 3 months

● Ear Cartilage Piercings: 4-6 months (will depend on the placement)

● Scaffold/ industrial Piercing: 6-12 months

● Nostril Piercing: 4-6 months

● Septum Piercing: 3 months

● Tongue Piercing: 3 months

● Eyebrow Piercing: 3-4 months

● Lip Piercing: 3 months

● Navel/ Belly Piercing: 6-12 months

● Nipple Piercing: 6-12 months

● Surface Piercing: 6 months

● Dermal Piercing: 6 months

Piercings heal from the outside in, for this reason they will often appear to be healed on the outside before the full piercing channel is. We advise you wait the full healing time and until your piercing is no longer red, sore, or producing any visible discharge before you change the jewellery. If you are intending to wear a ring, we recommend waiting a little longer to avoid any irritation caused by the change in shape.

Downsizing is the process of switching out a longer bar for a shorter one. The longer bar is necessary for the initial piercing, as it accommodates for the swelling in the first few weeks. Once the swelling has subsided, it is important to have a shorter bar fitted to avoid catching the jewellery, ensuring a smooth and successful healing process. Downsizing should be performed in the studio, by an experienced body piercer. We use only implant grade titanium or 14ct solid gold for downsizing. This is to ensure only the best materials are used, with the highest biocompatibility. Using lower quality jewellery will often lead to irritation and complications with healing. We recommend against changing the jewellery yourself, unless the piercing is fully healed and you feel comfortable doing so. You should still consider the quality of the materials you are wearing, as even healed piercings can become irritated. Downsizing time frames are approximate and will vary depending on how well a piercing is healing. The approximate time frames are:

● Lobe Piercings: 4-6 weeks

● Ear Cartilage Piercings: 6-12 weeks (will depend on the placement)

● Scaffold/Industrial Piercing: 10-12 weeks

● Nostril Piercing: 4-6 weeks

● Tongue Piercing: 2-3 weeks

● Eyebrow Piercing: 2-4 weeks

● Lip Piercing: 2-3 weeks

● Navel/Belly Piercing: 8-12 weeks (may vary)

● Nipple Piercing: 8-12 weeks (may vary)

Yes, you can get your new piercing wet when you bath/shower. However, it is very important to thoroughly dry and remove any excess moisture around the area. This will help to avoid irritation. We recommend avoiding swimming pools, natural swimming spots and hot-tubs throughout the entire healing process. This is due to harsh chemicals and bacterias increasing the risk of irritation and potentially causing infections. Will I get a piercing bump and what should I do? Piercing bumps are quite common and often disappear on their own. Most can be avoided with good aftercare, avoiding irritants and drying your piercing after it gets wet. Piercing bumps usually form in the first few weeks of having a piercing, they will tend to be fairly small and usually quite tender. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine what has caused an irritation bump and how to solve the problem. If you are unsure, visit us for a check up. One of our experienced piercers can take a look and offer the most appropriate advice.

A keloid is a type of raised scar that forms due to an overproduction of collagen during the healing process. They are usually much bigger than piercing bumps and tend to feel hard to the touch. Keloids can take months to form but often grow larger than the initial piercing area. Unlike piercing bumps that can usually be treated with cautious care, keloids may require more invasive techniques, such as surgical removal.

Fresh piercings can be temperamental, so there are a few things in your everyday life that you may need to adjust:

● Personal Care Products: Personal care products should be avoided around fresh piercings. This includes: soaps, lotions, fake tans, makeup and hair products. You can shower as normal, but ensure you rinse and dry piercings afterwards.

● Clothing and Accessories: If you wear glasses, facemasks or hearing aids, some piercing placements may need to be adjusted to avoid irritation. Clothing and accessories will need to be considered for most body piercings. This includes navels, nipples, dermals and surface piercings. You should avoid tight clothing, tight waistbands and mesh/lacey materials. You should also avoid accessories that may get caught on the piercings, such as belts, bracelets, watches and necklaces. You should avoid any headwear that may put pressure on ear piercing. This includes hats, headbands and helmets.

● Sleeping Positions: You should avoid sleeping or leaning on any fresh piercings. If you are a side sleeper, this can be particularly challenging for ear piercings. For this reason, we recommend piercing one side at a time and allowing the fresh piercing to heal. Alternatively, you can invest in a piercing pillow to reduce the pressure and still get a good night’s sleep! This is not a complete fix, but can help. You should also avoid sleeping on any fresh body piercings. Pressure will increase the risk of irritation and migration.

● Headphones: Over-ear headphones should be avoided for the entire healing duration of all ear piercings. You should also avoid in-ear headphones for tragus and daith piercings. The pressure will increase irritation and can lead to migration. Headphones harbour bacteria and are unable to be cleaned properly, which increases the risk of infection.

● Touching Fresh Piercings: Although it can be tempting, it is important not to touch or mess with fresh piercing, especially with unwashed hands. This can introduce bacteria to the area, increasing the risk of infection. It can also irritate the piercing, slow healing and loosen the jewellery. If jewellery falls out of a fresh piercing, this can begin to close very quickly. You should only touch your piercing when cleaning, which should be with freshly washed hands. At this point, you should check that all jewellery is securely attached.

A normal healing piercing may have some redness, tenderness and may produce a pale/clear fluid that forms crust. It may also bleed and/or bruise in the first few days of healing. Small irritation bumps are not uncommon when a piercing is healing. We do not have the medical qualifications to diagnose an infection, but there are some signs to look out for. An infected piercing may present with an unusual increase in pain and swelling, which may spread away from the piercing site. The piercing may become hot to the touch. The piercing may produce discharge/pus, which can be identified by its bright yellow, green or orange colour (which may also have an unpleasant smell). Developing an infection can also lead to flu-like symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, we recommend seeking medical attention as soon as possible. If you are having issues with a piercing and are unsure if this is irritation or infection, our piercers can offer advice and may direct you to seek medical attention.

Piercings can be done over or near scar tissue, but it depends on the person, placement and how well the scar has healed. If this is a scar from a previous piercing, we recommend a minimum of 3-6 months before repiercing. If this is near a surgical scar, we recommend 6-12 months before piercing. We advise against a re-pierce for a dermal or a surface piercing, as the tissue will not hold jewellery very well. These are considered long-term temporary piercings, so generally migrate and reject eventually. Dermals and surface piercings will migrate much quicker if performed over scar tissue.

You can still have piercings after cosmetic procedures but you will want to make sure your body has fully healed first. After any lip filler, we recommend waiting at least 3 months before getting a lip piercing. Keep in mind that the piercing placement may be impacted by any future filler you have or the body dissolving filler over time. If you undergo surgery, you will need to wait 6-12 months (depending on the intensity and area of the surgery) before being pierced. This is true for all surgical procedures, not just cosmetic surgery. If your navel has been re-shaped or your nipples removed during surgery, you will have to wait at least a year before having a piercing in that area.

Retainers are often clear jewellery made from plastic or glass. They are designed to hold a piercing open when a person cannot wear metal jewellery. They may be used when someone has a medical scan that requires jewellery to be taken out, or when someone wants a piercing to look more discreet for school/work. Plastic retainers are available for purchase in-store but are only suitable for fully healed piercings. Plastic retainers are only intended for short term use.

There are many different types of jewellery, each requiring different methods to change and remove.

● Threaded Jewellery (internal and external): To tighten the jewellery, you turn the ball/attachment clockwise. To loosen the jewellery, you turn the ball/attachment anticlockwise. You will need to have a tight grip on both the post and the attachment.

● Threadless Jewellery: When fitting a threadless attachment, you will need a small bend in the pin to ensure it stays securely in the post. The pressure created from the bend prevents the attachment from falling out. To change threadless jewellery, grip both the post and the attachment and it is a simple push and pull motion. If the attachment is particularly tight, you may need to use a twisting motion to release some pressure.

● Seamless Rings: Find the seam in the ring and twist, as opposed to pulling (this will create an ‘S’ shape with the ring). You can then take the ring in/out and maintain the circular shape.

● Hinged Rings: Find the seam and simply hold either side of it and pull to remove. When fitting, push the sides together until you hear it click ensuring that it is secure.

● Segment Rings and BCRs: These can be quite fiddly and often require tools to change/remove. We recommend visiting the studio for some assistance. If you have any problems with changing or removing jewellery, feel free to visit us in store. Our experienced piercers will be happy to help!

You may have heard that some piercings help with specific problems when they are done through acupuncture therapy points. Unfortunately, as of yet, there haven’t been any formal studies looking into this. There is no guarantee that they will work. However, we have had a number of customers tell us that their daith piercings have had a positive effect on the number or intensity of migraines they suffer, some have even said that their migraines have gone completely