What You Need to Know Before the Needle
Sure, getting your first piercing might be exciting, but it can also be extremely intimidating if you don't know what you're getting yourself into. Knowing what to expect, what jewelry to pick, and what to avoid doing during the healing process can save you a lot of pain (literally) and keep your piercing looking great. From picking a reputable piercer to knowing what an infection looks like, here’s everything first-timers need to know—and the mistakes you definitely don’t want to make.
1. It's Going to Hurt
Pain levels, of course, differ depending on your tolerance, but unless you're just getting an earlobe piercing, it's probably going to hurt. Anything that goes through layers of cartilage is likely going to make you wince, so be prepared for it before you head into your appointment.
2. Go to a Professional Piercer
If there's one thing you should absolutely remember to research before getting your first piercing, it's searching for a reputable piercer. Don't cheap out and head to any odd shop you see in the mall or on some obscure corner of the street. You want to make sure that your piercer is not only operating from a licensed salon, but that they're also certified and experienced.
3. Choose Quality Materials
When you get your piercing, you'll typically be allowed to choose your jewelry first. Piercers will know which materials to recommend, especially for first-timers, but if you know of any allergies you have (such as to nickel or copper), let them know beforehand. You always want to choose quality materials, like titanium, surgical-grade stainless steel, or 14-karat (or higher) gold.
4. Expect Soreness
Getting a piercing might hurt, but even after you survive the initial pinch, expect the area to be sore for a few days (or weeks) afterwards. This will, of course, largely depend on where and what you got pierced, so it's important to be careful and gentle while you heal.
5. Healing Times Vary
Speaking of soreness, you'll also want to be aware that your piercing might take a while to heal. Some areas, like earlobes, might recover fairly quickly (generally around 4-8 weeks), but other areas may take longer. During this time, it's important to refrain from swapping out your jewelry, or you risk reopening the wound.
6. Don't Touch It
Since your piercing might take a while to fully heal, make sure you avoid touching it without first washing your hands. You'll also want to be careful of what else might come into contact with it, such as food, headphones, clothes, or pillowcases.
7. Cost Matters
You might be tempted to get your piercing at a cheap salon, but think again. A piercing is basically a precise wound that a certified professional is going to make in your body. Just as you wouldn't go to an inexperienced surgeon, you don't want an amateur piercer. If a place is offering you something too good to be true, it's probably best to walk away.
8. Know What an Infection Looks Like
You'll also want to do some research on what possible infections look like for your piercing so that, should it happen to you, you'll know right away. Of course, if you practice good aftercare and hygiene, it's unlikely you'll run into this problem, but it's still better to be informed than be clueless.
9. Lifestyle Impact
Another thing you should know before getting your first piercing? How it'll impact your lifestyle. Sure, some piercings may only take a few short weeks to heal, but if you're someone who does sports or constantly needs to use headphones (such as for work), you may want to bring this up with your piercer beforehand to see if there's anything you need to avoid or be careful of.
10. Remember to Ask Questions
Building off the previous point, it's important to always ask questions, especially when it's your first time getting a piercing. Your piercer is there to make sure you feel comfortable and satisfied with the result, so if there's anything on your mind before or after the process, voice it out!
Plus, to make sure your piercing and healing process go as smoothly as possible, read on for 10 common mistakes you'll want to avoid:
1. Playing with the Jewelry
You might have heard that rotating your piercing may help the wound heal better or prevent your skin from closing around the jewelry. But this is a myth—it's better to avoid touching your piercing at all until it's fully healed. Twisting or playing with it may only cause micro-tears to form, which will delay the healing process.
2. Skipping Aftercare
Your piercer should give you detailed instructions on how to take care of your piercing so it heals quickly and properly. Make sure to follow their words exactly; substituting cleaners with other brands or concentrations or skipping aftercare entirely may only delay the healing process or cause infections to form.
3. Wearing Cheap Metals
As mentioned earlier, remember to stick to quality materials when choosing your jewelry, especially when you're getting pierced for the first time. Cheap, low-grade metals such as nickel, copper, tin, and brass aren't good choices for piercings, as they may cause allergic reactions or frequent infections.
4. Sleeping on the Piercing
As your piercing is healing, you'll want to make sure nothing rubs against or irritates it. That might mean you'll have to change up your sleeping positions for a while, such as avoiding resting on the side where the piercing is located.
5. Swapping the Jewelry Out One Too Many Times
Even after you think that your piercing has healed fully, it's best not to swap the jewelry out one too many times. Choose a quality one to switch your original one out with, then keep it there for a while. If you change it up too much, you might cause further irritation and potentially reopen your wound.
6. Using the Wrong Cleaners
Again, remember to use the right cleaning solutions to sterilize your pierced area. Some concentrations or chemicals may be too harsh or occlusive, so it's always best to follow your piercer's advice and suggestions.
7. Ignoring Signs of Infection
Infections can happen suddenly and develop quickly, especially if you don't know the signs. If you spot any redness, swelling, or pus, don't ignore it—reach out to your piercer or book an appointment to see a healthcare professional right away. Otherwise, it could get 10 times worse.
Ekaterina Belinskaya on Pexels
8. Doing It Yourself
Never ever try to do a piercing by yourself, or let your friends do it for you. Even if you think it's relatively "easy" to do, you could risk injuring or scarring yourself permanently. Always reach out to a reputable, professional piercer to do the job for you.
9. Not Doing Research
You should also always make sure you do your research before and after getting a piercing. Make sure you know what you're getting yourself into and how you'll manage throughout the healing process. The more you know, the smoother it'll go.
Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
10. Following or Relying on Bad Advice Online
Even if you can't reach out to your piercer right away, avoid following advice online. Unless the source you're following is reputable and credible, remember that anyone can post anything on the internet, and some advice may only work for certain people. If you don't want to risk getting an infection, take what you see online with a grain of salt.
