Aftercare guide

Keep it simple and consistent:

• Wash your hands before touching your piercing.
• Clean the front and back 2-3 times a day with your Claire's aftercare solution.
• Don't remove or change the jewelry until it's fully healed.
• Avoid pools, lakes, and heavy products (hairspray, perfume) on the area while it heals.

Following the routine consistently is the single biggest factor in aftercare

No - skip rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide; they're harsh on a healing piercing and can slow things down. Use your Claire's aftercare solution as directed. If you're ever without it, a sterile saline (saltwater) solution is a gentler stand-in - but Claire's own solution is what we recommend.

Healing depends on the spot and on sticking to your routine. General guide:

• Lobe: 3-6 weeks
• Cartilage (upper/inner ear): 8-12 weeks
• Nose: 12-24 weeks

Every piercing is different. New piercings (under a year old) can start to close within minutes to hours of removing the jewelry, and even older piercings can shrink over time. To keep yours open, leave your starter earrings in for the full healing period and wear earrings consistently afterward.

A little crusting and mild tenderness in the first weeks is a normal part of the post piercing process. Try not to pick, twist, or remove them forcefully, as this can irritate the piercing and slow healing. Continue cleaning your piercing as directed with your aftercare product and avoid touching it with unwashed hands. if you have concerns about how your piercing is healing, we recommend speaking with a healthcare professional

Some warmth and tenderness in the first day or two is normal. But if you have excessive redness, swelling, or pain that lasts beyond 24 hours - or any discharge, fever, or a piercing that's hot to the touch - we recommend speaking with a healthcare professional.

Swimming is fine in clean, chlorinated pools or the ocean - just clean your piercing with your Claire's aftercare solution afterward. Once you're past the initial aftercare period, you're clear to swim in any body of water; if it's still healing, clean it right after you're done.If you've been playing sports, exercising, or sweating, it's a good idea to gently clean your piercing afterwards as a part of your normal aftercare routine.

Wait until your piercing is ready: lobes need 6-8 weeks with Standard solution (or 3 weeks with Rapid); cartilage needs 12 weeks with Standard (or 8 with Rapid); nose needs 8 weeks with Standard (or 6 with Rapid). If you're not sure whether you're fully healed, keep your original jewelry in and check with a Claire's Piercing Specialist before changing it.When you're ready: wash your hands, clean the piercing, gently hold the front and back, and ease the earring out - then clean again before inserting new jewelry.

Claire's offers two aftercare solutions, both pH-balanced and gentle on skin:

• Standard Solution contains Benzalkonium Chloride, for a 6-8 week routine.
• Rapid Solution is pediatrician and dermatologist tested, and contains Sodium Hypochlorite, supporting a faster 3-week timeline thanks to its antimicrobial properties.

Both are odorless, hypoallergenic, alcohol-free, and suitable for sensitive skin. Your Specialist can recommend which one fits your piercing.

Try to avoid sleeping on the side of a new piercing until it's healed as pressure can cause irritation and swelling.