THE EAR PIERCING GUIDE:
Our ear piercing guide is full of essential information you might need to know before you get pierced with us. The Sarah Layton piercing guide is here to ensure you feel ready before going into your piercing appointment. Our expert piercers will guide you through your appointment to ensure you feel comfortable and excited. Although it’s natural to have questions before you make the decision, those questions are very much what this guide has been created to answer!
Where we pierce
There are so many placements to choose from for such a small body part! Here are the names and areas we can pierce (and yes, we can pierce your nose - just not the septum) to give you an idea of what you'd like. Just remember to keep an open mind, as our piercers will work with your personal anatomy to get the perfect placement.
Lobe piercings are available from age 6+ (parent or legal guardian must be present). Please note that all clients under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present to fill in the paperwork and consent forms. Healing time approximately 6 weeks - 4 months
Cartilage and nose piercings are available from age 16+. Healing time ranges from 4 to 18 months, depending on the piercing you choose. Please note that all clients under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present to fill in the paperwork and consent forms.
How we pierce
All cartilage & nose piercings are performed using a single-use sterile cannula needle.
For lobe piercings, we can pierce using either a cannula needle or the Studex piercing instrument, depending on your preference. Our Studex earrings come in pre-sterilised cartridges marked with sterilisation LOT numbers. All other jewellery and equipment are cleaned and sterilised in-house using our Enbio class B autoclave.
Bookings
Please ensure you are booking an appointment (which you can do below) if there is a specific time you want, as the piercing studio can get very busy, especially during the school holidays. Sometimes we can fit a walk-in appointment, so if you’re feeling spontaneous, it’s worth asking!
If you want to get pierced with a friend, please book two appointments back-to-back. If you are struggling to do so within the booking system, please contact us, and we will find you a suitable date and time for a double booking. Each appointment is for 30 minutes, and we recommend no more than 3 piercings at once, but this depends on the placements and your ear anatomy.
Safety & Accessibility
Our studio is a calm and relaxing space, away from the hustle & bustle of the shop floor. For safety reasons, we can accommodate a maximum of 3 people in the piercing studio at any one time. Please note that our piercing studio is on the top floor of our building and is only accessible via two flights of stairs.
Pricing
The actual piercing is FREE of charge; you just pay for the jewellery you choose to be pierced with. You can view our selection of piercing jewellery here. Our Studex earrings come as a pair and are for use with the Studex piercing instrument. All other piercing jewellery is sold as singles.
We can only pierce with our own jewellery to ensure that the jewellery is fully clean and sterile before piercing.
Aftercare
The aftercare of your piercing is as important as the piercing itself; it will need lots of TLC to heal properly. Your piercer will go through aftercare during your appointment, advise on aftercare solutions, and give you an aftercare guide to follow. It's important to note that the care of your new piercing is your responsibility, and following the advice given will ensure safe and proper healing.
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your new piercing to help avoid infection. Try to avoid touching the piercing unnecessarily.
- Without removing your jewellery, cleanse the front & back of your piercing twice per day using the solution advised by your piercer until fully healed & whenever your piercing feels irritated.
3 - 4 weeks for ear lobes
8 weeks for cartilage
- Avoid alcohol & keep your new piercing dry for the first 24 hours. Try to avoid sleeping on your new piercing as this can cause irritation & prolong the healing process. Keep hairspray, shampoo, perfumes, etc., away from the skin. Rinse the area with clean water to remove any residue & clean with your advised piercing solution.
- Signs of infection: undue pain, redness & swelling, heat sensation, unusual discharge (green, yellow or grey pus).
In case of an infection or if you have any concerns, check in with us and consult your GP. Do not remove the piercing unless medically advised to do so to avoid trapping infection in the piercing channel.
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your new piercing to help avoid infection. Try to avoid touching the piercing unnecessarily.
Healing & Changing
Changing your jewellery depends entirely on how your piercing is healing and where the piercing is placed. We always book you in for a follow-up appointment after your initial piercing so we can check how you're healing, and downsize the post if necessary. Other than downsizing your post, please wait until your piercing has fully healed before changing the jewellery. We're always happy to do jewellery changeovers. Book a piercing check appointment on the booking page.
If you have a piercing that has healed and are looking to have it re-pierced, please call the store so we can assess and advise. Our recommendation will depend on how the area has healed, as the presence of scar tissue may impact whether re-piercing is suitable or advisable.
At Sarah Layton Jewellers, we’re here to make your piercing experience feel easy, safe and personal. Whether you’re visiting for a new piercing, a jewellery change or just some advice, our team is always happy to help. We hope this has answered your questions. You can book using the link below, and we look forward to seeing you soon :)
If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
