When to change your first piercing jewelry?

piercing Lille Kawaii Place Photo de deux femmes ayant des piercings sur les oreilles

When you get a piercing at the shop, we ask you to come back one month later so that our piercers can follow up on your piercing and check on the healing process. This is often when you can have your jewelry downsized, a process we call "downsizing" because it simply involves reducing the length of the bar/labret in your piercing.

When piercing, we use a piece of jewelry (bar/labret) that is slightly larger than what you will eventually wear to anticipate any potential swelling/inflammation of the area. This prevents the ear from being compressed in case of inflammation.

After one month of healing, it is very important to come back to the shop to downsize the jewelry: a bar that is too long can, in the medium/long term, lead to healing problems because the jewelry moves constantly. It is easier to snag it on headphones, headsets, or combs, for example, and it can also migrate if you sleep on it.

The first change therefore takes place after one month. However, you will have to wait about 6 months of healing to switch from a bar/labret to a ring for all cartilage piercings (ear cartilage but also nostril; only the daith is not concerned by this rule). If you want to know more about switching to a ring and why we refuse it before 6 months, we invite you to read this article.

You can change your jewelry (while staying with a straight bar for cartilage, therefore) after 2 months of healing if everything is going well, and don't panic, we have a large selection of jewelry available at the shop!

The only exception concerns "accidents along the way": if you had a "piercing" done with a gun by non-professionals using "gold-plated" jewelry (of poor quality), then it is safer to change the jewelry very quickly to high-quality titanium or 14k gold. The plating is often extremely thin, or almost non-existent, on this type of cheap jewelry. Inflammation and allergic reactions can occur within the first few weeks/months as soon as the plating disappears upon contact with the skin.

Jewelry change and follow-up at the shop

At Kawaii Place, jewelry changes are walk-in, no appointment necessary. You can come in Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 7 pm.

If you have a healing issue with a piercing (even if it was done elsewhere), don't hesitate to come in without an appointment so our professional piercers can give you the best advice :)

Find us at Kawaii Place in Lille for follow-up on your piercings and jewelry changes. You can also consult our F.A.Q.

When should you change your first piercing jewelry?

When to change your first piercing jewelry?

Jewelry change and follow-up at the shop

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