Ensure hands are clean before touching your piercing.

• CLEAN your piercing with the saline solution. Either spray the piercing directly or spray the solution onto single-use sterile gauze or kitchen roll (avoid cotton buds / pads - the fibres may get caught on the jewellery and irritate the piercing). Use the kitchen roll / gauze to remove any crusty build up or dried blood.

• DRY your piercing thoroughly with clean gauze / kitchen roll, or a hair dryer on a cool setting.

• TIGHTEN the jewellery. Jewellery can become loose from general movement, friction against clothing, and during cleaning. For threaded jewellery, twist the attachment(s) to make sure it is secure. For threadless jewellery, push the attachment into the post to make sure it is secure.

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Do this twice a day for the first 6-8 weeks, at least. If after this time you do not wish to buy anymore sterile saline, please do not be tempted to make homemade salt soaks. Instead, simply rinse your piercings in the shower to remove any crusties. Dry with single use gauze / kitchen roll or hair dryer, and tighten the jewellery.

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And remember to DOWNSIZE your jewellery by coming back to see me once the swelling has gone. (Not necessary for all piercings, but most)

• No swimming/submerging the piercings for the first 6-8 weeks at least. Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, baths, the sea, rivers, lakes, etc.

• No cosmetics on or directly around the piercings, e.g. face wash, make-up, shower gels, body lotions, body sprays, hair sprays, etc.

• No sleeping on your cartilage piercings. Watch my IGTV video here for tips on how to avoid this. Hair clips and travel pillows are wonderfully useful!

• No headphones / hats / helmets on cartilage piercings.

• No pets near new piercings. That's a sure way to get an infection, unfortunately! Kitty is going to have to sleep off the bed for a while.

• Oral piercings can be cleaned by rinsing with water between meals, after smoking or drinking anything that isn't water.

• Dry any lip piercings on the outside after cleaning.

• Always check tightness of jewellery.

• Keep a good oral hygiene routine, preferably using a new toothbrush.

• It is recommended that you drink more water than usual and that you use a straw when consuming alcohol or fizzy drinks.

• Try to cut down smoking, if possible.

• Avoid spicy foods and dairy during initial healing.