When you go on the vacation of a lifetime, it’s natural to want a souvenir that’s a little more than a postcard or fridge magnet. Whether you want to get a piercing with a new friend or get pierced just so that you can say, “I got my nostril piercing in Vietnam,” you might find yourself longing for a piercing while on the road.
Just like at home, you need to make sure that you find a reputable piercer and are taking care of your new piercing. However, since you will be traveling, there are additional things that you need to consider in order to keep your new piercing healthy.
Here’s what you need to know about getting pierced on the road.
Do your research for a reputable piercer
Just because you’re in a new place doesn’t mean that the piercing studio should be any less hygienic than your piercing studio back home. Make sure that you take a look at past work they’ve done, check reviews, and that everything looks and smells clean. (You can find more information on how to find a reputable piercer here.)
Check the social media pages, reviews, and credentials of potential piercers just like you would if you were getting pierced at home.
The good news is that the Association of Piercing Professionals has members all over the world. When in doubt, try to find a place that has APP members on staff.
Make sure that you continue to clean your jewelry every day
When you’re traveling, it’s easy to forego even some of the most basic hygiene habits, especially if you’re hopping from place to place. However, while you might be able to get away with wearing the same t-shirt two days in a row, you can’t get away with skipping your aftercare practices.
You should clean your piercing with a saline spray 2 – 3 times per day. An easy way to remember is to clean your jewelry every time you have a meal.
It might seem tedious, but with NeilMed’s fine mist aftercare spray, all you have to do is spray the front and back of your new piercing and pat it dry with sterile gauze or clean paper towels. That’s it! Bonus: we also have a travel size that you can easily slip into your purse or carry on. We’re also found in locations all over the world, so you have the possibility of picking some up in multiple locations.
Watch out for the linens in your accommodation
Linen cleanliness can be an issue even in the nicest of hotels. Often, they don’t have tons of time to clean the linens thoroughly, and sheets and towels are usually washed in bulk. Whether you’re staying in a hostel or hotel, do your new piercing a favor, and don’t trust the linens.
You can’t always trust the linens in your hotel room to be fully clean. Use your own towel and cover your pillow with a clean t-shirt.
Instead, take a clean t-shirt to cover your pillow when you sleep if you have a new facial or ear piercing. You should do your best not to sleep on the piercing, but sometimes it can’t be helped, and your clean t-shirt will keep your piercing safe from any bacteria on the hotel pillow.
After you shower, don’t use the towel to dry your piercing. Instead, find a clean paper towel to gently dab your piercing dry.
No swimming or hot tubs with a new piercing
Vacations are the time to sit by the pool or enjoy a soak in a hot tub and forget about your troubles back home. If you decide to get a new piercing while you travel, then you’re giving up this aspect of your vacation.
It might be a good idea, then, to wait until the end of your travels to get a new piercing. You don’t want a brand new belly ring to keep you away from the beach. Make sure that you keep your activities in mind when you get your piercing so that you don’t inadvertently ruin your vacation.
Be mindful when you fly or travel by train or bus
Commercial travel is ridden with germs. Even in plane travel, the staff doesn’t always have time to fully sanitize the seating area, leading to the spread of germs that can be harmful to your piercing.
Commercial and public transportation isn’t the cleanest. Be mindful of your new piercing when traveling this way.
Bring hand wipes to sanitize your area before you sit down. If you choose to go to sleep, make sure that you’re using your own pillow covered in a clean shirt or pillowcase. If your travel takes all day, make sure that you continue to clean your piercing when appropriate, and don’t touch your piercing with unclean hands.
(Psst… NeilMed’s Travel Size Piercing Aftercare is small enough to be brought in your carry on.)
It’s more than possible to get a piercing while traveling, but you do need to remain vigilant while you’re on vacation to make sure that your new piercing stays clean. If you don’t think that you can adhere to aftercare practices or keep your new piercing away from unclean surfaces, then there’s no reason why you can’t wait to come home.
