You’ve just gotten your piercings, and it’s been an exciting day. But now it’s nighttime, your pain receptors are kicking in, and you need to figure out how to sleep with a fresh ear piercing comfortably. Here’s everything you need to know about sleeping with new piercings to protect them and ensure comfortable healing.
Clean Your Piercings First
Before going to bed, and especially when learning how to sleep with a fresh ear piercing, complete your evening cleaning routine. Use saline solution and argan oil on your fresh piercings. This is Step One. Never skip this nighttime cleaning, especially during the first weeks of healing.
The Dark T-Shirt Pillowcase Method
One of the easiest ways to master how to sleep with a fresh ear piercing is using this simple trick: get a nice clean dark t-shirt. The word “clean” is crucial here. Dark colors work best because they won’t show any discharge or blood from your healing piercings.
Take your dark t-shirt and use it as a pillowcase cover. You can get four full uses out of a single shirt by rotating it:
- Day 1: Inside out
- Day 2: Outside in
- Day 3: Back to front
- Day 4: Inside out, back to front
After four days, change to a fresh dark t-shirt. This rotation system is really crucial for keeping everything clean during the first week or however long you notice any discharge coming from your piercings.
The key is maintaining clean bedding. This method is one of the best answers to how to sleep with a fresh ear piercing because it keeps your bedding clean without daily laundry. Keep it simple.
Using a Piercing Pillow
A piercing pillow is an excellent tool for sleeping with fresh piercings. The donut shape keeps pressure off your ears.
Cover your piercing pillow with a dark scarf. Choose a color that matches the reddish-brown color of dried blood, since that’s the substance that will be coming out of your piercings during healing.
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To cover the piercing pillow pillow:
- Keep the scarf elongated
- Wrap it around the pillow donut
- Cover the entire surface where your ear will rest
Place the covered piercing pillow pillow on your regular pillow. Then rest your head in the center hole. Your ear with the fresh piercings sits in the open space, completely protected from pressure.
Alternative: The Scarf Puff Method
If you don’t have a piercing pillow or neck pillow, you can create a similar effect with just a scarf:
- Take a large scarf
- Scrunch it up and puff it out
- Create a circular shape with a hollow center
- Place it on your pillow
- Rest your ear in the hollow space
This DIY method works the same way as the piercing pillow. It creates a protective barrier that keeps pressure off your healing piercings.
Best Sleeping Position After Getting Piercings
Ideally, sleep on your back, especially if you’ve had both ears pierced. This is the simplest position for how to sleep with a fresh ear piercing safely. Back sleeping eliminates any pressure on either ear.
If you can only sleep on your side, use the piercing pillow method or scarf puff method. Make sure your pierced ear rests in the hollow space, not touching any surface.
Pain Management Before Bed
If you’re experiencing pain, especially on your first day, take a painkiller before bed. Ibuprofen works well for most people. Just remember that ibuprofen is a blood thinner, so you might notice slightly more bleeding during the first night.
Take your pain medication as early as possible before lying down. This gives it time to start working before you try to fall asleep.
General Nighttime Tips for Fresh Piercings
Make sure you’ve covered up your pillow properly before getting into bed. Whether you’re using the t-shirt method, piercing pillow, or scarf puff technique, set everything up before you’re tired and ready to sleep.
Your bedding setup is your best friend during the healing process. Clean bedding prevents infection and irritation. The methods shown here help you maintain that cleanliness without excessive laundry.
Sweet dreams, and take care of those fresh piercings. Follow these simple methods, and you’ll master how to sleep with a fresh ear piercing like a pro.