Most clients give clothing more thought before a job interview than before a piercing appointment, and end up wearing the wrong thing. The principle is straightforward: easy access to the area, no clothing the piercer has to ask you to remove or rearrange awkwardly. This page covers what to wear for each piercing type and what to bring in your bag.

For Ear Piercings

The simplest case. Any normal clothing works. The piercer needs access to the ear, which any top-down setup allows.

Hair

Tie your hair back before arriving or bring something to tie it back with. Loose hair around the ear gets in the way of marking and piercing. A hair tie or clip on your wrist is enough.

Earrings on the Other Side

If you wear earrings on the side that is not being pierced, leave them in. If you wear them on the side that is being pierced, take them out before arriving or be ready to take them out at the studio.

Glasses

If you wear glasses, you will need to take them off briefly for some ear placements. Bring a case for them.

For Nose Piercings

Standard clothing is fine. The piercer needs access to the nose area only.

No Make-up on the Day

Arrive with no foundation, concealer or powder on or near the nose. The piercer needs clean unobstructed skin for marking and the piercing itself. You can apply make-up to the rest of your face if you want to but skip the nose area.

Easy Top

Anything you can blow your nose with comfortably. The eyes will water during the piercing and you may need a tissue. A top that allows easy access to your face without restricting your arms is fine.

Tie Long Hair Back

If your hair falls forward over your face, tie it back. The piercer needs a clear view of the nose during marking and the piercing itself.

For Eyebrow Piercings

Standard clothing. The piercer needs access to the brow area.

Hair Off the Face

A fringe needs to be pinned back. A side parting is fine. Long hair tied back so it does not fall over the eyebrow.

No Brow Makeup

Arrive with no brow pencil, gel, powder or other product on the brow being pierced. The piercer needs to see the natural arch and follicles.

Glasses

An eyebrow piercing sits close to where some glasses frames rest. Mention this if you wear glasses and the piercer will adjust the placement to avoid contact.

For Lip and Mouth Piercings

Standard clothing. The piercer needs access to the lips and surrounding area.

No Lipstick or Lip Gloss

Arrive with clean lips. No balm, no gloss, no lipstick. The piercer needs dry, clean skin for marking and piercing.

No Recent Spicy or Acidic Food

Eat your pre-appointment meal something bland-ish. Spicy, salty or acidic food can leave residues that irritate the area immediately after the piercing.

Hair Tied Back

For long hair, the same rule as other face piercings. Tied back so it does not fall over the area.

For Tongue Piercings

Standard clothing. The specific items to think about are ice and cold drinks for after.

Bring Cold Things

Cold water, ice cubes if practical, ice lollies, frozen smoothies. The tongue swells significantly in the first few days and cold helps. Stock up before the appointment or plan to stop at a shop on the way home.

Soft Food Plans for the Day

Plan soft food for the evening of the piercing. Soup, yoghurt, smoothies, mashed potato. Avoid anything that needs chewing or could catch on the bar.

Mouthwash

An alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash is part of aftercare for tongue piercings. The studio will recommend a specific one or you can pick one up before the appointment.

For Navel Piercings

The clothing choice matters more than for ear or face piercings.

Wear Low-Waisted Bottoms

Low-waisted trousers, jeans or a skirt. The piercer needs clear access to the navel area without you having to undress. A dress is also fine.

Avoid High-Waisted or Tight Bottoms

High-waisted jeans, leggings or anything tight will press directly on the fresh piercing. If you only have tight bottoms, plan to change into something looser immediately after.

Top That Lifts Easily

A loose t-shirt or shirt that lifts up easily without you needing to take it off. The piercer needs access to the navel for marking and piercing.

Loose Clothing for After

For the rest of the day and ideally the first few weeks of healing, loose-waisted clothing around the navel. Tight clothing on a fresh navel piercing causes irritation, slows healing and can cause migration.

For Nipple Piercings

The clothing choice is the most specific for nipple piercings.

Button-Front or Zip-Front Top

A shirt, blouse or jacket that opens at the front. Pulling a top over the head immediately after a fresh nipple piercing is uncomfortable and can disturb the placement.

No Bra Underwire

For people who wear bras, avoid underwired styles on the day. A soft sports bra without underwire is a better choice for the first few weeks of healing.

Loose Layers

Avoid tight tops or anything that compresses the chest. The piercing needs space around it to settle.

Plan for After

For the first few weeks, loose tops, no underwire and careful clothing choices generally. Plan ahead for the wardrobe adjustments.

What to Bring: The Universal List

Regardless of which piercing you are having, these five things should be in your bag.

1. Photo ID

Passport, driving licence or PASS card. UK piercing law requires age verification for clients who could be under 25. The studio will not pierce you without ID, regardless of how old you actually are. Without it, you will be sent home.

2. A Small Snack

Banana, cereal bar, sandwich, pack of biscuits. Blood sugar can dip within 30 minutes of the piercing and a snack waiting in your bag prevents the wobble. The snack matters more than people realise.

3. A Drink

Water for hydration. A sugary drink in addition is useful if you tend to feel faint. A small bottle of squash or a sports drink works well.

4. Money or Card

Check the studio’s accepted payment methods when booking. Most take both card and cash. Confirm the price during booking so you know what to bring.

5. Your Phone

For navigation, for emergency contacts and for entertainment during the wait. The studio will ask you not to use it during the actual piercing for hygiene reasons but it is useful before and after.

Optional Extras

A Friend

One supportive friend is welcome at most studios. Two or three people in the consultation room is too many. Choose someone who calms you rather than winds you up. The friend who films your reaction, makes jokes about pain or gets squeamish at the sight of a needle is not the right friend for this appointment.

Headphones

If you find music calming, bring headphones. Many piercers are happy for you to listen to something during the consultation and even during the piercing itself, as long as you can still hear them counting and giving instructions.

A Book or Phone

For waiting time if the appointment runs late or if you arrive early. Studios are generally calm spaces and reading or scrolling through your phone is fine in the waiting area.

A Travel Pillow

For ear piercings, a travel pillow with a hole for the ear can make the first weeks of sleeping much more comfortable. Some clients pick one up after the appointment, others arrive with one already.

Aftercare Supplies

The studio will sell sterile saline if you need it, but if you want to come prepared, a bottle of pre-mixed sterile saline solution is the only product you genuinely need for aftercare.

What to Leave at Home

Strong Perfume or Cologne

Fragrances can irritate freshly pierced skin and trigger reactions during healing. Skip it on piercing day.

Heavy Make-up

Particularly around the piercing area. Light make-up elsewhere is fine but the piercing site needs to be clean and untreated.

Jewellery You Cannot Easily Remove

For ear piercings on a side that already has piercings, you may need to remove or move some existing pieces. Wear ones you can easily take out yourself.

Anything Valuable You Cannot Afford to Lose

Bring only what you need. Studio waiting areas are generally safe but a small bag with less in it is one less thing to worry about.

Negative Friends

If a friend has been pessimistic, dismissive or dramatic about your piercing decision, do not bring them to the appointment. They will not improve the experience.

The clothing and bag are the smallest decisions of piercing day, but they are the ones most likely to make the appointment awkward if you get them wrong.
Shallows piercing team

Quick Reference by Piercing

• Lobe / helix / cartilage: normal clothes, hair tied back
• Nostril / septum: normal clothes, no make-up near the nose
• Eyebrow: normal clothes, no brow product, hair off the face
• Lip / labret: normal clothes, no lipstick or balm
• Tongue: normal clothes, plan cold drinks for after
• Navel: low-waisted bottoms, top that lifts easily
• Nipple: button-front or zip-front top, no underwired bra
• Surface / dermal: clothing that allows access to the specific area

The Underlying Principle

Removing obstacles. The piercer should not have to wait for you to take off a tight top, dig for your ID, run to a shop for a snack or push hair out of the way. Everything is set up before you sit in the chair. The appointment is faster, the piercer can focus on the work and you walk out without a stressed memory of fumbling around.

Clothing and what to bring are the smallest preparations of piercing day, and the easiest to get right with five minutes of forethought. Dress for the placement, pack the five universal items and add anything specific to your piercing. The appointment becomes much smoother and the rest of the day starts from a calmer place.