Your Guide to Sleeping with a New Piercing
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Apr 6, 2026 By Nurse Sam, RN & Nurse Miranda MSN, RN
SHARE Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post via E-mail%C2%A04.%20Move%20with%20cautionWhen%20brushing%20or%20styling%20your%20hair,%20move%20slowly%20so%20as%20not%20to%20catch%20your%20piercing.%20If%20you%20are%20due%20for%20a%20trip%20to%20the%20salon,%20let%20them%20know%20you%20have%20a%20healing%20piercing%20so%20they%20know%20to%20be%20extra%20careful%20(don%E2%80%99t%20worry,%20they%E2%80%99re%20used%20to%20it!)5.%20Spray%20aftercare%20before%20you%20go%20to%20sleep%20(and%20when%20you%20wake%20up!)Use%20our%20Advanced%20Aftercare%20Solution%20to%20keep%20the%20piercing%20clean%20before%20you%20go%20to%20sleep%20and%20after%20you%20wake%20up.%20This%20will%20help%20to%20avoid%20any%20potential%20infection%20caused%20by%20tossing%20and%20turning%20during%20the%20night.%C2%A0 "Share this post via E-mail")
One of the most common questions we get asked after performing piercings is “how am I supposed to sleep?”
Sleeping directly on a new piercing can cause irritation and can even shift the direction or angle of the piercing. That’s why it’s crucial that you avoid sleeping on a freshly-pierced ear, especially if the piercing is in any cartilage.
We’re here to help! Get your beauty sleep with these tips & tricks for sleeping with a new piercing.
1. Sleep on your back
Perhaps the most obvious solution to avoid sleeping on your new piercing - sleep on your back! But, if you’re a tried and true side sleeper, use a piercing pillow to protect the new piercing.
2. Keep your hair away from your piercing
If you have long hair, make sure you sleep with it pulled back away from the ear to avoid unpleasant snags and tangles. Braids work well for this.
3. Use a smooth pillowcase
After several weeks to months (because everybody heals differently), once you’re able to sleep on your piercing without feeling pain, use a smooth pillowcase to reduce the potential for snagging your piercing at night. Pillowcase should be changed more frequently while piercings are healing to prevent skin cells, oils, and make-up from irritating your piercing - every two days, sleeping on each side just once, works best. ;)
4. Move with caution
When brushing or styling your hair, move slowly so as not to catch your piercing. If you are due for a trip to the salon, let them know you have a healing piercing so they know to be extra careful (don’t worry, they’re used to it!)
5. Spray aftercare before you go to sleep (and when you wake up!)
Use our Advanced Aftercare Solution to keep the piercing clean before you go to sleep and after you wake up. This will help to avoid any potential infection caused by tossing and turning during the night.
What is Rowan's Advanced Aftercare Solution?
Read more - What is Rowan's Advanced Aftercare Solution?
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