Written & reviewed by Raeesa Bagus, Founder of Cura · Last updated August 12, 2026

Certified 316L Surgical Steel. Durable, affordable, and a trusted choice for healed piercings.

316L surgical steel is manufactured to ASTM F138 / ISO 5832-1, the international standard for implant-grade stainless steel. It's genuinely durable — corrosion-resistant, tarnish-free, and one of the most widely used metals in body jewellery worldwide.

One honest distinction worth knowing: 316L is a nickel-containing alloy (nickel makes up roughly 10–14% of the mix). Reputable 316L, including everything Cura sells, is tested to meet the EU Nickel Directive's low-release threshold, which is why the vast majority of people wear it with zero issues — but "low release" isn't the same as nickel-free, and it isn't a guarantee if you have a genuine nickel allergy.

In practice, that makes surgical steel the better fit once a piercing is fully healed and you already know your skin tolerates it well — adding a second stud to a settled lobe, building out an ear stack, or anywhere budget matters as much as material.

If you have a known nickel sensitivity, or you're choosing jewellery for a brand-new or still-healing piercing, our Titanium Range removes that guesswork entirely, since G23 titanium is completely nickel-free. Not sure which is right for you? Read our full Titanium vs. Surgical Steel comparison guide.

Shop the full range in our Surgical Steel Collection.

Written & reviewed by Raeesa Bagus, Founder of Cura · Last updated August 12, 2026

Good piercing jewellery only does half the job — how you care for a piercing, from the day it's done through to years of wear, determines whether it heals cleanly and stays comfortable long-term. This guide covers everything: getting pierced, healing, cleaning, troubleshooting, and everyday jewellery care once you're fully healed.

Getting a New Piercing

Two decisions before you're even pierced matter more than almost anything that comes after: how it's done, and how much it'll hurt. For any cartilage piercing (helix, tragus, conch, rook, daith, forward helix), insist on a professional piercer using a sterile needle — not a piercing gun. See our full breakdown in Piercing Guns vs. Needles.

Wondering what to expect pain-wise? Our Pain Scale guide ranks every common piercing site from least to most uncomfortable.

Cleaning a New or Healing Piercing

If your jewellery is in a fresh piercing, a little extra care during healing goes a long way:

• Clean once or twice daily with a sterile saline solution (or saline wound wash) — gently wipe away any crust from around the piercing rather than picking at it
• Avoid touching the piercing with unwashed hands
• Don't rotate or twist the jewellery while it's healing — this is an outdated practice that can actually slow healing and irritate the tissue
• Leave the original jewellery in for the full healing period before changing it, even if it looks healed on the surface

For the full step-by-step method — including exactly what to use and what to avoid — see our How to Clean a New Piercing with Saline guide.

How Long Does Healing Take?

Healing times vary significantly by piercing location. Lobe piercings typically settle in 6–8 weeks, while cartilage piercings like helix, tragus, and conch can take anywhere from 3 to 12 months — and each location has its own specific timeline and sizing schedule. See our Shop By Piercing guide for a full breakdown by location, including our detailed Helix healing timeline.

Is Something Wrong?

Some redness, mild swelling, and clear discharge are completely normal in the first few weeks. Yellow or green discharge, spreading heat, persistent sharp pain, or fever are not, and are worth acting on. For the full breakdown of what's normal versus what needs attention, see our Signs of Infection vs. Normal Healing guide.

Caring for Healed Jewellery

Cura earrings are made to be durable, waterproof, sweat resistant and tarnish free.

Studs are suitable for everyday wear and are also preferable for sleeping and showering.

We recommend that more elaborate flat backs and rings (i.e. curved marquise designs and multi-stone rings) are not worn while sleeping or showering (as far as possible) as this can cause the stones to loosen - save these for occasional wear and store them in a safe, dry place when not in use.

To prolong the longevity of your jewellery we recommend that you:

• Remove them when going to the beach, spa or pool
• Avoid contact with perfumes and chemicals
• Never use chemicals to clean jewellery
• To clean and remove body oil / residue buildup, use a microfibre cloth and warm soapy water to remove buildup and dust
• Store them in a safe place, these tiny pretties can get lost easily

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean a new piercing?

Once or twice a day with sterile saline — more than that can irritate healing tissue just as much as too little cleaning.

Is it normal for a piercing to still feel tender after several weeks?

Yes, particularly for cartilage piercings — many go through "rough patch" weeks partway through healing even when everything is progressing normally. See our Shop By Piercing guide for location-specific healing patterns.

Can I swim or shower with a new piercing?

Showering is fine. Avoid pools, hot tubs, and open water during the healing period, as they carry a higher bacteria load than a clean shower.

Do I need to clean fully healed jewellery too?

Not with saline — normal jewellery care (a microfibre cloth and warm soapy water occasionally) is enough once a piercing is fully healed, as covered above.

Questions about a specific piece or piercing? Get in touch — we're happy to help before or after your purchase.

Refunds, Returns and Exchanges:

Please note: We DO NOT ACCEPT returns, refunds or exchanges on piercing jewellery for hygienic and safety reasons.

Please ensure that you have chosen the right size earrings for your piercing and that your piercing is suitable for a 16G/1,2mm gauge (standard size of cartilage piercings done by a professional piercer) before your purchase as we cannot exchange or refund earrings that do not fit your piercing.

Check out our refunds and returns policy

Domestic Shipping:

We offer Nationwide shipping in South Africa.
Standard Delivery within 3-4 workings days of payment being received.

Flat shipping rate of R100.00 nationwide in South Africa
Free delivery on orders over R1500.00 for South Africa ONLY

International Shipping:

We now offer international shipping to USA, Europe, UAE and Australia.

International Shipping Zones and Rates:

Europe: France, Ireland, Italy, Monaco, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom - R300.00

UAE: Abu Dhabi, Ajman and Dubai - R300.00

Australia - R600.00

Shipping takes 10- 15 working days after order is confirmed, tracking numbers are provided within 24 working hours.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: You may be liable to pay import duties/local taxes and handling charges on delivery. The customer is responsible for settling any import duties/local taxes and handling charges and these are not included in our shipping costs. The duties/local taxes will be calculated based on the type of goods and their declared value.

NO FREE Shipping for International orders

Check out our shipping policy