H2Ocean marks 25 years and 22 years with the APP conference

H2Ocean said it is celebrating 25 years as the first piercing aftercare brand while marking 22 straight years supporting the Association of Professional Piercers conference. The company used the 2026 APP Annual Conference in Las Vegas to showcase its products, connect with piercers and reinforce its role in professional aftercare education.

Why it matters: - H2Ocean has spent 25 years in a niche it helped create, giving the brand unusual staying power in a professional category built around safety and healing. - The company’s long presence at APP matters because the conference is a key gathering place for piercers, studio owners, apprentices and other industry stakeholders. - H2Ocean’s message to the trade is that natural aftercare and professional education remain central to piercing standards worldwide.

What happened: - H2Ocean exhibited at the 2026 APP Annual Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas, held June 7-12, 2026. - The company marked its 25th anniversary this year. - H2Ocean also marked 22 consecutive years of support for the Association of Professional Piercers conference. - The company said 20 of those years were as an official APP corporate member sponsor. - John Rodgers represented H2Ocean at the conference and spoke with hundreds of booth visitors, including professional piercers and studio owners.

The details: - H2Ocean described itself as the original natural, sea salt-based piercing aftercare brand and said it created the category. - The company’s Piercing Aftercare Spray uses mineral-rich sea salt and the natural enzyme lysozyme to cleanse and support healing on newly pierced skin. - H2Ocean said its product line has become a preferred choice among piercing professionals for promoting healthy healing after new piercings. - The APP Annual Conference brought together professional piercers, studio owners, apprentices, health inspectors, jewelry manufacturers and industry leaders from around the world. - H2Ocean said its Pro Team members taught classes and mentored newcomers at the conference. - The current H2Ocean Pro Team includes Steve Haworth, Steve Truitt, Ian Bell, Rob Hill, Mady Sips and Matt X. - H2Ocean said it was the first company to sponsor a body piercing artist and educator, naming Steve Haworth as the first body modification artist on its Pro Team. - Haworth is identified by H2Ocean as the inventor of 3D Subdermal Art Implants. - Eddie Kolos, H2Ocean CEO and inventor, said the company values its relationships within the piercing community and remains committed to innovative, natural aftercare products. - Visitors showed interest in H2Ocean’s heritage, product quality, research, education and innovation, according to the company. - H2Ocean also said it has a long history of supporting the piercing community through education and best practices.

Between the lines: - H2Ocean is leaning on longevity and credibility, not just product claims, to stay relevant in a crowded wellness and body modification market. - The company’s focus on APP gives it direct access to professionals who influence product adoption in studios. - The emphasis on training and mentorship suggests H2Ocean is positioning itself as both a supplier and an industry educator. - The anniversary framing also reinforces a broader brand message: H2Ocean wants to be seen as foundational to modern piercing aftercare, not simply a participant in it.

What's next: - H2Ocean said it will continue supporting educational organizations like the Association of Professional Piercers. - The company said it will keep developing science-driven aftercare products for professionals and consumers. - H2Ocean also said it plans to continue collaborating with piercing professionals to help set standards for safe and natural aftercare.

The bottom line: - H2Ocean is using its 25-year milestone and long APP partnership to underline a simple pitch: the brand wants to remain the trusted aftercare standard for the professional piercing industry.